NL2026808B1

NL2026808B1 - Growing Tray

Info

Publication number: NL2026808B1
Application number: NL2026808A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Wilhelmus Dekker Cornelis
Original assignee: Dekker Chrysanten B V
Priority date: 2020-11-02
Filing date: 2020-11-02
Publication date: 2022-06-27

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of planting plants, such as cuttings or arranged in plant plugs in the ground, the method comprising the steps of providing a growing tray, providing one or more plant plugs having a plant, such as a cutting or a seedling arranged therein, wherein each of the plant plugs is arranged in a respective cultivating cell of the growing tray and held in between plug positioning ridges of that cell, and wherein the grooves of the cultivating cells are unobstructed by the plant plugs. The method further comprises the steps of inserting planting jaws in a respective groove of the cultivating cell of the growing tray in which a plant plug is arranged, moving the jaws towards each other to clamp the plant plug in between them, displacing the plant plug towards a planting location with thejaws, inserting thejaws and the plant plug in the ground at the planting location, and moving thejaws away from each other to release the plant plug.

Description

P34778NLOO/TRE Title: Growing tray Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method of planting plants, such as cuttings or seedlings arranged in plant plugs in the ground, in particular for planting chrysanthemum cuttings arranged in paper pot plugs, by means of a planting apparatus and a growing tray. The present invention further relates to a growing tray for growing and cultivating plants arranged in plugs, in particular for growing and cultivating chrysanthemum cuttings arranged in paper pot plugs, and to a method for handling plants arranged in plant plugs.

State of the art At present, it is commonly known to grow plants, such as cuttings or seedlings in growing trays. The cuttings or seedlings are thereby grown to an extent at which they are sufficiently strong to be planted in the ground, for example in the ground in greenhouses, like it is usually done with chrysanthemum cuttings.

These known growing trays are thereby filled with plant growth medium, such as soil that is compacted and subdivided in various plant growth medium, e.g. soil cubes. Each of these cubes thereafter receives a cutting or seedling and after the cuttings or seedlings have been bred, the entire soil cube is planted in the ground. It is also known to grow plants in plant plugs, e.g. volumes of loose soil that are enclosed by a wrapper to hold the soil together, which are held in growing tray to keep them correctly oriented.

These known growing and cultivating methods have the drawback that the soil cubes and the plant plugs are tightly enclosed by the growing trays in which they are arranged, whereas they need to be removed from the growing trays automatically to be planted in the ground. The planting machines used therefor comprise jaws that need to surround the soil cube or plant plug to clamp it and to move it towards the planting location.

During this inserting of the jaws in between the soil cubes, the roots of the plant may get damaged, since these roots grow towards the edges of the soil cubes, whereas the jaws are inserted at these edges. During inserting of the jaws in between the plant plugs, the jaws may damage the wrapper of the plant plug, possibly resulting in collapsing of the plug. In both these situations, the plant may be damaged and their conditions may be deteriorated, resulting in reduced growth and yield once planted.

Object of the invention It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a growing tray and planting method that

2. reduces the damaging of the plants during handling and planting, or at least to provide an alternative growing tray and planting method.

Detailed description The present invention provides a method of planting plants, such as cuttings or seedlings arranged in plant plugs in the ground, in particular for planting chrysanthemum cuttings arranged in paper pot plugs, by means of a planting apparatus comprising at least two planting jaws, the method comprising the step of providing a growing tray.

The growing tray comprises a main body, and a plurality of cultivating cells, which are defined as open-top cavities in the main body and which are each configured to receive a plant plug, wherein each of the cultivating cells is defined by a circumferential cell wall and a bottom wall, wherein the cultivating cells are arranged in a plurality of rows extending in a first, e.g. longitudinal horizontal direction, wherein the rows of cultivating cells are arranged side-by-side in a second, e.g. transverse horizontal direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, wherein each circumferential cell wall comprises a plurality of plug positioning ridges, which substantially extend in a downward vertical direction, wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell are together configured to hold a plant plug in between them, and wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell define at least two grooves in between them on opposed sides of the cell, which substantially extend in the downward vertical direction.

The method further comprises the steps of: providing one or more plant plugs having a plant, e.g. a cutting or a seedling arranged therein, preferably one or more paper pot plugs having a chrysanthemum cutting arranged therein, wherein each of the plant plugs is arranged in a respective cultivating cell of the growing tray and held in between plug positioning ridges of that cell, and wherein the grooves of the cultivating cells are unobstructed by the plant plugs, inserting each of the planting jaws in a respective groove of the cultivating cell of the growing tray in which a plant plug is arranged, moving the jaws towards each other to clamp the plant plug in between them, displacing the plant plug towards a planting location with the jaws, inserting the jaws and the plant plug in the ground at the planting location, and moving the jaws away from each other to release the plant plug.

The planting method according to the invention is aimed at planting plants, such as cuttings or in the ground by means of a planting apparatus with at least two planting jaws, wherein the plants are provided in plant plugs.

The plant plugs may have a cylindrical shape, e.g. having a circular cross-section seen in a vertical direction, but may also have a conical shape, e.g. tapering in a downward vertical direction.

