GB2166634A

GB2166634A - Plant transfer apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2166634A
Application number: GB08525941A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Anthony Chamberlain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-22
Filing date: 1985-10-21
Publication date: 1986-05-14
Also published as: GB8426656D0; GB8525941D0

Abstract

Apparatus for transplanting container-grown plants comprises a tray (4) for supporting plants and their containers with the plants extending generally horizontally, means for displacing each plant from its container, e.g. piston-like means (35) arranged to engage the plant through the open bottom of the container in which it is disposed and to push the plant from the container, the displacement being such that the plant is moved complete with the growing medium in which its roots are growing, a tray (11) for receiving the displaced plant and the associated growing medium, e.g. a tray which is divided into a number of separate compartments, by generally vertical members whereby the apparatus is capable of transplanting several plants at one time but each plant is maintained separately from the other plants, means (13) for lightly gripping the plant by the growing medium surrounding the roots thereof while on the tray, and means (15) for displacing the receiving and gripping means through an angle so that the plant is generally vertical with its roots at the bottom, whereby the plant can be relocated in a fresh container, via a chute (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transplanter The invention relates to means for transplanting container grown plants, for example from trays in which the plants have been grown from seed into larger containers. At present such work can only be accomplished by hand with the result that it is slow and labour intensive. The invention particularly concerns means for automatically transplanting seedlings from trays in which they are grown in individual compartments. It is common for such trays to consist of generally conical open bottomed compartments and such seedling trays lend themselves to the mechanisation of transplanting provided by the apparatus of the present invention.

According to the invention there is provided means for transplanting container grown plants, e.g. from seedling trays to individual pots or larger trays, comprising means for displacing plants from a container in which they are disposed, the displacement being such that the plants are moved complete with the growing medium in which their roots are growing, means for receiving the displaced plant and the associated growing medium and for lightly gripping the plants, preferably by the growing medium surrounding the roots thereof, and means for displacing the receiving and gripping means through an angle, which may if desired be around 90 degrees, whereby the plants can be relocated in fresh containers.

The means for displacing the plants from their containers may be piston-like means which engage the plants through the open bottoms of the trays in which they are disposed and push the plants from the trays. The piston-like means may be powered in any suitable manner, e.g. by pneumatic cylinders.

Preferably the plant containers are disposed with the plants horizontal during the displacement of the plants from the containers so that the plants are moved laterally on to the means for receiving the displaced plants. For this purpose the receiving means may comprise a tray which is preferably divided into a number of separate compartments by vertical barriers so that the apparatus is capable of transplanting several plants at one time but each plant is maintained separately from the other plants.

The means for gripping the plants preferably comprises a hinged plate mounted on the receiving means so that it moves vertically downwards into engagement with the upper surface of the displaced plant to grip the growing medium attached to its root system when it has been moved onto the tray.

Movement of the gripping plate is preferably accomplished by means of a pneumatic cylinder device.

The means for displacing the receiving and gripping means through an angle preferably comprises hinging the tray of the receiving means so that it can be swung through an angle, e.g. from a substantially horizontal position in which it receives the plants to a substantially vertical position in which the gripping means may be released to allow the plants to fall into fresh containers. If desired transfer chutes may be arranged for disposition below the receiving means when swung into its vertical position so that the plants can be guided under the influence of gravity into the fresh pots.

The means for swinging the receiving means from its horizontal to its vertical position may comprise a pneumatic cylinder device.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means for feeding a series of trays of seedlings disposed with the plants generally horizontal one at a time into position in relation to the displacing means, and means for feeding the tray of plants being emptied by increments vertically so that one row of the compartments of the tray can be emptied art a time.

Also the apparatus preferably comprises means for feeding fresh trays incrementally in a generally horizontal plane so that the fresh containers can be filled one row at a time. This incremental feeding means may be described in my European Patent No.

0063495.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic transplanter; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the transplanter of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of a detail of the transplanter of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a side view of part of the transplanter shown in a first position of operation; Figure 5 is a side view corresponding to that of Figure 4 but shown in a second operative position; Figure 6 shows the transplanter in a third operative position; Figure 7 shows the transplanter in a fourth operative position; Figure 8 shows the transplanter in a fifth operative position, and Figure 9 shows the transplanter in a sixth operative position which is generally the same as that of Figure 4.

In the drawings there is shown a transplanter for seedlings comprising a machine frame 1 comprising a guideway 6 on which a series of seedling trays are supported on edge and are fed successively to a transfer mechanism generally indicated by reference numeral 5 by means of a feeder 7. The transfer mechanism 5 transfers seedlings from the trays 4 to a new tray not shown in the drawings but which is disposed on a table 2 on the machine frame 1 via a series of chutes 3. The seedling tray 4 which is disposed adjacent to the transfer mechanism 5 is as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings positioned at the top of a vertical guideway and is fed incrementally down the guideway to bring each horizontal row of the compartments of the seedling tray into the vicinity of the transfer mechanism 5.

The tray (not shown) disposed on the table 2 for receiving the transplanted seedlings may be fed manually across the table to receive the seedlings but is preferably fed incrementally by automatic feed means for example of thekind described in my European Patent 0063495.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings the transfer mechanism comprises a tray 11 formed on opposite sides with upstanding brackets 10, and which is hinged on the machine frame 1 on a pair of pins 23 in the brackets 10 and in corresponding brackets 9 on the machine frame, only one of which brackets 9 is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The tray 11 is thus capable of moving between the generally horizontal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and a generally vertical position under the action of a ram 15 which is mounted on the machine frame and the piston rod 16 of which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 10 attached to the tray 11.The upper surface of the tray 11 when horizontal is formed with a series of upright flanges 24 which divides the tray into a series of sub-compartments each intended to receive a seedling for transplanting. Disposed adjacent to the flanges 24 is a clamping mechanism comprising a clamping plate 14which overlies the compartments formed bytheflanges 24, the plate 14 being pivoted on the tray 11 on a bell crank lever 13 pivoted on flanges 12 on the plate 11, one end of the bell crank lever being attached to the piston rod 11 of a ram 18 which is also mounted on the tray 11 by means of a flange 19 and a hinge 22.

