JPH03292815A - Propagating matter for plant, and propagating case therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a hydrophilic open cellular foam which facilitates the passage of newly born plant roots, has excellent moisture absorptivity and moisture retaining power and is adequate as a multiplication body for plants by punching low-density and rigid closed cellular foamed polyurethane foams by mechanical means. CONSTITUTION: The many punched holes are formed at the rigid closed cellular polyurethane foams having the low density of 5 to 12kgs/m<3> by using a pair of opposite rollers 20a, 20b having plural diametral pins 22 and the closed cellular structure is at least partly destroyed, by which the open cellular structure is obtd. As a result, the passage of the newly born plant roots is facilitated and the moisture absorptivity and moisture retaining power are improved. The resulted foam bodies 14a, 14b, 14c, etc., are used and are arranged to face each other in such a manner that apertures 18 to receive the plants are formed, by which the multiplication body for the plants is obtd.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to synthetic resin materials for use in plant propagation, and in particular to modular materials.

(Prior Art) Traditional methods of rooting cuttings and growing seedlings used natural materials such as soil and peat. However, recently, in place of such natural materials, materials made of synthetic resins have come to be used for the most part. These have various forms, such as granular, shredded (fragmented), and porous. It is the latter, porous materials, that the present invention is particularly concerned with.

In order to provide optimal conditions for successful rooting of cuttings or seed growth, the synthetic substrate must be permeable to both air and the growing structure. In addition, it must be able to easily absorb moisture and exhibit appropriate moisture retention ability.

If the substrate is a porous resin material with a continuous surface (as opposed to granules, fragments, etc.), e.g. phenolic resin or polyurethane, air permeability and adequate moisture provision (and holding forces) are to a large extent mutually exclusive. This occurs because conventional porous materials consisting of pores of approximately the same size have poor capillarity.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The main object of the present invention is to improve the materials used for rooting cuttings and growing seedlings, such that the drawbacks of conventional synthetic resin materials are largely eliminated.

(Means for Solving the Problems, Actions and Effects) According to the present invention, a low density (5 to 12 kg5/m 3 ) and rigid (that is, closed cell) foamed polyurethane foam is provided. It is perforated by mechanical means over at least part of its thickness, resulting in a hydrophilic, heteroporous (i.e., open-celled) form that facilitates passage for new plant roots and facilitates water absorption and To facilitate retention, it provides an enlarged void population (as opposed to the dense cell structure of the unmodified form).

Perforation can be done by any suitable means. −
In an example, the holes can be punctured by a toothed or fork-like tool that is forcefully inserted into the body of the unmodified form. In another example, the perforation can be performed by intermittently supplying compressed air through a group of jets.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The present invention utilizes a low density, rigid polyurethane foam with elongated cells of the closed (single cell) type. Cell elongation occurs uniformly in any plane within the material, resulting in
The material will have an identifiable texture. The term "rigid" is a phrase commonly used in the polyurethane industry to distinguish it from "flexible" foams. Rigid polyurethane foams can be either open-celled or closed-celled, but the latter is usually used because the primary use of closed-cell ohms is for insulation and buoyancy applications. be. A typical open cell rigid polyurethane has a density of 32 kg5/m'', and its stiffness is derived from the material properties of the polyurethane formation itself.

"Low density" used here means 5 to 12 kg5/m
' means a form with a density of states. By reducing the density from 5 to 12 kg5/m@3, the material properties of the membrane structure of the walls of the polyurethane cells are significantly reduced. Apparent stiffness (or hardness) is provided by the gas trapped in the closed cell. If these cells rupture, the foam loses its rigidity and becomes somewhat similar to a flexible foam. However, its elasticity is very limited and its degree of compression is very high.

The rigidity of the original closed cell ohm facilitates processing as it facilitates cutting and drilling.

According to the invention, the low density rigid foam strip is perforated to at least partially destroy the closed cell structure. This can be achieved by many means, but
Two examples are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The mechanical perforation means shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of opposing rollers 20a, 20b, each provided with a plurality of radial pins 22.

These pins are arranged in an undulating manner between adjacent radial rows. To give a typical example, the pins are arranged in a staggered manner with 18 pitches.

The strip of low density foam passes through rotating rollers as indicated by the arrows. By this means, the closed cells are ruptured step by step by the pins. The perforation/texturing step may include passing the foam through rollers, ensuring that nearly all cells are ruptured.