Preferably, the plant plugs are paper pot

-3- plugs, e.g. a volume of plant growth medium, in particular soil surrounded by a paper wrapper. These paper plugs can be planted in the ground entirely, after which the paper wrapper will disintegrate gradually over time. The plants are preferably chrysanthemum cuttings. Such chrysanthemum cuttings are typically grown in greenhouses in the ground, although planting of plants outside greenhouses and/or not in the ground, but for example in pots can also be envisaged with the present planting method. Alternative types of plant plugs may comprise a volume of plant growth medium surrounded by a netting or may comprise a volume of plant growth medium that is bonded internally, for example by mixing the soil with an adhesive to form a rigid volume of plant growth medium.

According to the present method, an inventive growing tray is provided, which enables the automated planting of the plant plugs. The tray is a rigid tray, which can be handled automatically on itself, e.g. not requiring additional support or the like and it can be stacked on top of another tray during the growing and cultivating of the plants.

The growing tray has a main body, in which a plurality of cultivating cells is provided.

The main body is preferably a rectangular main body, having a relatively large length in one direction and having a relatively small width in a second orthogonal direction. The cells are open at the top and are delimited by the main body from the side. The cells are each configured to receive a plant plug, being insertable therein from above, e.g. in a downward vertical direction.

Each of the cells is defined from the side by a circumferential cell wall and from the bottom by a bottom wall. The circumferential wall surrounds the respective cell and may have various shapes, such as rectangular, square or circular, when seen from above, e.g. in the downward vertical direction. The circumferential wall may be aligned parallel to the vertical direction, to define cells with a substantially constant cross-section over their height in the vertical direction, but may also at least partially be aligned slightly off-set with the vertical direction to define a tapered cultivating cell, which may be beneficial in clamping the plant plugs within the cells. The bottom wall is configured to close-off the cell from the bottom, for example to hold the plug inside the cell and/or to accumulate a sufficient amount of water in the cell.

The cells are arranged in a plurality of rows extending in a first horizontal direction, e.g. at least in a standing orientation of the growing tray during the growing and cultivating of the plants. This first direction is preferably a longitudinal direction, which may be defined as a direction parallel to the longest side of the growing tray. In each row, multiple cells may be defined adjacent one another in the first direction.

The rows of cells are arranged side-by-side in a second horizontal direction, which may be a transverse direction that is aligned perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, the neighbouring cells of each row are aligned perpendicular to the first direction in which the

-4- rows extend. In an exemplary embodiment, the growing tray may have a length in the first direction of 80 centimetres and may comprise rows that each contain 16 cultivating cells. The tray may have a width of 40 centimetres in the second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, and may comprise 13 rows arranged side-by-side. Alternatively, it can also be envisaged that the second direction is aligned non-perpendicular to the first direction, so that the rows may end up in a staggered orientation with respect to each other and that the cells are for example arranged in a honeycomb-like shape.

Each circumferential cell wall comprises a plurality of plug positioning ridges, which substantially extend in a vertical direction. The plug positioning ridges may protrude inwardly from nominal portions of the cell wall, e.g. protruding in a direction towards the centre of the respective cell. The plug positioning ridges of each cell are together configured to hold a plant plug in between them, in order to securely hold the plug and to prevent the plug from being damaged during handling of the tray. Preferably, each cell comprises at least three plug positioning ridges, in order to securely hold the plugs against movements and rotations in three orthogonal directions, preferably to prevent the plugs from tilting over.

The plug positioning ridges may protrude from the nominal portions of the cell wall to an extent that a remaining perimeter in between them substantially corresponds to an outer perimeter of the plug. In this way, relative movements and/or rotations between the plug and the tray may be prohibited. Moreover, the perimeter between the plug positioning ridges may atleast locally be somewhat smaller than the outer perimeter of the plug, to effect that the plug is somewhat deformed inwardly by the ridges upon inserting in the cell and to effect that the plug is securely clamped in between the ridges.

The plug positioning ridges of each cell define at least two grooves in between them on opposed sides of the cell, which substantially extend in the vertical direction. These vertical grooves are to be located on opposite sides of a plug that is to be inserted in the cell and are configured to remain unobstructed after the plug has been inserted. In this way, the grooves provide access from above towards side walls of the plug and the unobstructed grooves enable insertion of the jaws to clamp the plug in between them, without damaging the plug.

Each cell may comprise only two grooves, which may then be located diametrically opposite to each other, e.g. defining an angle of 180° in between them, seen from the centre of the cell. These two grooves may oppose each other in the first, e.g. longitudinal direction of the tray, whereas no grooves may be present perpendicularly, e.g. to oppose each other in the second, transverse direction.

Alternatively, each cell may also comprise three or four grooves, defining respective angles of 120° and 90° in between them.

Each of the cells may have a length in the first, e.g. longitudinal direction in between two nominal portions of the cell wall that oppose each other in the first direction and may have

-5- a width in the second, e.g. transverse direction in between two nominal portions of the cell wall that oppose each other in the second direction. This length and width may be selected on the basis of the size of the plant plug that is to be received in the cells. For example, the plant plugs may have a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 30 mm, preferably 25 mm. Accordingly, the cells may each have a length in the range of 28 mm to 40 mm, for example 34 mm and the cells may each have a width in the range of 23 mm to 35 mm, for example 29 mm.

In embodiments, the length of the cells is in the range of 140% to 133%, for example 136% of the diameter of the plant plug. The width of the cells may thereby be in the range of 115% to 117%, for example 116% of the diameter of the plant plug.