The seedlings are transferred from their compartments in the seed tray 4 to the compartments formed by the flanges 24 on the tray 11 by a series of piston like devices 20 mounted on the machine frame 1 and one of which is associated with each of the compartments in each horizontal row of the seed tray 4. The piston like devices 20 are movable between the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings in which they have ejected a row of seedlings from the tray 4 to a retracted position to which the tray 4 can be moved vertically downwards incrementally to bring a further row of seedlings into position for transfer.

The means 7 for feeding the trays 4 laterally across the machine into the vicinity of the transfer mechanism 5 comprises an abutment member 25 which contacts the stack of trays and urges them along the guideway 6. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the abutment member 25 is mounted on a carriage 26 having wheels 28 guided along a track 27 on the machine frame 1. The carriage 26 is constantly urged in a direction to the right as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings by means of a rope 32 the free end of which (not shown) is connected to a suspended weight. The carriage 26 also carries a ram 29, the piston rod 31 of which is arranged, when extended, to contract one of a series of projections 30 on the machine frame 1, the distance between the projections 30 being arranged to correspond to the width of each tray 4.Thus when it is desired to feed a fresh tray 4 laterally into the transfer position the piston rod 31 of the ram 29 is retracted out of engagement with the projection 30 whereupon the carriage and thus the member 25 and the trays 4 are moved laterally until the leading tray 4 contacts a vertical abutment 33 on the machine frame 1.

Meanwhile the piston rod 31 of the ram 29 is again extended into contact with the successive projection 30 and in doing so the carriage 26 is moved backwards slightly so that the tray which is being unloaded is not clamped against the abutment 33 and thus prevented from being moved incrementally downwards. The means for moving the tray downwards is not shown in the drawings but may be generally similar to that described above.

The sequence of operation ofthetransplanter is shown diagrammatically in Figures 4 to 9 of the drawings.

In Figure 4 of the drawings the transplanter is shown in a first position and with a fresh tray 4 positioned for transfer of the seedlings 21 disposed in the tray. As will be seen the tray 4 is supported on a member 34 by means of which the tray can be indexed down incrementally (by means not shown) to bring each successive row of seedlings in the tray into position for transfer.

In the position shown in Figure 4 the piston like memberforming the end of a piston rod of a ram 35 mounted in the machine frame 1 is retracted and is aligned with the underneath of the lowermost compartment of the seed tray 4. Also the tray 11 is in its horizontal position and the clamping mechanism is in its inoperative position.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings the piston 20 has been extended into the compartment in the seed tray 4 to push a seedling 21 from the compartment 4 and into one of the compartments on the tray 11 defined between the flanges 24.

In Figure 6 of the drawings the piston rod 20 has been retracted and the ram 18 actuated to operate the clamping mechanism so that the seedlings 21 which have been positioned on the tray 11 are clamped in position on the tray by the growing medium surrounding the roots of the seedling.

As shown in Figure 7 of the drawings the ram 15 is then actuated to tip the tray 11 into a vertical position so that the seedlings 21 thereon are aligned with the upper end ofthe transfer chute 3.

As shown in Figure 8 of the drawings the ram 18 is then actuated to disengage the clamping mechanism so that the seedlings 21 fall under the influence of gravity down the transfer chute 3 and into position on a tray (not shown) disposed on the table 2 to receive the seedlings.

In the position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings the apparatus has returned to the position illustrated in Figure 4 except that the seedling tray 4 has been indexed downwardly so that the next adjacent row of seedlings 21 is aligned with the transfer mechanism 5.

It will be appreciated that the rams may be actuated in various different manners for example pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically.

The apparatus thus provides simple automatic mechanism for transplanting seedlings.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transplanting container grown plants comprising means for supporting a plant and its container with the plant extending generally horizontally, means for displacing the plant from its container, the displacement being such that the plant is moved complete with the grooving medium in which its roots are growing, means for receiving the displaced plant and the associated growing medium, means for lightly gripping the plant by the growing medium surrounding the roots thereof while on the receiving means, and means for displacing the receiving and gripping means through an angle so that the plant is generally vertical with its roots at the bottom, whereby the plant can be relocated in a fresh container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for displacing the plant from its container comprises a piston-like means arranged to engage the plant through the open bottom of the container in which it is disposed and to push the plant from the container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the receiving means comprises a tray which is divided into a number of separate compartments by generally vertical members whereby the apparatus is capable of transplanting several plants at one time, each plant being maintained separately from the other plants.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for gripping the plants comprises a plate mounted on the receiving means for movement into engagement with the upper surface of the displaced plant to grip the growing medium attached to its root system when the plant is positioned on the tray.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for displacing the receiving and gripping means comprises means pivotal mounting the tray on the apparatus and means for pivoting the tray between a substantially horizontal position in which the tray receives plants to a substantially vertical position in which the gripping means may be released to allow the plants to fall under gravity into fresh containers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a transfer chute is arranged below the receiving means when swung into its vertical position so that the plants can be guided under the influence of gravity into fresh containers.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for feeding a series of trays of seedlings disposed with the plants generally horizontal one at a time into position in relation to the displacing and transferring means, and means for feeding the tray of plants being emptied by increments vertically so that one row of the compartments of the tray can be emptied at a time.

8. Apparatus for transplanting container grown plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.