GB2259232A - Transplant apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Transplant apparatus for transplanting seedlings from a tray (16) of smaller pockets to a tray (12) of larger pockets includes a first pair of guides (10) for guiding the tray (12) along a horizontal path. A second set of guides (14) acts to guide the tray (16) along a vertical plane in a direction transverse to the horizontal path. An ejector mechanism (18) on one side of the tray (16) acts to eject selected seedlings from each row in turn, out of the tray (16). A catcher mechanism (26) facing the tray (16) but located on the opposite side of the tray (16) to the ejector mechanism (18) acts to catch the ejected seedlings, to turn them through a right angle and then to lower them into the waiting tray (12) below. <IMAGE>

Description

TRANSPLANTING APPARATUS The present invention relates to transplanting apparatus in particular but not exclusively for transplanting seedlings from a smaller compartmented tray to a larger tray or flower pot.

Apparatus for transplanting seedlings from smaller trays to larger trays has been proposed. Such apparatus is highly complex, generally bulky and expensive. The complexity and size makes it difficult for the grower to purchase operate and maintain.

It is an object of the apparatus to provide an improved transplanting apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided transplantation apparatus comprising first guide means for guiding a series of trays along a predetermined rectilinear path, second guide means for guiding a second tray along a second path extending in a plane substantially at right angles and transversley, to the plane containing the first path, ejector means located on one side of said second path for ejecting selected ones in a row of seedlings from the second tray, catcher means located on the opposite side of the said second path for catching said ejected seedlings, rotating them through a right angle, displacing them to a planting station and depositing them in a said first tray, and means for displacing said first tray stepwise through said planting station.

Transplanting apparatus embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section taken through a plunger of the ejector mechanism of the apparatus; Figure 6 is a section taken through a typical clamping device used in the apparatus; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a modified catcher and planter mechanism; Figure 8 is front elevation of yet another modified catcher and planter mechanism; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Figure 8.

The transplanting apparatus to be described is arranged to transplant seedlings from a starter tray, having an array of small pockets, into a larger tray having an array of dibbled recesses at regular spacings.

As shown in Figure 4 pair a pair of guides 10 (only one shown) is arranged to guide a dibbled tray 12 through the apparatus from left to right (as viewed in Figure 1). A pair of channel shaped guides 14 extending transversely to the guides 10 are arranged to define a guide path for a small pocket tray 16 which is filled with seedlings. The large dibbled tray 12 is filled with potting compost but is dibbed to provide recesses in the compost, so as to be ready to receive a seedling.

Located at one side of the guides 14 is an ejector mechanism 18 supported by a carriage 20 which is slidably mounted on a vertical extending rod 22.

The ejector mechanism 18 carries four horizontally spaced ejector rods 24 each of which is arranged to engage a hole in a corresponding one of the pockets of the tray 16 and to eject the seedling from the other side thereof. The carriage 20 is stepped up the rod 22, in a manner to be described hereinafter so that it can be aligned with each horizontal row of pockets in the tray 16 in turn. The carriage 20 includes a cylindrical tube 19 which is slidable up and down the rod 22 on bearings (not shown).

Located on the opposite side of the guide 14 is a catcher and planter mechanism. The catcher and planter mechanism is carried by a carriage 26 which is slidably mounted on a vertically extending rod 28. The carriage 26 supports a horizontally extending shaft 30 which carries four pairs of tines 32. The free end portions 32A of the tines of each pair are divergent. The spacing between the pairs of tines 32 corresponds to the spacing between the rods 24. The carriage 26 incorporates a cylindrical tube 36 which is slideable up and down the rod 28 on bearings (not shown). The cylinder of a piston and cylinder assembly 34 is pivotally coupled to the tube 36, while the piston of the assembly 34 is pivotally coupled to a radially extending arm 38 rigid with the shaft 30.The arrangement is such that each stroke of the piston acts to rotate the shaft 30 through an angle of goo to turn the pairs of tines 32 between a horizontal attitude and a downwardly depending attitude.

In operation, the tray 12 is stepped one row of pockets at a time through a position directly below the shaft 30 by a drive mechanism (not shown) well know in the art.