The grooves in between the plug positioning ridges may have a depth, being defined as a distance between a side wall of the plant plug received in the cell and the neighbouring nominal portion of the cell wall that is faced, e.g. in a direction perpendicular to this nominal portion of the cell wall. The depth of the grooves may be selected on the basis of the size of the plant plug that is to be received in the cells. For example, the plant plugs may have a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 30 mm, preferably 25 mm. Accordingly, the grooves may each have a depth in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm, for example 4 mm. Additionally, the length of the cells may be in the range of 28 mm to 40 mm, for example 34 mm and the width of the cells may be in the range of 23 mm to 35 mm, for example 29 mm.

In embodiments, the depth of the grooves is in the range of 10% to 25%, for example 16% of the diameter of the plant plug.

The method further comprises the step of providing one or more plant plugs having a plant, such as a cutting or a seedling arranged therein. Each of the plant plugs is provided by being arranged in a respective cultivating cell of the growing tray. The growing tray is thus provided with at least one cell, but preferably all cells, being filled with a plant plug. Each of the plugs is held in between the plug positioning ridges of its respective cell, wherein the grooves of the cultivating cells are unobstructed by the plant plugs, e.g. allowing for access between the plugs and the nominal portions of the cell wall from above. In particular, the providing of the plant plugs may involve the providing of one or more paper pot plugs having a chrysanthemum cutting arranged therein.

Next, the method comprises the inserting each of the planting jaws in a respective groove of the cultivating cell of the growing tray in which a plant plug is arranged. In this way, the jaws are introduced from above in between the plugs and the nominal portions of the cell, e.g. to face the outer surface of the plugs.

The planting apparatus may comprise various sets of planting jaws, each set comprising at least two planting jaws. Each of the sets may be assigned to a respective cell of the tray, so that the respective jaws of a set may each surround a respective plugin a

-6- respective cell. In this way, multiple plants may be planted simultaneously, e.g. each with its own set of jaws.

After inserting the jaws in the grooves, the jaws are moved towards each other to clamp the plant plug in between them This clamping may take place in a direction towards the centre of the cell and away from the cell wall, e.g. from the nominal portion of the cell wall. In particular, the respective jaws within each set of jaws may be moved towards each other to clamp a plant plug with each set of jaws.

Next, the method comprises the displacing of the plant plug towards a planting location with the jaws, so that the plugs are moved out of their respective cells and towards the ground to be planted for further growth. The displacing of the plugs may first involve a movement in the vertical upward direction, to lift the plugs out of their cells, and subsequently a horizontal and/or vertical movement from a location above the tray towards the planting location.

At the planting location, the jaws and the plant plug are inserted in the ground at the planting location, e.g. by a downward vertical movement, in order to plant the plugs in the ground. Next, the jaws are moved away from each other to release the plant plug, so that the plug with its plant remains in the ground. After releasing the plugs, the jaws of the planting apparatus can be moved back towards the tray, in order to clamp and plant subsequent plants.

The planting method according to the present invention allows the plant plugs to be gripped from the side automatically by means of jaws that are inserted in free grooves on opposite sides of the plug. Opposed to known methods, in which the inserting involved unfavourable sheering of the plugs, can the inventive method be carried out without contacting the plugs during inserting of the jaws. This is mainly contributed to the inventive shape of the growing tray, comprising cells with plug position ridges in between which grooves are defined. By inserting the jaws of the planting apparatus in these grooves, the plug can be clamped reliably and without damaging of the plug.

In an embodiment, the cultivating cells each have a substantially rectangular shape, seen in the downward vertical direction, and each cell comprises four plug positioning ridges, which are arranged at corner points of the rectangular circumferential cell wall.

The cell wall thereby comprises four nominal cell wall portions, wherein two nominal portions are aligned in the first, e.g. longitudinal direction and wherein two other nominal portions are aligned in the second, e.g. transverse direction. Seen from above, the four nominal portions may define a rectangular shape, wherein the ridges form indents at the intersections of each two adjacent nominal portions. The rectangular cells may have a relatively large length in the first direction and may have a relatively small width, e.g.

-7- compared to the length, in the second direction. The ridges are located at the corners of the rectangular cells, e.g. seen from above, so that the plugs are to be held from the four corners in a cross-like ridge pattern.

In a further embodiment, each two adjacent plug positioning ridges, e.g. in the second direction, define a respective groove in between them, and these two grooves are, seen in the first direction, located opposite to each other.

In addition to the rectangular shape of the cells, each cell here only contains two grooves. These grooves are defined by each two plug positioning ridges that neighbour each other in the second, e.g. transverse direction. Seen in the first direction, the grooves are located on opposite sides of the cell, to allow the plug to be gripped by jaws from these opposite sides. Furthermore, no grooves are defined between the ridges that neighbour each other in the first direction, which implies that the cells are substantially free of grooves that face the plug in the second direction, and that the plugs closely abut the nominal portions of the cell wall that are aligned parallel to the first direction.

Accordingly, the cells are relatively narrow in the second direction, so that the neighbouring cells can be placed closer together in the second direction than in the first direction. As a result, the tray may have a relatively large number of cells, compared to when the cells were to comprise grooves on all four sides, which would necessarily require a larger footprint per cell.

The grooves in between the plug positioning ridges may have a depth in the first direction in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm, for example 4 mm. Accordingly, the distance between the plant plug and the nominal portions of the cell wall that are aligned parallel to the first direction and that face the plug in the second direction may be very small, for example in between 0 mm and 1 mm, preferably 0,5 mm, to effect that the cells are substantially free of grooves that face the plug in the second direction.