FIG. 2 shows a means of pneumatically perforating a predetermined pattern of strips of low density foam by injecting air at 100 psi on both sides.

When the material thus formed is transformed into a contoured container of volume a predetermined factor less than the original form, an increase in density occurs on the outer surface of the form in contact with the walls of the container. For the difference to occur, and for it to be advantageous, the cells in the outer wall are first ruptured. This densification is beneficial because by increasing the density, water absorption/retention capacity is higher in areas away from the plant stem.

Because nutrients are provided in solution, the concentration of nutrient salts is highest in dense areas and lowest around the plant stem. Also, the deformed form is permanent when forced into a contoured container with a high degree of compression.

Thus, although the starting point is a non-hydrophilic foam, the perforation/texture configuration, competitive rupture, and subsequent densification provide beneficial air/moisture ratios and good water absorption, retention, and drainage properties. Becomes a hydrophilic foam. moreover,
Water must be readily available to plant roots. If the pores are too small, they are difficult to utilize; water contained in larger voids is more readily available.

The perforation/texture configuration provides a pattern of series of voids on the surface of the resulting growth unit that (in combination with the dense cells of the main form structure) has high capillary action and water retention. Furthermore, the structure of the growth unit must allow free passage for new roots.

If the plant roots are very vigorous, they can easily penetrate the low-density regions of the foam, whereas less vigorous roots will be stunted. Even powerful roots cannot penetrate densified territory unless their progress is facilitated by passages created by the drilling process.

The pattern and depth of the through holes are designed to provide a uniformly textured surface for a given foam thickness, and the perforation/texture configuration provided on the rollers on the top and bottom surfaces of the foam strips. The length of the spikes used and their relative positions are such that a suitable channel for root development is formed even after the deformation.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the means of utilizing the subject material to form a multi-lobed growth module consisting of three or four interconnected notch protrusions.

A strip 10 of low density polyurethane foam is molded with longitudinal slots 12, e.g.
At least part of its height is perforated as indicated at 13, such as by the device shown. A typical example is length 85ffIIa1 thickness 3olII11, height 4
0mm, slot width 5+++m (exaggerated in the drawing). Thus, in the case of FIG. 3, the resulting member is three body portions 14a connected by narrow membrane portions 16a, 16b.

14b and 14c. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, there are four main bodies 14, and therefore three membrane structures.

As shown in Figures 3a and 4a, with the connecting membrane set at the bottom, the outer body portion 14 rotates inward (as shown by arrow A) until its inner surfaces contact (the third
(see Figure b, Figure 4b). The resulting assembly is typically placed in a tray containing various tapered containers. This is typically formed by a vacuum-formed thermoflex sheet or molded from polyurethane foam, 40 mm in diameter and 40 mm deep, with one assembly placed in each container. be done. When the module is inserted into the container, the module assembly deforms due to the change in cross-sectional area resulting from the taper of the container wall so as to assume the shape shown in FIGS. 3C and 4C. Furthermore, when the assembly is forced into a container, the remaining closed cells tend to rupture, and this deformation is permanent (given the material's high compressibility and minimal elastic modulus).

It will be appreciated that, prior to insertion into the container, the seedlings or cuttings introduced into the central region 18 of the assembly will be held securely in position in an ideal developmental position.

5-7 illustrate another use of the burst textured material described above. , the block 3o of the foam has two slots and slits 32a, 32b formed at both edges thereof, which are perforated as described above. Typical block size is 110muX4
It is 1mm x 25mm. The slitted foam block semi-finished product thus formed is placed in the tapered recess of the annular part of the vacuum forming tray below the longitudinally displaceable tongue-shaped insert 34 (see Figure 7c). be done. Part 3
By lowering 4, the semi-finished product is
6a, 36b are forced into the tray recess so that they terminate in a horizontal plane approximately at the height of the top of the recess, and the junction between the two slots 32a, 32b and the end of the block is shown in FIG. 6a. Form a cross-curved slot as shown in plan view. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows the same condition regarding a rectangular tapered recess. Seedlings or cuttings can be placed in such equipment to provide an ideal growing environment.

Root development is influenced and promoted by the crisscross gaps provided in the propagation unit formed in the plastic tray. This structure has many advantages. First, it can accommodate inserts of plant cuttings with different stem diameters. When a plant rooted in such a module is then transferred to compost, the four vertical segments move outward to accommodate the increasing diameter of the stem. The latter is more effective if the bulb-forming seedlings are rooted in a propagation unit. First, an increase in volume at the base of the plant occurs through densification of the foam, then in the soil or compost, and further volume increases drive the vertical axis members outward.