Between successive steps of the tray 12, the ejector rods 24 enter holes in the bottom of the tray 16 to push the root balls of the seedlings in the corresponding pockets out of the pockets to jam them between the tines 32 which lie opposite the rods 24.

Because the free ends 32A are divergent they assist in both centring the root ball with the tines and progressively jamming the root ball between the tines.

Instead, the tines maybe divergent from one another along the whole of their length. The shaft 30 is then rotated so that the horizontally extending seedlings are again upright but now lie directly above the pockets in the tray 12. The carriage 26 is then moved downwardly to push the seedlings into the pockets. Pivoting fingers 40 are activated to push the seedlings in the pockets of the tray 12 while the carriage 26 is raised so that the tines 32 become withdrawn from the root balls.

The pockets in the tray 16 are arranged in rows and columns and initially the carriage 20 is positioned so that the rods 24 are aligned with the bottom row.

Once selected seedlings have been ejected from the bottom row, the carriage 20 is stepped up by one row in a manner to be described hereinafter. By this time the tray 12 will have been stepped on one row, and the carriage 26 displaced upwardly. Upward movement of the carriage 26 is halted when arm 42 on the carriage 26 contacts the underside of the arm 46 rigid with the cylindrical tube 19. This ensures that each time the carriage 26 is raised, it is raised to the same level as the carriage 20, that is, until the tines 32 become aligned with the rods 24. In this raised state the shaft 30 is rotated to bring the tines into the horizontal attitude to face the rods.

The process is then repeated until the carriage 20 has been stepped through all the rows of the pockets of the tray 16. The spacing between the rods and the pockets of the tray 16 is such that only every third column of the first twelve columns of pockets will have been transversed by the rods 24. At the end of the first transverse, a mechanism (to be described in more detail hereinafter) steps the tray 16 on one step so that four new columns of pockets can be acted upon the rods. The process is repeated until all twelve columns of pockets have been emptied at which point the tray 16 is progressively stepped through a number of further steps so that the next array of twelve columns can be processed by the ejector rods.

Figure 4 shows the drive mechanism for the carriage 26 in more detail. As can be seen the carriage 26 has a cylindrical tube 36 which is slidably supported on the od 28. The end 26A of the carriage 26 remote from the tube is forked and engages a guide rod 48. This prevents the carriage from turning about the longitudinal axis of the rod 28. The upper ends of the rods 28 and 48 are linked by a transverse beam 50 to improve the rigidity of the rods. An elongate piston and cylinder assembly 52 extends between the base of the apparatus and the upper end of the tube 36. The assembly 52 includes a cylinder 54 which is engaged by a piston 56 and a shaft 58 connects the piston 56 to a cantilevered arm 60 rigid with the upper end of the tube 36. The cylinder has an inlet/outlet port 62 and 64 at opposite ends thereof.

The cantilever arm 60 carries the arm 42 which activates the microswitch.

In operation air under pressure is supplied to the port 62 to drive the piston 56 and therefore the carriage upwardly until the arm 42 contacts the ejector carriage arm 46 and trips a microswitch 44. The carriage then awaits until the seedlings have been impaled upon respective tines. At this point in time the shaft 30 is rotated to direct the tines downwardly and simultaneously air under pressure is supplied to the port 64 while the other port 62 is vented. The carriage 26 is now driven downwardly and brought to an abrupt halt just above the pockets of the tray 12. The momentum of the seedlings releases them from between the tines 32 and they hurtle into respective pockets of the tray 12. The tray 12 is stepped on by one row by a mechanism (not shown) and the whole cycle is repeated.

Figure 2 shows the stepping mechanism for the carriage 20 in more detail. As can be seen the carriage 20 has the cylindrical tube 19 which is slidably supported on the rod 22. The free end 20A of the carriage 20 remote from the tube 19 engages a guide rod 70 which restrains the carriage 20 from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the rod 22.

The upper ends of the rods 70 and 22 are linked by a cross member 72 for added rigidity.

A piston and cylinder assembly 74 is coupled to the tube 19 to damp movement of the tube 19. The assembly 74 includes a piston 78 coupled by a piston rod 80 to the tube 19 and a cylinder 76 in which the piston 78 is slidable.