The depth of the grooves may be selected on the basis of the size of the plant plug that is to be received in the cells. For example, the plant plugs may have a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 30 mm, preferably 25 mm. Accordingly, the depth of the grooves in the first direction may be in the range of 10% to 25%, for example 16% of the diameter of the plant plug. The depth of the grooves in the second direction may thereby be in the range of 0% to 4%, for example 2% of the diameter of the plant plug.

In a further embodiment, each plug positioning ridge comprises a first side surface, which lies in a plane at least having a component perpendicular to the first direction, a second side surface, which is connected to the first side surface and which lies in a plane perpendicular to the second direction, and a clamping edge that forms a transition between

-8- the first side surface and the second side surface. According to this embodiment, each two adjacent second side surfaces together define a groove and are preferably aligned parallel to each other, for example aligned in the vertical direction.

The first side surfaces of the ridges are preferably integrally connected to the second side surfaces, so that the clamping edges, e.g. in between the side surfaces, form an integral part of the ridges.

The first side surfaces of the plug positioning ridges at least partially face in the first direction, but may also have components facing in the second direction and/or the vertical direction. Instead, the second side surfaces lie in a plane that has no component in the first direction, but may be at least partly tapered to have a component facing in the vertical direction.

The grooves are defined between the second side surfaces of each two adjacent plug positioning ridges, wherein these two second side surfaces are preferably aligned parallel to each other. As a result, the width of the grooves in the second direction may be constant over their height, to enable convenient insertion of jaws, without getting stuck in between the second side surfaces. For example, both of these second surfaces lie in a plane perpendicular to the second horizontal direction, so that the grooves have a constant width and that they are aligned with the vertical direction.

In an embodiment, each clamping edge comprises multiple, for example three discrete clamping edge parts. These clamping edge parts may be continuations of each other over the height of the plug positioning ridges, but are aligned non-parallel with each other and each have a different function.

A first, e.g. upper clamping edge part may be aligned at a relatively large first angle with the vertical direction. The first angle may be between 10° and 20°, for example 15° with respect to the vertical direction. In between the first clamping edge parts of a cell, the positioning ridges may serve as a run-in guide for the plugs, in order to roughly position the plugs for entry in the cells, without damaging the plugs on the ridges.

A second, e.g. intermediate clamping edge part may be located directly below the first clamping edge part and may be aligned at a relatively small second angle with the vertical direction. The second angle may be between 0° and 5°, for example 1° with respect to the vertical direction. In between the second clamping edge parts of a cell, the positioning ridges may serve as a centring guide for the plugs, in order to accurately position the plugs in the centre of the cells. With a second angle of 0° with the vertical direction, the second clamping edge parts may mainly function as side supports for the plugs, whereas a non-zero second angle may additionally provide for a tapering and for fine-tuning of the centred positon of the plugs in the cells.

-9- A third, e.g. lower clamping edge part may be located directly below the second clamping edge part and directly above the bottom wall and may be aligned at a third angle with the vertical direction. The third angle may be between 2° and 10°, for example 5° with respect to the vertical direction. In between the third clamping edge parts of a cell, the positioning ridges may serve as a clamp for the plugs, in order to securely clamp the plugs inside the cells. Hence, the third clamping edge parts may effect an inward deformation of the plugs during insertion of the plug in between them to obtain a shape fit between the third clamping edge parts and the plug. Accordingly, this clamping may secure the position of the plug inside the cells during growing and cultivating and handling of the trays.

In an embodiment, the plug positioning ridges each comprises a rear surface on a side facing away from their respective cultivating cell, wherein the rear surfaces of four neighbouring plug positioning ridges of four neighbouring cultivating cells together define a through evaporation opening towards a lower surface of the main body.

Since the ridges protrude into the cells, e.g. seen with respect to the nominal portions of the cell wall, the rear surfaces are spaced at a distance from each other. In between the spaced rear surfaces, e.g. of the four ridges that join each other at the intersection between four neighbouring cultivating cells, the evaporation opening is defined. This evaporation opening extends downward towards a ground plane on which the tray is arranged, to allow evaporation of excess moisture, such as water on the ground plane and to prevent the roots of the plant from being submerged in excess liquids during growing and cultivating , which could otherwise result in rotting off the roots.

In an embodiment, the bottom walls of the cultivating cells each comprises a through discharge opening, configured to discharge excess liquids from the cells. These discharge openings provide access from the interior of the cells towards the ground plane on which the tray is arranged, to allow leaking of excess liquids from the cells towards the ground plane and to prevent the plugs from being drowned inside the cells.

In a further embodiment, lower ends of the grooves of each cultivating cell project into dewatering channels towards the discharge opening of the respective cell. In this way, any excess water may flow through the grooves towards the discharge opening. Accordingly, this excess water does not need to travel through the plugs, which would otherwise be the case when the plugs were to be fully surrounded directly by a cell wall, as in the prior art trays.

In a further embodiment, the bottom walls each comprise plug positioning notches, in between which the dewatering channels are defined, wherein the plug positioning notches of

-10- each cultivating cell are configured to support the respective plant plug that is received therein.

The notches are provided next to the dewatering channels and are elevated with respect to the dewatering channels. With the plug being supported on the notches, the dewatering channels are provided lower than the plug that rests on the notches, so that the excess water may flow through the dewatering channels underneath the plug, instead of through the plug itself.

