GB2305117A

GB2305117A - A turntable for pot plants

Info

Publication number: GB2305117A
Application number: GB9518924A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Doreen Franklin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-15
Filing date: 1995-09-15
Publication date: 1997-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-15
Also published as: GB2305117B; GB9518924D0

Abstract

The device comprises a body 1 having a turntable 2. The turntable is rotated by a motor controlled by two timers which control the interval between turntable operation and the angle through which the turntable rotates, both of which can be adjusted by means of control knobs 4 and 5. The device is intended to be used for rotating pot plants to even up the light falling on them so that they grow more evenly but it can also be used for display purposes.

Description

DEVICE FOR ROTATING OBJECTS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for rotating objects, especially, but not exclusively, pot-grown plants and the like.

Background to the Invention The growing of plants in pots is a long-established way of providing greenery and perhaps flowers indoors, and in restricted spaces outdoors where the use of growing beds is not possible, for example on balconies and the like. A problem frequently encountered with pot-grown plants is that the tendency of plants to grow towards the light, leading to uneven growth and plant stems which lean to one side rather than growing straight. While a solution to the problem is to locate the pot where the plant can receive light more evenly, in practice this is often not possible, for example where the only light available is from a window. Another way to mitigate the effects of uneven lighting is to rotate the plant pot at intervals so as to present different sides of the plant to the light at different times.While this can work satisfactorily, it requires regular attention from the grower; with too great an interval between rotations can result in twisting of the plant stem, giving a less attractive appearance to the plant.

The present invention provides a device which will turn the plant at pre-set intervals automatically.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a device for the controlled turning of objects, comprising support means for supporting the object, a motor for turning the support means, and control means for operating the motor for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals.

The support means may comprise a hook from which the object may be suspended, or a turntable on which the object may be placed.

The object is suitably a plant pot, to be regularly turned so that all sides of a plant therein may receive light more evenly.

The control means preferably comprises a first timer for switching on the supply of electric power to the motor, and a second timer for switching off the motor power supply. The second timer is initiated by the switching on of power to the motor. Each timer may be separately adjustable, for example by means of an external control knob, the length of time the motor operates determining the amount by which the turntable rotates, for example between a quarter and a half of a revolution.

The motor is conveniently a simple electric motor provided with reduction gearing to drive the support means slowly and controllably through a circumferential ring gear on the underside of the turntable. Alternatively, drive from the motor may be through a belt or chain drive providing a reduction from the motor speed to the desired speed of the support means to turn the support means through less than one revolution at each operation of the motor.

Other types of motor can be employed to give more precise control, if desired, for example a stepper mOtOr. Power for the motor can be provided by a battery, which may conveniently be a dry cell battery or a rechargeable battery, or from the mains supply, preferably hy way of a transformer to reduce the voltage to a safe level, for example 6 to 12 volts. Where a rechargeable battery is used, recharging may be achieved by means of an array of solar cells located adjacent to the device.

A light sensor may be provided to provide an output which enables the operation of the motor only when ambient light levels are sufficient to affect the growth of the plant, so that energy is conserved during the hours of darkness, for example. Lights may be provided to provide decorative illumination of the plant in low light conditions. The lights may be switched on and off manually, or may be caused to switch on by a light sensor, for example the light sensor used to en- able and disable the operation of the motor controls. The lights may located around the body of the device to provide illumination from underneath the plant, or on one or more arms extending from the device so as to provide illumination from above the plant.

A warning light or buzzer may be provided where the device is batterypowered to give an indication when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level, indicating that the batteries need to be replaced, since the delay time between motor activity may prevent the user from noticing that operation has ceased.

As with many types of automatic equipment, control of all functions of the device may be effected by a microprocessor.

The device may comprise a plurality of support means, for example turntables, which may be driven together by a single motor through appropriate gearing or a belt or chain drive. Alternatively, the device may be constructed so that additional turntable units may be fitted to the side of a base unit, for exa,ple to form a chain of such units, each having its own motor, and with power optionally supplied from the base unit. The control signals to determine the frequency of operation and the amount of rotation at each operation may be provided by the control means in the base unit, or separately controllable for each unit.