A second piston and cylinder assembly 82 is mounted on the cross member 72. The assembly 82 includes a short cylinder 84 housing a piston 86 from which depends a piston rod 88. The piston rod extends through a clamp 90 which is rigid with the tube 19. A second clamp 94 is coupled to the upper bearing 92 within the tube. The operation of the clamps 90 and 94 will be described hereinafter in more detail with reference to Figure 6.

Starting with the clamp 94, clamped to hold the rod 22 rigid with the tube 19, and the clamp 90 unclamped to allow the rod 88 freedom to move, the assembly 82 is operated to cause the piston to perform its downward stroke. Upon completion of the downward stroke the clamp 90 is clamped to hold the rod 88 rigid with the tube 19 and then the clamp 94 unclamped. The assembly 82 is now caused to perform its return stroke and this will draw the tube 19 up by one step. The clamp 94 is then operated again to lock the tube 19 to the rod 22 and the clamp 90 released. The piston rod 88 is again free to perform its downward stroke. The operation is repeated and in this way the carriage 20 is caused to step up the rod 22.When the carriage 20 reaches its uppermost position both clamps 90 and 94 are released and the carriage falls to its lower position at firstly fairly rapid and then damped by the assembly 74. An adjustable stop (not shown) may be provided to delimit the base position for the carriage 20 so that the ejector mechanism thereon will be aligned with the bottom row of pockets in the tray 16.

The clamp 94 is shown in more detail in Figure 6.

The clamp 94 includes a cylinder 96 housing a piston 98 with a circumferential 0being 100 to ensure a good seal.

The piston supports a piston rod 102 which has a free end that passes through an opening in the brass bush 92 to be able to move into and out of engagement with the rod 22.

By applying air pressure to a port 104 the piston 98 causes the piston rod 102 to engage the rod 22 and so lock the bush 92 and the rod 22 against relative movement. As soon as pressure to the port 104 is released the rod 22 will again be permitted to move relative to the bush 92.

The clamp 90 is constructed on similar principles.

The displacement mechanism for displacing the tray 16 is shown in more detail in Figure 3.

A pair of uprights 106 and 108 lie at opposite ends of the pair of guide rails 14. The upper ends of the uprights are linked by a transverse support member 110. The transverse support member 110 slidably supports a guide rod 112 which has a downwardly extending portion 112A supporting a pusher pad 114. The pusher pad 114 engages one end of the tray 16 and is arranged to displace the tray 16 in steps along the guide rails 14.

The guide rod 112 is slidably supported in a bush 116 rigidly secured to the support member 110. A clamp 118 similar to the clamp 94 is coupled to the bush 116 to clamp and unclamp the rod 112 to the bush 116. A piston and cylinder assembly 119 is supported on the underside of the support member 110. The rod 120 of the assembly 119 engages a bush 122. Another clamp 124 similar to the clamp 94, is rigidly connected to the guide rod 112 by a locking member 126. The clamp 124 is coupled to the bush 122 to clamp and unclamp the bush 122 to the rod 120.

In operation by reversing the clamping action of the two clamps 118 and 124 after each stroke of the piston rod 120, the rod 112 can be stepped progressively to drive the tray 16 stepwise along the guides 14 in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figure 2.

The guide rod 112 has an auxiliary rod 128 which is engaged by the forked end portion 131 of a member 129 which depends downwardly from the transverse support member 110. This acts to constrain the rod against movement out of the plane in which it lies.

Each ejector mechanism 18 carried by the carriage 20 is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5.

Each mechanism 18 includes a first cylinder 130 closed at one end and having a second cylinder 134 of smaller diameter extending from the opposite end.

The first cylinder 130 houses a piston 132 which is held captive therein by the second cylinder 134. The ejector rod 24 is slidably supported by the second cylinder 134 and is coupled to the piston 132. Both the piston 132 and the rod 24 have a circumferential groove housing a respective O-ring 136 and 138 to provide an effective seal. Ports 140 and 142 are provided at opposite ends of the cylinder 130. The port 140 is permanently supplied with air at a predetermined pressure. This acts to bias the piston 132 to the right as viewed in Figure 5. Air of the same pressure is applied periodically to the port 142 to cause the piston to be displaced to the left (as viewed in Figure 5). It will be appreciated that because the air from port 142 is exposed to a greater surface area of the piston 132 it will apply a greater force to the piston 132 than that applied through the port 140.When the port 142 is vented - the air from port 140 will drive the piston to the right (as viewed in Figure 5).

