JP2009034066A - Nursery tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nursery tray capable of effectively reducing or preventing leakage of culture soil or root entanglement while securing good drainability or water-retaining properties. <P>SOLUTION: The nursery tray 1 is obtained by connecting a plurality of cylindrical pots 10 opened at the upper end and having bottoms in row. The bottom part 12 of each of the pots 10 has draining holes 13, and the many draining holes 13 are formed into a perforation shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seedling tray.

  The seedling tray is called a pot (sometimes called a cell), which is a series of bottomed cylindrical seedling containers with an open upper end that are arranged in the same direction. It is used as a plant cultivation tool for growing seedlings at the same time.

  In this kind of seedling tray, the bottom of each pot is used as a drainage port for raising seedlings in the upper water supply system that supplies water from the top opening side, and the bottom water supply system (also called the pool bench system) that supplies water from the bottom side. In general, a through-hole (hereinafter referred to as a drainage hole) that functions as a water absorption port is provided when raising seedlings.

  By the way, this kind of seedling tray is usually used in the initial stage of seedling (within a predetermined period after sowing), and when the seedling grows to a predetermined size, the seedling contained in each pot is large. Transplanted into containers and fields of capacity. At the time of transplantation, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the seedling pushing tool 110 is inserted into the pot 100 through the drain hole 102 in the bottom 101 of each pot 100, and the seedling 120 and the soil 121 are inserted by the seedling pushing tool 110. By extruding to the opening side of the pot 100, the seedling 120 and the soil 121 are taken out from each pot 100 (see, for example, FIG. 11 of Patent Document 1).

As described above, the drainage holes provided at the bottom of each pot of the seedling tray may not only function as a drainage port or a water absorption port, but also function as an insertion port for a seedling pusher. Moreover, it is desirable that the processing cost required for drainage hole formation is as low as possible. Therefore, the drainage holes are often formed in a relatively large-diameter circular shape including the center of the bottom, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-215690 (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-188419 JP-A-10-215690

  However, when the hole diameter of the drainage hole is large as described above, the soil filled in the pot easily leaks to the outside through the drainage hole when the soil is filled or when transferred after the soil filling. For this reason, the producers are currently making separate efforts to collect the spilled soil. Further, as described above, since this kind of seedling tray is used in the initial stage of seedling raising, the volume of each pot is often set to the minimum necessary. Therefore, the decrease in the soil due to the soil leakage is likely to adversely affect the growth of the plant. Therefore, when the soil leakage occurs, it is necessary to refill the soil according to the amount of leakage. As described above, the seedling tray having the conventional configuration has poor work efficiency, which is a cause of increasing the production cost.

  Moreover, when the hole diameter of the drainage hole is large, for example, when raising seedlings by the upper water supply method, the drainage property is improved, but the water storage tends to be lowered, and it is necessary to frequently perform the water supply operation. Furthermore, when the roots are elongated, the roots are easily entangled with the drainage holes, and the roots may be broken during transplantation. Of course, it is possible to eliminate the problem of root loss by paying special consideration, but the transplanting operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to effectively suppress or prevent cultivation soil leakage and plant root entanglement while ensuring good drainage or water absorption. Is to provide a special seedling tray.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a seedling tray having a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper end and a plurality of pots having drain holes at the bottom in the same opening direction is provided. Provided is a seedling tray characterized by being provided in a large number in a grid. Here, the “bottom part” is a concept including not only the bottom surface of the bottom part but also the outer peripheral surface (outer surface).

  As described above, in the present invention, the drainage holes of each pot are perforated, that is, a large number of fine holes are provided. The root entanglement of the plant can be effectively suppressed or prevented. In addition, by providing the drain hole in the above-described manner, it is possible to prevent a sudden drainage immediately after water supply or to secure a good water absorption while securing a good drainage property. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of a series of seedling operations, and to reduce production costs.

  Further, by making the drain holes perforated, the drain holes can be provided uniformly throughout the bottom. In other words, this means that variations in drainage and water absorption in the radial direction can be suppressed or prevented as much as possible, and thus the plant growth is good.