In an embodiment, the growing tray further comprises two handles, which are integrally connected to the main body at opposed sides thereof and which extend in an upward vertical direction from the main body, wherein the handles are configured to support another growing tray that is to be stacked thereon.

The integral connection between the handles and the main body of the tray may provide for sufficient strength for stacking the trays on top of each other, whilst preventing collapse of the stack of trays Furthermore, the upwardly-extending handling can protect the plant plants that grow out of the recesses during use of the tray.

In a further embodiment, the handles each comprise a first stacking arrangement at a top surface thereof, a bottom plane of the main body comprises a second stacking arrangement that substantially corresponds to the first stacking arrangements, wherein the first stacking arrangements of the growing tray are configured to interlock with the second stacking arrangement of another growing tray that is to be stacked on the growing tray.

The interlocking stacking arrangements provide that the handles of a lower tray cannot only vertically support the upper tray that is stacked thereon but can additionally prevent substantially sideways movements between the trays, e.g. to prevent the upper tray from sliding off the lower tray.

The first stacking arrangement may comprise a geometry that is elevated or depressed downwardly with respect to a nominal top surface of the handle, whereas the second stacking arrangement may comprise a corresponding geometry that is respectively depressed upwardly or protruding downwardly with respect to nominal bottom plane of the main body, so that both geometries can interlock with each other.

In a further embodiment of the method, the step of providing of the growing tray comprises the providing of two growing trays, wherein a first one of the growing trays is stacked on a second one of the growing trays, and wherein the first stacking arrangements of the first growing tray interlock with the second stacking arrangement of the second growing

-11- tray to prevent relative horizontal movements between the first growing tray and the second growing tray.

According to this embodiment, two growing trays are provided which are stacked on top of each other. This method may additionally comprise the step of removing, e.g. unstacking the first tray from the second tray after all plugs have been removed from the cultivating cells of the first tray, in order to provide access towards to the plugs in the cultivating cells of the second tray.

In an embodiment, the growing tray comprises a plastic material, preferably consisting of a polypropylene (PP) material. This plastic material may provide for a rigid tray that is both sufficiently strong to be filled with plugs and to be stacked, whilst still being durable. Hence, the growing tray is no disposable article, but is instead re-usable after a serving of plants has been bred and planted.

In an embodiment, the growing tray has been manufactured by means of an injection- moulding manufacturing process. Such an injection-moulded tray may provide for a good strength and rigidity, as opposed to other types of trays, like vacuum-formed trays, that are relatively weak and too flexible to be filled with plugs and stacked thereafter.

In an embodiment, the planting jaws of the planting apparatus each comprise a knife and the step of inserting comprises cutting soil with the knives to create an opening in the ground for receiving the plant plug.

The planting jaws hereby not only serve the purpose of clamping the plug in between them, but are additionally configured to create the opening in the ground upon inserting the plug therein, by cutting the soil. In this way, it is obsolete to create the soil opening separately, but this may instead be combined with the inserting. The knives of the jaws may project below the plug and thus penetrate the soil prior to insertion of the plug.

The present invention further provides a method of handling plant plugs, in particular for handling paper pot plugs, by means of a handling apparatus comprising at least two handling jaws, the method comprising the steps of: providing a growing tray as disclosed herein, providing one or more plant plugs having a plant, such as a cutting or a seedling arranged therein, preferably one or more paper pot plugs having a chrysanthemum cutting arranged therein, clamping the plant plug in between the handling jaws, displacing the plant plug towards a cultivating cell of the growing tray with the jaws,

-12- inserting the plant plug in the cultivating cell of the growing tray in between plug positioning ridges of the cell, while inserting each of the jaws in a respective groove of the cultivating cell of the growing tray in which the plant plug is being inserted.

According to this method, a plant plug may be placed within a growing tray by clamping the plug in between the jaws and by inserting the plug, together with the jaws, into the cell of the tray. The jaws thereby project in front of the grooves so that, after the jaws are moved away from each other, the plug is released to be located in between the plug positioning ridges and that the jaws become located in the grooves. The grooves remain unobstructed by the plug, which implies that the jaws can be freely moved upwardly out of the grooves, in order to clamp a subsequent plant plug.

The inventive handling method has, similar as the present planting method, the benefit that the plant plugs can be gripped from the side by means of jaws that can be located in free grooves on opposite sides of the plug. Where the inserting of plugs was previously done manually or automatically, albeit with a large degree of damaging of the plant’s roots, it can now be carried out automatically reliably and without damaging of the plug.

In a further embodiment of the handling method, the step of providing the growing tray comprises the providing of a second growing tray, wherein each of the plant plugs is arranged in a respective cultivating cell of the second growing tray and held in between plug positioning ridges of that cell, wherein the grooves of the cultivating cells in the second growing tray are unobstructed by the plant plugs, and wherein the step of clamping comprises inserting each of the jaws in respective grooves of the cultivating cell of the second growing tray in which the plant plug is arranged, and moving the jaws towards each other to clamp the plant plug in between them.

According to this embodiment, the plant plugs are provided in the second growing tray and are to be placed in the, e.g. first, growing tray. The handling jaws are thereby first inserted in the grooves of the second tray to clamp the plug in between them and to lift the plug out of the second tray, similar as is done in the planting method according to the present invention. Thereafter, the clamped plugs are moved to the, e.g. first, growing tray with the handling jaws in order to be placed therein.