The application of pneumatic pressure to the various ports of the various piston and cylinder assemblies is controlled by solenoid operated valves coupled to a source of pressure. The valves are energised in response to a software program as required.

As can be seen the apparatus described allows the transfer of seedlings from a small pocket tray, to a series of large pocket trays in an efficient, speedy and automatic manner. The amount of manpower needed to effect transplantation is reduced. The size of the machine is also reduced by the manner in which the machine is structured and this allows the machine to be made compactly and so can be readily transported from greenhouse to greenhouse.

In one modification the free end portions of the 32A tines 32 are parallel to one another so that they enable the ejected root balls to become impaled on the tines.

In another modification three different tines are provided to catch a root ball of a seedling between them.

Figure 7 shows a modified catcher and planter mechanism for use in a situation where the spacing between the centres of the dibbled recesses in the larger tray is greater than the spacing between the centres of the pockets in the starter tray.

As shown, a shaft 150 slidably supports four sleeves 152 each carrying a support block 154 from which a pair of divergent tines 156 extend. Projecting radially inwardly from the inner surface of sleeve 152 is a key 158 which engages an axially extending slot or keyway of limited length in the outer surface of the shaft 150.

Thus, each sleeve 152 is slidable along the shaft 150 by a limited amount but is prevented from rotating relatively to the shaft 150 about the shaft axis. A coiled spring 162 extends about the shaft 150 between adjacent sleeves 152. Each spring 162 is under compression and so the net effect is to urge all the sleeves 152 apart. Since all the springs are arranged to be identical and are arranged to be under the same compression, the net result is to keep the spacing between the sleeves equal.

Two piston and cylinder assemblies 164 are mounted on the shaft 150 on opposite axial sides of the row of the sleeves 152. The piston 166 of each assembly 164 is pivotally connected to a rod 168 rigid with the sleeve 152 located immediately adjacent the respective assembly.

Thus, in operation when the catcher is arranged to receive the seedlings 170 (only one shown) from the ejector, the assemblies 164 are operated to move the two sleeves at opposite ends of the row of sleeves to reduce the spacing between adjacent sleeves.

Once each pair of tines 156 has received a seedling, the operation of the assemblies 164 is reversed and the sleeves are moved apart by the springs 162, until the spacing between the centres of the seedlings equals the spacing between the centres of the dibbled recesses in the larger tray. Thereafter, the seedlings are ejected into the larger tray as herein before described.

Figures 8 and 9 show another modified catcher and planter mechanism. In this arrangement there are three spaced generally parallel tines arranged to receive a seedling between them. One of the tines is pivotal so that it can clamp the root ball of the seedling against the other two tines and then release it at the appropriate instant for ejection into a dibbled recess.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, each group of three tines 202, 204 and 206 is carried by a support block 208 mounted on a rotary shaft 200. The two tines 202 and 204 are rigid with the block and extend in parallel spaced relationship. The third tine 206 is rigid with a stub shaft 210 supported by bearings 212 on the block 208.

The tine 206 extends radially outwardly from the stube shaft 210 and is pivotal between a position where it extends in parallel spaced relationship with the other two tines 202 and 204 and a position in which it is inclined towards the tines 202 and 204 (shown in broken lines in Figure 8).

A control rod 214 is also rigid with the stub shaft 210 and extends radially outwardly from the opposite side of the shaft to the tine 206 but is axially offset relative thereto.

A coiled spring 224 extends between the distal end of the control rod 214 and a pin 216 rigid with the block to bias the stub shaft 210 in a clockwise sense (as viewed in Figure 8). This acts to displace the tine 206 away from the other two tines 202 and 204 and so open up the space between the three tines in readiness to receive a seedling or in readiness to eject a seedling.