  The perforated drainage hole can be formed by, for example, pressing a blade mold having a shape corresponding to the arrangement mode of the drainage hole and partially cutting the meat at the bottom. Therefore, the drainage hole of this aspect can be formed in the same procedure as the case where the circular drainage hole is provided, and no particular processing cost increase due to the drainage hole being formed in a perforated shape.

  By the way, in the seedling tray according to the present invention, since many perforated drainage holes are provided at the bottom, the seedling pusher is pressed against the pot bottom, and the bottom is partially broken along the drainage hole. After forming the pushing tool insertion port, the seedling pushing tool is inserted into the pot through this insertion port, so that the seedling can be taken out in the same manner as in FIG. However, in this case, depending on the arrangement mode of the drain holes, the pressing mode of the seedling pusher, etc., the bottom part partially falls out, and the bottom part that has fallen out is transplanted together with the seedling, and it is necessary to separately collect the bottom part that has fallen out. May occur. In consideration of such a situation, it is desirable to provide at least a part of a large number of drain holes provided along a track surrounding a predetermined area including the center of the bottom and excluding a part of the track. With such a configuration, a perforated drainage hole does not exist in a partial region of the track surrounding the predetermined area portion. Therefore, the bottom part is prevented from falling off by inserting the seedling pushing tool into the pot so as to push the predetermined area portion of the bottom part.

  In the above configuration, the peripheral edge portion of each drainage hole can be formed in a raised shape on the outer surface side or inner surface side of the bottom portion. If the peripheral edge of each drainage hole is formed in a raised shape in this way, the peripheral edge functions as a reinforcing rib, so that the bottom of the pot, and thus the strength (rigidity) of the seedling tray can be increased. Improve. In addition, the peripheral part of each drainage hole deform | transforms the peripheral part of each drainage hole to the pressing direction front side of a blade type | mold after cutting the meat | flesh of a bottom part partially with a blade type (after forming a drainage hole). By this, it can form in a raised shape on the outer surface side or inner surface side of the bottom.

  As described above, the seedling tray according to the present invention can effectively suppress or prevent the soil leakage and the root entanglement of the plant while ensuring good drainage or water absorption. Thereby, the efficiency of the seedling raising operation can be improved, and the operation cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially showing an embodiment of a seedling tray 1 according to the present invention. The seedling tray 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of pots 10 having a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper end arranged in the same direction. For example, a polypropylene (PP) resin sheet is vacuum-formed. , A resin molded product obtained by pressure forming or vacuum / pressure forming. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the overall size of the seedling tray 1 is approximately 300 mm long × 600 mm wide, and a plurality of pots 10 set to appropriate dimensions according to the application are provided in a row in the vertical and horizontal directions. The The seedling tray 1 is molded using a polypropylene (PP) resin sheet and other resin materials suitable for molding the seedling tray 1 of this type, for example, a polystyrene (PS) resin sheet. You can also

  The seedling raising tray 1 in the illustrated example includes a side wall portion 2 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge thereof and a heel portion 3 extending from the lower end of the side wall portion 2 to the outer diameter side. Is not necessarily provided.

  In FIG. 2, the expanded sectional view (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1) of the pot 10 which comprises the seedling raising tray 1 is shown. Each pot 10 of the seedling tray 1 according to the present embodiment has a bottomed cylinder in which a cylindrical portion 11 whose upper end is opened in a substantially rectangular shape (see FIG. 1) and a bottom portion 12 that closes the lower end of the cylindrical portion 11 are integrated. Shape. The bottom portion 12 is provided with a drain hole 13 that communicates the inside and outside of the pot 10. The drain hole 13 functions as a drain port when water is supplied from the top opening side, and when water is supplied from the bottom portion 12 side. Functions as a water inlet.