This handling of plant plugs from one growing tray to another growing tray may be beneficial for arranging the plugs from one type of tray to another one. For example, the plugs may be moved from an initial tray having a relatively large number of cells to a subsequent tray with the same outer dimensions, e.g. to promote handling of the trays, but with fewer cells that are spaced at larger distances from each other. In this way, the plants may be moved, after they have grown to a certain extent, to another tray that offers more space for the grown plants.

-13- The present invention finally also provides a growing tray as disclosed herein. Brief description of drawings Further characteristics of the invention will be explained below, with reference to embodiments, which are displayed in the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of two growing trays according to the present invention, Figure 2 depicts a top view on part of a growing tray of figure 1, Figure 3 depicts a perspective view on a cultivating cell of the growing tray of figure 1, Figure 4 depicts a cross-sectional side view on part of a growing tray of figure 1, Figure 5 schematically depicts an embodiment of the method according to the present invention, and Figures 6A and 6B schematically depict an embodiment of the planting apparatus according to the present invention.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals are used to refer to corresponding components or to components that have a corresponding function.

Detailed description of embodiments Figure 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of a first growing tray according to the present invention and a second growing tray according to the present invention. The growing trays are embodied identically and are stacked on top of each other, e.g. the first growing tray being stacked on the second growing tray.

The growing tray is referred to with reference numeral 1 and comprises a main body 10, in which a plurality of cultivating cells 20 is provided. The main body 10 is a rectangular main body, having a relatively large length in one direction and having a relatively small width in a second orthogonal direction. The cells 20 are open at the top and are delimited by the main body 10 from the side. The cells 20 are each configured to receive a plant plug 100, being insertable therein from above, e.g. in a downward vertical direction V'.

The growing tray 1 comprises a plastic material and consists of a polypropylene (PP) material. The growing tray 1 has been manufactured by means of an injection-moulding manufacturing process.

The growing tray 1 further comprises two handles 50, which are integrally connected to the main body 10 at opposed sides thereof and which extend in an upward vertical direction V from the main body 10. The handles 50 are configured to support another growing tray that is

-14 - to be stacked thereon.

It is shown in figure 1 that the first growing tray 1 is stacked on the handles 50’ of the second growing tray 1’. The handles 50 each comprise a first stacking arrangement 51 at a top surface thereof.

A bottom plane of the main body 10 comprises a second stacking arrangement 11 that substantially corresponds to the first stacking arrangement 51. The first stacking arrangements 51 comprise a geometry that is depressed downwardly with respect to a nominal top surface of the handle 50, whereas the second stacking arrangements 11 comprise a corresponding geometry that is protruding downwardly with respect to nominal bottom plane of the main body 10, so that both geometries can interlock with each other.

It is best shown in figure 1, that the second stacking arrangements 11 of the first, e.g. upper growing tray 1 interlock with the first stacking arrangements 51’ of the second, e.g. lower growing tray 1’. It is best shown in figures 2 — 4 that each of the cultivating cells 20 is defined from the side by a circumferential cell wall 21 and from the bottom by a bottom wall 22. Each circumferential wall 21 surrounds a respective cell 20 and has a generally rectangular shape, when seen from above, e.g. in the downward vertical direction V’ as in figure 2. The cells 20 are defined as open-top cavities in the main body 10 and which are each configured to receive a plant plug 100. In figure 2, some of the cells 20 are provided with a plant plug 100. The bottom walls 22 of the cultivating cells 20 each comprises a through discharge opening 23. These discharge openings 23 provide access from the interior of the cells 20 towards the ground plane on which the tray 1 is arranged.

The cells 20 are arranged in a plurality of rows extending in a first horizontal direction.

This first direction is a longitudinal direction L, which is aligned parallel to the longest side of the growing tray 1. In each row, multiple cells 20 may be defined adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction L.

The rows of cells 20 are arranged side-by-side in a second horizontal direction, which is a transverse direction T that is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

In the present embodiment, the growing tray 1 has a length in the longitudinal direction L of 60 centimetres and comprises rows that each contain sixteen cultivating cells 20. The tray 1 has a width of 40 centimetres in the transverse direction T, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and comprises thirteen rows of cells 20 arranged side-by-side.

Each circumferential cell wall comprises a plurality of plug positioning ridges 24, which substantially extend in a vertical direction V.

The plug positioning ridges 24 protrude inwardly from nominal portions 25 of the cell wall 21, e.g. protruding in a direction towards the centre of the respective cell 20. The plug positioning ridges 24 of each cell 20 are together

-15- configured to hold a plant plug 100 in between them, in order to securely hold the plug 100 and to prevent the plug 100 from being damaged during handling of the tray 1.

The plug positioning ridges 24 protrude from the nominal portions 25 of the cell wall 21 to an extent that a remaining perimeter in between them substantially corresponds to an outer perimeter of the plug 100. It is best shown in figure 2 that the circular perimeter of the plugs 100 accurately corresponds to the perimeter in between the ridges 24.

The cultivating cells 20 each have a substantially rectangular shape, seen in the downward vertical direction V’, and each cell 20 comprises four plug positioning ridges 24, which are arranged at corner points of the rectangular circumferential cell wall 21. The cell wall 21 thereby comprises four nominal cell wall portions 25, wherein two nominal portions 25 are aligned in the longitudinal direction L and wherein two other nominal portions 25’ are aligned in the transverse direction T. Seen from above, the rectangular cells 20 have a relatively large length in the longitudinal direction L and have a relatively small width, e.g. compared to the length, in the transverse direction T. The ridges 24 are located at the corners of the rectangular cells 20, e.g. seen from above, so that the plugs 100 are held from the four corners in a cross-like ridge pattern, as is indicated in figure 2 with the dashed lines.