A piston and cylinder assembly 218 has its cylinder rigid with the block 208 and its piston pivotally coupled to the control rod 214. Air under pressure is supplied by a hose 222 to an inlet 220 of the assembly 218 to cause the tine 206 to move to a clamping position. When the air pressure is relieved, the spring 224 which is under tension will act to move the tine 206 to an unclamped position.

A jet outlet 226 rigid with the block 208 is located between the three tines 202, 204 and 206 and is directed at the position which a seedling would occupy when clamped between the tines. A short burst of air is supplied by a hose 228 to an inlet 230 mounted on the block 208 and in communication with the outlet 226. This assists the ejection of a seedling from between the tines, once the clamping action has been released.

In operation therefore, the tine 206 is moved into the unclamped state in readiness to receive a seedling. Once a seedling has been received between the tines, the pivotal tine is moved to clamp the rootball of the seedling. The seedling is then moved to an ejection position whereupon the clamping action of the tine 206 is released and a jet of air directed at the seedling to aid ejection from between the tines.

An L-shaped rod 232 is provided to abut a tray (not shown) and to support that tray whilst the seedling is being ejected.

Claims (15)

1. Transplantation apparatus comprising first guide means for guiding a series of trays along a predetermined rectilinear path, second guide means for guiding a second tray along a second path extending in a plane substantially at right angles and transversley to, the plane containing the first path, ejector means located on one side of said second path for ejecting selected ones in a row of seedlings from the second tray, catcher means located on the opposite side of the said second path for catching said ejected seedlings, rotating them through a right angle displacing them to a planting station and depositing them in a said first tray, and means for displacing said first tray stepwise through said planting station.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said catcher means comprises at least one pair of tines located in spaced relationship and in which at least the free end portions are divergent from one another so as to enable the rootball of a said seedling to become jammed there between when ejected by the ejector means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said catcher means comprises at least one pair of tines located in parallel spaced relationship so as to impale the rootball of a said seedling thereon when ejected by the ejector means.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said catcher means comprises at least one group of three tines, two tines of each group being located in spaced relationship and the third tine of each group being pivotally movable towards and away from said pair of tines to clamp and unclamp the rootball of a seedling when ejected into the space between the three tines by the ejector means.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, including biasing means for biasing the third tine for movement away from said pair of tines and piston and cylinder means responsive when activated to displace the third tine towards the pair of tines against the bias of the biasing means.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for displacing said ejector mechanism stepwise in a direction transverse to said second path to align itself with each row of seedlings in the second tray in turn.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said catcher means is reciprocable between said planting station and a position aligned with the ejector mechanism.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 including an arm rigid with the ejector mechanism and engageable by the catcher mechanism to halt the catcher mechanism when the catcher mechanism reaches the level of the ejector mechanism.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including displacement means for displacing said second tray along said second path by one step each time the ejector mechanism has been caused to transverse all the rows of the seedlings.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including pivoting finger means for brushing the ejector means to aid release of seedlings therefrom when at said planting station.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said ejector mechanism includes a carriage slidably mounted on a guide rod, first clamping means for selectively clamping and releasing said carriage to said guide rod, a piston and cylinder arrangement having a predetermined stroke and selectively coupleable to said carriage by a second clamping means, and releaseable only when said first clamping means acts to clamp, and control means for reversing the clamping action of each said clamping means after each stroke of the piston and cylinder arrangement whereby to step said carriage progressively along said guide rod.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein each said clamping means includes a bush slidably supporting a rod, said bush having a radially extending opening therein providing access to said rod, and an auxiliary piston and cylinder arrangement operable to drive the piston rod through said opening into and out of engagement with said rod.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said catcher means comprises a plurality of groups of tines mounted in spaced relationship along a common shaft, the groups being slidable longitudinally of the shaft but inhibited from rotation relative to the shaft about the shaft axis, biasing means between each pair of groups to urge the groups away from one another but maintaining equal spacing between the adjacent groups and stop means mounted on the shaft to define the range of displacement of the groups along the shaft, at least one said stop means being adjustable to set a different range and thereby change the spacing between the groups.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, including piston and cylinder means for moving said one end stop from a first position when receiving seedlings from said ejector means to a second position prior to depositing them in said first tray.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or to Claim 14 wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of coiled springs extending about said shaft.