  A large number of drain holes 13 are provided in a perforated shape. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, perforated drain holes 13 are arranged along an annular track surrounding a predetermined area including the center O of the bottom portion 12, and arranged in the annular shape. Further, three patterns of drain holes 13 (hereinafter referred to as array patterns 14) are provided concentrically with different diameters. Note that the arrangement pattern 14 of the drain holes 13 is not limited to an annular shape as illustrated, but may be an arbitrary shape such as an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, or a star shape. Further, the arrangement pattern 14 of the drain holes 13 is not limited to three, and it is of course possible to provide one, two, or four or more. When providing a plurality of array patterns 14 of drain holes 13 as in this embodiment, a plurality of array patterns 14 of the same shape can be provided, or a plurality of patterns of different shapes can be combined and provided. Furthermore, the drain holes 13 are not necessarily arranged regularly as described above, and may be arranged irregularly (randomly) over the entire bottom portion 12. That is, there is no special limitation in the arrangement | positioning aspect of the drain hole 13, and it changes suitably so that the drainage property etc. which are calculated | required are satisfied.

  As shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2, the peripheral edge portion of each drain hole 13 has a shape that rises to the outer surface side of the bottom portion 12, and its cross-sectional shape (strictly speaking, the lower cross-section of the drain hole 13. (Shape) exhibits a tapered shape in which the inner diameter dimension is gradually reduced upward. In addition, each drainage hole 13 is made into the dimension which can prevent the leakage and root entanglement of the culture medium with which the pot 10 is filled.

  Although detailed illustration is omitted, the seedling raising tray 1 is formed as follows, for example. First, a seedling raising tray 1 having a predetermined shape is molded from a resin sheet. Thereafter, a blade mold having a shape corresponding to the arrangement pattern of the drain holes 13 is pressed against the inner surface of the bottom portion 12 of each pot 10 to partially cut the meat of the bottom portion 12, and the portion (drain holes 13) cut by the blade mold. The peripheral edge is raised to the outer surface side of the bottom 12. Thereby, each drain hole 13 and its peripheral part become the aspect shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG.

  As described above, in the seedling tray 1 according to the present invention, the drain holes 13 of each pot 10 are provided in a number of perforations, that is, a large number of fine holes. It is possible to effectively suppress or prevent the soil leakage through the soil and the root entanglement of the plant in the drainage hole. In addition, by adopting the drain hole 13 in the above mode, when the upper water supply method is adopted as the seedling raising method, the water supply frequency is reduced by preventing rapid drainage immediately after water supply while ensuring good drainage. In the case of adopting the bottom surface water supply method, good water absorption can be ensured. From the above, it is possible to improve the efficiency of a series of seedling operations, and it is possible to reduce the production cost.

  Further, by making the drain holes 13 perforated, the drain holes 13 can be provided in various places on the bottom portion 12. This means that the variation in the radial direction of the drainage function or water absorption function can be suppressed as much as possible, and the growth of seedlings can be improved compared to the conventional configuration in which drainage holes are locally provided. .

  Moreover, the peripheral part of each drainage hole 13 is formed on the outer surface side of the bottom part 12 so as to rise, and the peripheral part functions as a reinforcing rib. Therefore, the strength of the bottom portion 12 and thus the pot 10 is improved, and the handleability of the seedling tray 1 is improved. Further, by forming the peripheral edge of each drainage hole 13 so as to rise on the outer surface side of the bottom 12, the cross-sectional shape of each drainage hole 13 (strictly, the sectional shape on the lower side of the drainage hole 13) is potted. 10 It can be set as the taper shape gradually reduced in diameter toward the inner side. Therefore, in particular, when raising seedlings by the bottom surface water supply method, water can be drawn into the pot 10 by the capillary force, and efficient water supply becomes possible.

  Since the perforated drain holes 13 can be formed by the simple means as described above, they can be formed at a processing cost equivalent to that when the drain holes are formed in a circular shape. Therefore, the seedling raising tray 1 that can exhibit various effects as described above can be obtained at low cost.