Since the device is suitable for use under plant pots and the like, and may be used out of doors, it will conveniently be provided with weather seals to prevent the ingress of moisture which might lead to corrosion and clectrical short circuit.

It will be appreciated that, while the device is especially suited to use with plants, it may also be used to display items in shops or museums, permitting for example the front and rear to be examined alternately at predetermined intervals.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device carrying a plant pot; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the device; and Figure 3 is a top plan view with the turntable removed.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the device comprises a body 1 having a turntable 2 forming the uppermost surface thereof. The turntable 2 is suitable for supporting relatively heavy items such as a plant pot 3, and may be provided with an upstanding rim (not shown) to contain any water which may escape from the bottom of the pot. The device has two control knobs 4 and 5 on the side wall of the body 1, the first 4 of which may be used to set the interval between turntable movements, while the second may be used to set the angle through which the turntable rotates each time it moves. An indicator light 6 may be caused too flash when the batteries contained in the body need to be replaced.

Figures 2 and 3 show the working components of the device. The turntable 2 is supported on four rollers 7 rotatably mounted in respective pillars 8 upstanding from the base 9 of the body 1, and by means of a central vertical axle 10 extending from the underside of the turntable and received in a socket in a fifth pillar 11 at the centre of the base 9. A ring of gear teeth 12 cxtends downwardly from the periphery of the turntable, the teeth being engaged by a gear wheel 13 driven, via reduction gearing 14, by an electric motor 15. The motor 15 is supplied with power from a pair of dry cell batteries 16 via an electronic controller 17 comprising two timing means whose operation is determined by the settings of two potentiometers 18 and 19 set by the knobs 4 and 5 respectively. The setting of the first potentiometer 18 determines the time period which elapses between the motor being actuated, while the setting of the second potentiometer 19 determines the time period which elapses between the motor being actuated and the power to the motor being switched off, corresponding to the angle through which the turntable rotates at each operation of the motor. This is conveniently between 0 and 180 .

The controller 17 also monitors the voltage of the batteries 16 and causes the indicator light 6 to flash if the voltage drops below a predetermined level, india cating that new batteries are required. An audible warning device may be incorporated as well as, or instead of, the indicator light.

Claims

1) A device for the controlled turning of objects, comprising support means for supporting the object, a motor for turning the support means, and control means for operating the motor for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals.

2) A device according to Claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a hook from which the object may be suspended, or a turntable on which the object may be placed.

3) A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the object is a plant pot.

4) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means comprises a first timer for switching on the supply of electric power to the motor, and a second timer for switching off the motor power supply.

5) A device according to Claim 4, wherein the second timer is initiated by the switching on of power to the motor.

6) A device according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein each timer is separately adjustable.

7) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means rotates between a quarter and a half of a revolution.

8) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the motor is an electric motor provided with reduction gearing to drive the support means through a circumferential ring gear on the underside of the turntable.

9) A device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein drive from the motor is through a belt or chain drive providing a reduction from the motor speed to the desired speed of the support means to turn the support means.

10) A device according to Claim 9, wherein the support means is turned through less than one revolution at each operation of the motor.

11) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

12) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein power for the motor is provided by a battery.

13) A device according to Claim 12, wherein the battery is a dry cell battery or a rechargeable battery.

14) A device according to Claim 13, wherein recharging is achieved by means of an array of solar cells located adjacent to the device.

15) A device according to any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein a warning light or buzzer is provided to give an indication when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level, indicating that the batteries need to be replaced, since the delay time between motor activity may prevent the user from noticing that operation has ceased.

16) A device according to any of Claims 1 to ii, wherein power for the motor is provided from a mains supply.

17) A device according to Claim 16, wherein power for the motor is provided from the mains supply by way of a transformer to reduce the voltage to a safe level.

18) A device according to Claim 17, wherein the transformer reduces the voltage to between 6 and 12 volts.