When seedlings grown in tissue culture after being rooted in agar are established, by partially removing the propagation unit from its container, the four vertical members are pushed apart to accommodate the roots, and the unit tapers. When pushed back into the container, the plant's stems and roots are held in place so that the unit assumes its original shape.

The same method is similarly used to facilitate the planting of large seeds, small bulbs, etc. Insertion is easy and as the foam is pushed back into its container, the foam surrounding the seeds/bulbs densifies and forms an interface with the plant material.

Another use of the material of the invention is as an implantation module, in which a block of modified polyurethane material, e.g. It typically has a blind hole of diameter 40IIIOI and depth of 40mm to receive plants rooted in modules with 3 or 4 cut protrusions as described above.

A modification of this device is shown in Figures 8a-8b,
Form block 40 has a plurality of separate elongated sides 42a;
It consists of 42b, 42c, and 42d, each of which is
Preformed as described above (Figure 8b) from a flat strip, first perforated/textured and then placed between a pair of heated platens or rollers 44 to form multiple layers on each side of the foam blank. The result is a wavy shape with straight edges (Figure 8c). The thus contoured semi-finished products are then joined together as shown in Figure 8d to form the composite block of Figure 8a. In this construction, vertical interfaces of densified, perforated and textured contoured sheets enhance moisture absorption and drainage. The "grain" in the form perpendicular to the interface increases the water retention, which is also increased in the surface area of the interface as a result of the interlocking pattern (Figure 8d). The combination of vertical and horizontal channels facilitates root growth and form perforation. The voids created by the perforations facilitate the distribution of moisture to the plants at the contoured sheet interface.

The texture of the foam allows for individual units with higher moisture retention when the texture is horizontal, and increases drainage and moisture absorption when the texture is vertical.

For foam blocks of Figure 8a (foci square and 7.5 cm high), a central hole is drilled in the top (typically 40 mm diameter and 40 mm high), Figure 3.4.6.7 Receive the propagation unit mentioned above. The block is surrounded by a polyethylene sleeve 48.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which the multiple sheets of foam shown in FIG. 8d are formed into a block and wrapped in a polyethylene wrapper 50. The packaging can be replaced, for example with holes formed to receive the blocks of FIGS. 6 and 7.

In another embodiment, for example, the thickness is 4 cm, the width is 150 mm, and the length is I.
Sheets of polyurethane foam according to the invention up to M are placed in successive layers to form the desired depth of the growth substrate and sealed in a container made of polyethylene film. In that alternative device, the latter assembly is placed on a suitably shaped plastic tray and the surface of the assembly is covered by a sheet of polyethylene film.

In a further embodiment, the module of material according to the invention is oversized to provide for deformation by insertion into a container, for example of annular or square shape.

It can also form a supporting substrate for displaying cut flowers and other plants. This means that the upper surface and upper area of the block of low-density polyurethane foam is not modified to receive plant stems, but the lower part of the block (
The lower surface (including the lower surface) is perforated according to the invention to increase water retention and absorption in the lower region while maintaining an appropriate lack of moisture around the plant stem in the upper region.

Transplant or seed propagation modules can be formed by sheets of the material of the present invention.

The sheet is rolled to form a module of the desired diameter and placed in a thin polyethylene film container.

The cuttings or seeds to be transplanted are placed in the gaps between the layers of foam below the upper surface of the module.

The latter device, by removing the central part of the upper surface, can be made with a blind hole, e.g.
It is also possible to modify it to form a recess with a depth of 40 mm.

The roll of material in the latter case is held so that it does not come undone by a thin tape or string located near the center of the perimeter, and then a lid clipped to the open top surface and through which the stem of the growing plant passes. The container is housed in a plastic container with an opening that allows the