The plug positioning ridges 24 of each cell 20 define two grooves 26 in between them on opposed sides of the cell 20, which substantially extend in the vertical direction V. These vertical grooves are to be located on opposite sides of a plug 100 that is to be inserted in the cell 20 and are configured to remain unobstructed after the plug 100 has been inserted.

The grooves 26 are located diametrically opposite to each other, e.g. defining an angle of 180° in between them, seen from the centre of the cell 20. Hence, each two adjacent plug positioning ridges 24 in the transverse direction T, define a respective groove 26 in between them. The two grooves 26 of each cell 20 oppose each other in the longitudinal direction L of the tray. Accordingly, the cells 20 are relatively narrow in the transverse direction T, so that the neighbouring cells 20 can be placed closer together in the transverse direction T than in the longitudinal direction L.

The plug positioning ridges 24 each comprises a rear surface 24’ on a side facing away from their respective cultivating cell 20. The rear surfaces 24’ of four neighbouring plug positioning ridges 24 of four neighbouring cultivating cells 20 together define a through evaporation opening 12 towards a lower surface of the main body 10. Since the ridges 24 protrude into the cells 20, seen with respect to the nominal portions 25 of the cell wall 21, the neighbouring rear surfaces 24’are spaced at a distance from each other. In between the spaced rear surfaces 24’, e.g. of the four ridges 24 that join each other at the intersection between four neighbouring cultivating cells 24, the evaporation opening 12 is defined. This evaporation opening 12 extends downward towards a ground plane on which the tray 1 is arranged.

- 16 - It is shown best in the perspective view on a cultivating cell 20 in figure 3 that each plug positioning ridge 24 comprises a first side surface 241, which lies in a plane at least having a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, a second side surface 242, which is integrally connected to the first side surface 241 and which lies in a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction T.

Each ridge 24 further comprises a clamping edge 27 that forms an integral transition between the first side surface 241 and the second side surface 241. The first side surfaces 241 of the plug positioning ridges 24 at least partially face in the longitudinal direction L, but also have components facing in the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V.

Instead, the second side surfaces 242 lie in a plane that has no component in the longitudinal direction L, but is at least partly tapered to have a component facing in the vertical direction V.

According to this embodiment of the tray 1, each two adjacent second side surfaces 242 together define a groove 26 and are partly aligned parallel to each other, for example being at least partially aligned in the vertical direction V.

As a result, the width of the grooves 26 in the transverse direction T is constant over at least part of their height in the vertical direction V.

Lower ends of the grooves 26 of each cultivating cell 20 project into dewatering channels 28 towards the discharge opening 23 of the respective cell 20, to enable any excess water to flow from the grooves 26 towards the discharge opening 23. The bottom walls 22 each comprise plug positioning notches 29, in between which the dewatering channels 23 are defined.

The plug positioning notches 29 of each cultivating cell 20 are configured to support the respective plant plug 100 that is received therein.

The notches 29 are elevated with respect to the dewatering channels 28. With the plug 100 being supported on the notches 29, the dewatering channels 28 are provided lower than the plug 100 that rests on the notches 29, so that the excess water may flow through the dewatering channels 28 underneath the plug 100, instead of through the plug 100 itself.

It is shown best in the cross-sectional view of figure 4 that each clamping edge 27 comprises three discrete clamping edge parts 271, 272, 273. These clamping edge parts 271, 272, 273 are continuations of each other over the height of the plug positioning ridges 24, but are aligned non-parallel with each other and each have a different function.

A first, e.g. upper clamping edge part 271 is aligned at a relatively large first angle A1 with the vertical direction.

The first angle A1 is approximately 15° with respect to the vertical direction V.

In between the first clamping edge parts 271 of a cell 20, the positioning ridges 24 serve as a run-in guide for the plugs 100, in order to roughly position the plugs 100 for entry in the cells 20, without damaging the plugs 100 on the ridges 24.

-17 - A second, e.g. intermediate clamping edge part 272 is located directly below the first clamping edge part 271 and is aligned at a relatively small second angle A2 with the vertical direction V. The second angle A1 is approximately 1° with respect to the vertical direction V. In between the second clamping edge parts 272 of a cell 20, the positioning ridges 24 serve as a centring guide for the plugs 100, in order to accurately position the plugs 100 in the centre of the cells 20.

A third, e.g. lower clamping edge part 273 is located directly below the second clamping edge part 272 and directly above the bottom wall 22 and is aligned at a third angle A3 with the vertical direction. The third angle A3 is approximately 5° with respect to the vertical direction V. In between the third clamping edge parts 273 of a cell 20, the positioning ridges 24 serve as a clamp for the plugs 100, in order to securely clamp the plugs 100 inside the cells 20. Hence, the third clamping edge parts 273 may effect an inward deformation of the plugs 100 during insertion of the plug 100 in between them to obtain a shape fit between the third clamping edge parts 273 and the plug 100.

Figure 5 schematically depicts an embodiment of the method according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the method is aimed at planting chrysanthemum cuttings arranged in paper pot plugs 100, by means of a planting apparatus 200 comprising two planting jaws 201.