  In addition, since the seedling tray 1 having the above-described configuration is provided with a large number of drain holes 13 in the form of perforations, for example, draining holes 13 located on the innermost diameter side can be taken out from each pot 10 during transplantation. A seedling extruding tool 31 having a contour line that substantially matches the shape of the array pattern 14 (that is, the seedling extruding tool 31 having an annular contour line in this embodiment, shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) along the drain hole 13. The bottom portion 12 is partially pushed through to form a large-diameter through hole (insertion port), and the seedling pusher 31 inserted into the pot 10 through the insertion port is used to bring seedling and soil into the opening side of the pot 10. This can be done by pushing up. In addition, as long as the bottom part 12 can be pushed through in this aspect, the seedling pushing tool 31 may not have a contour line that substantially matches the arrangement pattern 14 of the drain holes 13. That is, for example, even if the arrangement pattern 14 of the drain holes 13 is an annular shape, the seedling pusher 31 having a rectangular or polygonal outline can be used. On the contrary, for example, even if the arrangement pattern 14 of the drain holes 13 is rectangular, the seedling pushing tool 31 whose contour line has an annular shape can be used.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the arrangement pattern of the perforated drain holes 13 to be provided in the bottom 12 of each pot 10 is different from that shown in FIG. Is an example of a configuration in which a portion is provided along a trajectory surrounding a predetermined area including the center O of the bottom portion 12 and excluding a partial region of the trajectory. Briefly, the configuration is different from that shown in FIG. 3 in that the array pattern 14 of the drain holes 13 located on the innermost diameter side is formed in an arc shape.

  In this case, since there is an annular region where the drainage hole 13 is not provided, even if the seedling pushing tool 31 is inserted into the inner periphery of the pot 10 in the same manner as described above, the bottom 12 is provided with the drainage hole 13. It can be opened and closed with a non-existing region as a fulcrum (conceptually shown in FIG. 5). That is, in the arrangement | positioning aspect of the drain hole 13 shown in FIG. 3, although there exists a possibility that the bottom part 12 may fall out partially at the time of insertion of the seedling pushing tool 31, by setting it as the arrangement | positioning form shown in FIG. Omission can be effectively prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a reduction in work efficiency such as separately collecting the dropped bottom portion 12.

  In the above description, the case where the peripheral edge of each drainage hole 13 is formed in a raised shape on the outer surface side of the bottom 12 has been described. However, the peripheral edge of each drainage hole 13 has a blade shape for forming the drainage hole 13 as the bottom 12. By pressing from the outer bottom surface side, it can be formed in a raised shape on the inner surface side of the bottom portion 12.

  Moreover, although the case where the perforated drainage hole 13 was provided only in the bottom face of the bottom part 12 was demonstrated above, many drainage holes 13 are provided in the outer peripheral surface of the bottom part 12 (lower end of the cylinder part 11). (The illustration is omitted).

  Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and includes the equivalent meanings recited in the claims and all modifications within the scope.

It is a partial perspective view of the seedling raising tray which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1, and is sectional drawing of the pot which comprises a seedling raising tray. It is the top view which looked at FIG. 2 from the B direction, and is the bottom part top view of a pot. FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a pot in which drain holes are arranged in a manner different from that in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the taking-out mode of the seedling at the time of using the pot shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the seedling extraction mode at the time of using the raising seedling tray of a conventional structure, and it.

Explanation of symbols

1 seedling tray 10 pot 11 tube 12 bottom 13 drain hole 14 array pattern 31 seedling pusher O center of bottom

Claims (3)

In the seedling tray in which a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper end and a plurality of pots having drain holes at the bottom are arranged continuously in the same opening direction,
A seedling tray, wherein the drainage holes are provided in a number of perforations.   Among the plurality of drain holes provided, at least a part of the drain holes is provided along a track surrounding a predetermined area including the center of the bottom and excluding a partial region of the track. The seedling tray according to claim 1.   The seedling raising tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a peripheral edge portion of each drainage hole is formed so as to rise on the outer surface side or the inner surface side of the bottom portion.

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