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two diagrams for forming materials according to the invention.
Schematic diagrams illustrating two possible methods, Figures 3a and 3b,
FIG. 3c is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of forming a module with three cut protrusions using the material according to the invention;
Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are schematic diagrams illustrating a method of forming a module with four cut protrusions according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a foam block formed according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6; is a schematic side view illustrating an example of the use of the embodiment of FIG. 5; FIG. 6a is a plan view of the structure formed according to FIG. 6; and FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing an alternative use of the embodiment of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7a is a
7b is a view corresponding to FIG. 6b; FIG. 7c is a front and side view of the tool used in the operations of FIGS. 6 and 7; Figure 8a shows a composite block made from strips of material according to the invention; Figures 8b, 8C and 8d are respectively side views of the block before contouring;
a side view illustrating the use of a profiling platen or roller; a side view of the resulting block of FIG. 8a;
FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment. 14a, I4b, 14 c =-form body, 18...
····Aperture. Engraving of drawings (no change of summer in the inner dormitory) FIG, 3d FIG, 3b ↓ FIG, 3C FIG, 4d FIG, 4t) Procedural amendment (method) % formula % Name of invention Plant propagation body and propagation device correction Relationship with the Case of Patent Applicant Address United Kingdom Cheshire Aldringham Ashley Road Name Synthetech Substrates (Holdinges) Limited. Agent 6゜April 24, 1990 Target of amendment (shipment date) Contents of amendment The engraving of the drawings originally attached to the application will be supplemented as shown in the attached sheet (no change in content). Patent Office Commissioner's amendment amendment (method) % formula % 8. Catalog of attached documents 2゜3゜Name of invention Relationship with the case of person who amends propagator and propagator for plants Patent applicant representative July 30, 1991 6. Subject of amendment (shipment date) 7. Contents of amendment (1) ``Figure 8a'' on page 21, line 15 of the specification will be corrected to ``Figure 8 1.'' (2) Same, page 21, lines 17 to 18, [Figures 8b, 8C, 8d] are replaced with ``Figures 8a, 8b, 8
0 We will correct the figure in Figure 1. (3) ``Figure 8a'' on page 21, line 20 has been corrected to ``Figure 8 1.''

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least part of the thickness is perforated by mechanical means, resulting in a hydrophilic heterocellular (open cell) foam that facilitates the passage of new plant roots. In addition, to promote water absorption and water retention (
(in contrast to the dense cellular structure of unmodified forms)
Low density (5-12 kgs/m^) providing expanded void groups
3) Rigid single cell (closed cell) polyurethane foam. 2. three or more foam bodies (
14a, 14b, 14c) formed by the foam of claim 1. 3. Consisting of two end bodies (14a, 14c) and one or more intermediate bodies (14b), the adjacent bodies are hingedly connected along the joining line (16a, I6b). The plant propagation body described in . 4. A plant according to claim 3, wherein the body is formed by providing a plurality of slots (12) in a single block of foam, forming a foam membrane system (16a, 16b) interconnecting adjacent bodies. growth body. 5. Claims 2 to 4, wherein the body (14) is substantially cuboidal.
The plant propagation material according to any one of the above. 6. A foam body consisting of a single body (30) with two opposing parallel slots (32a, 32b) passing through the foam body and along an axis perpendicular to the plane between the slots. 2. Plant propagation according to claim 1, in which a criss-cross shaped recess (32, 36) for receiving the plant is formed by the deformation of the plant. 7. The foam body has a substantially cubic shape before deformation to form a cross-shaped recess, and has a slot (32a).
, 32b) are formed at both ends of the block. 8. Before the block is deformed to form a cross-shaped recess, the foam surface has slots (32a, 32b
) The plant propagation body according to claim 6 or 7, which is substantially parallel to the plane of the plant. 9. A plant propagator comprising the plant propagator according to claims 2 to 8 and a container for receiving the plant propagator. 10. A plant propagator according to claim 9, wherein the plant propagator requires deformation in order to insert it into a container. 11. Multiple layers (42a,
42b, 42c, 42d). 12. The plant propagation body according to claim 11, wherein corrugations that engage with each other are formed on the joining surfaces of adjacent layers. 13. The ground grain of the foam is such that the layers (42a, 42b
, 42c, 42d). 14. A substantially impermeable membrane structure (
48) The plant propagation body according to any one of claims 11 to 13, having the following. 15. The plant propagation material according to any one of claims 11 to 14, comprising a substantially impermeable membrane tissue surrounding the entire foam layer. 16. Plant propagation according to claims 11 to 15, having openings formed in one or more foam layers for receiving plants. 17. The plant propagator according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the container comprises the plant propagator according to claims 11 to 16. 18. A support substrate for displaying cut flowers and other plant material comprising an upper layer of expanded plastic foam and a lower layer of foam according to claim 1.