19) A device according to Claim 3 or any of Claims 4 to 18 when dependent upon Claim 3, wherein a light sensor is provided to provide an output which enables the operation of the motor only when ambient light levels are sufficient to affect the growth of a plant growing in the plant pot.

20) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein lights are provided to provide decorative illumination of the object.

21) A device according to Claim 20, wherein the lights are switched on and off manually, or may be caused to switch on by a light sensor.

22) A device according to Claim 21 when Claim 20 is dependent upon Claim 19 , wherein the light sensor is the light sensor used to enable and disable the operation of the motor controls.

23) A device according to one of Claims 20 to 22, wherein the lights are located around the body of the device to provide illumination from underneath the object, or on one or more arms extending from the device so as to provide illumination from above the object.

24) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein control of the functions of the device are effected by a microprocessor.

25) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a plurality of support means, driven by a single motor through appropriate gearing or a belt or chain drive.

26) A device according to any of Claims 1 to 24, wherein additional turntable units are fitted to the side of a base unit, each unit having its own motor, and with power optionally supplied from the base unit.

27) A device for the controlled turning of objects substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

27) A device according to Claim 26, wherein the control signals to determine the frequency of operation and the amount of rotation at each operation are either provided by the control means in the base unit, or are separately controllable for each unit.

28) A device for the controlled turning of objects substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1) A device for the controlled turning of objects, comprising support means for supporting the object, a motor for turning the support means, and control means for operating the motor for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals, and wherein the control means comprises a first timer for switching on the supply of electric power to the motor, and a second timer for switching off the motor power supply.

2) A device according to Claim 1, wherein the second timer is initiated by the switching on of power to the motor.

3) A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each timer is separately adjustable.

4) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second timers are adjusted so that the motor operates for a length of time which causes the support means to rotate between a quarter and a half of a revolution.

5) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the motor is an electric motor provided with reduction gearing to drive the support means through a circumferential ring gear on the underside of the turntable.

6) A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein drive from the motor is through a belt or chain drive providing a reduction from the motor speed to the desired speed of the support means to turn the support means.

7) A device according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the support means is turned through less than one revolution at each operation of the motor.

8) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

9) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein power for the motor is provided by a battery.

10) A device according to Claim 9, wherein the battery is a dry cell battery or a rechargeable battery.

11) A device according to Claim 10, wherein recharging is achieved by means of an array of solar cells located adjacent to the device.

12) A device according to any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein a warning light or buzzer is provided to give an indication when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level.

13) A device according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein power for the motor is provided from a mains supply.

14) A device according to Claim 13, wherein power for the motor is provided from the mains supply by way of a transformer to reduce the voltage to a safe level.

15) A device according to Claim 14, wherein the transformer reduces the voltage to between 6 and 12 volts.

16) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a hook from which the object may be suspended, or a turntable on which the object may be placed.

17) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the object is a plant pot.

18) A device according to Claim 17, wherein a light sensor is provided to provide an output which enables the operation of the motor only when ambient light levels are sufficient to affect the growth of a plant growing in the plant pot.

19) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein lights are provided to provide decorative illumination of the object.

20) A device according to Claim 19, wherein the lights are switched on and off manually, or may be caused to switch on by a light sensor.

21) A device according to Claim 20 when Claim 19 is dependent upon Claim 18, wherein the light sensor is the light sensor used to enable and disable the operation of the motor controls.

22) A device according to one of Claims 19 to 21, wherein the lights are located around the body of the device to provide illumination from underneath the object, or on one or more arms extending from the device so as to provide illumination from above the object.

23) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein control of the functions of the device is effected by a microprocessor.

24) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a plurality of support means, driven by a single motor through appropriate gearing or a belt or chain drive.

25) A device according to any of Claims 1 to 23, wherein additional turntable units are fitted to the side of a base unit, each unit having its own motor, and with power optionally supplied from the base unit.

26) A device according to Claim 25, wherein the control signals to determine the frequency of operation and the amount of rotation at each operation are either provided by the control means in the base unit, or are separately controllable for each unit.