First, the method comprises the step of providing a growing tray 1 as illustrated in figures 2 — 4. In particular, the step of providing of the growing tray comprises the providing of two growing trays, in a way shown in figure 1, with a first growing tray 1 stacked on a second growing tray 1’.

The method further comprises the step of providing multiple paper pot plugs 100 having a chrysanthemum cutting arranged therein. The plugs 100 have a cylindrical shape, having a circular cross-section seen in the vertical direction V, but may also have a conical shape, e.g. tapering in a downward vertical direction. The paper pot plugs 100 comprise a volume of plant growth medium, e.g. soil surrounded by a paper wrapper, which can be planted in the ground entirely, after which the paper wrapper will disintegrate gradually over time. Each of the plugs 100 is arranged in a respective cultivating cell 20 of the growing tray 1 and held in between the plug positioning ridges 24 of that cell 20. The grooves 26 of the cultivating cells 20 are unobstructed by the plugs 100, allowing for access between the plugs 100 and the nominal portions 25 of the cell wall 21 from above.

Next, the method comprises the inserting each of the planting jaws 201 of the planting apparatus 200 in a respective groove 26 of the cultivating cell 20 of the growing tray 1 in which a plug 100 is arranged. The jaws 201 are introduced from above in between the plugs

-18- 100 and the nominal portions 25 of the cell 20, e.g. to face the outer surface of the plugs 100. In figure 5, this inserting of the jaws 201 is shown schematically by means of the arrow.

In figure BA, the clamping apparatus 200 is shown in more detail, without the tray 1. The jaws 201 of the planting apparatus 200 are located on opposite sides of the plug 100, when seen in the longitudinal direction L.

After inserting the jaws 201 in the grooves 200, the jaws 201 are moved towards each other to clamp the plug 100 in between them This clamping takes place in a direction towards the centre of the cell 20 and away from the cell wall 21, e.g. from the nominal portion 25 of the cell wall 21. It is also shown in figure 6B by means of an arrow that the jaws 201 are moved towards each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

Next, the method comprises the displacing of the plug 100 towards a planting location with the jaws 201, so that the plugs 100 are moved out of their respective cells 20 and towards the ground to be planted for further growth. The displacing of the plugs 100 first involves a movement in the vertical upward direction V, to lift the plugs out of their cells, and subsequently a horizontal and/or vertical movement from a location above the tray towards the planting location.

At the planting location, the jaws 201 and the plug 100 are inserted in the ground, e.g. by a downward vertical movement, in order to plant the plugs in the ground. Next, the jaws 201 are moved away from each other to release the plug 100, so that the 100 plug with its plant remains in the ground. After releasing the plugs 100, the jaws 201 of the planting apparatus 200 can be moved back towards the tray 1, in order to clamp and plant subsequent plants.

When the growing trays are provided stacked, e.g. with the first growing tray 1 stacked on top of the second growing tray 1’, the method may additionally comprise the step of removing, e.g. unstacking the first tray 1 from the second tray 1’ after all plugs 100 have been removed from the cultivating cells 20 of the first tray 1, in order to provide access towards to the plugs 100 in the cultivating cells 20’ of the second tray 1. It is shown in figure 6B that the planting jaws 201 of the planting apparatus 200 each comprise a knife 202 at their lower extremities. In the method of planting plugs 100, the step of inserting comprises cutting soil with the knives 202 to create an opening in the ground for receiving the plug 100.

The planting jaws 201 hereby not only serve the purpose of clamping the plug 100 in between them, but are additionally configured to create the opening in the ground upon inserting the plug 100 therein, by cutting the soil with the knives 202. It is shown in figure 6B that the knives 202 are adapted to be flush with a lower surface of the plug 100, in order to

-19- provide for the opening in the ground and to prevent the plug 100 from collapsing upon contact with the ground.

Claims

-20- CONCLUSIONS

Method for planting plants in the ground, such as cuttings or seedlings arranged in plant plugs, in particular for planting chrysanthemum cuttings arranged in paper pot plugs, by means of a planting device comprising at least two planting basins, the method comprising the steps of : - providing a growth tray comprising: © a main body, and 0 a plurality of growth cells, defined in the main body as cavities open at the top and each adapted to receive a plant plug, each of the growth cells being defined by a circumferential cell wall and a bottom wall, the growth cells being arranged in a plurality of rows extending in a first, e.g. longitudinal horizontal direction, the rows of growth cells being arranged side by side in a second, e.g. transverse horizontal direction, preferably perpendicular with the first direction, where each circumferential cell wall has multiple plug positioning ridges extending substantially in a downward vertical direction, wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell are arranged together to retain a plant plug between them, and wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell define at least two grooves between them on opposite sides of the cell, extending substantially in a downward vertical direction, providing one or more plant plugs with a plant, such as a cutting or seedling, arranged therein, preferably one or more paper pot plugs with a chrysanthemum cutting inserted therein, each of the plant plugs is arranged in a respective growth cell of the growth tray and is held between the plug positioning ridges of that cell, and wherein the grooves of the growth cells are not blocked by the plant plugs, inserting each of the planting jaws into a respective groove of the plant plugs growth cell of the growth tray in which a plant plug has been applied, - it to each other r moving the jaws to clamp the plant plug between them, - moving the plant plug with the jaws to a planting location, - inserting the jaws and the plant plug into the soil at the planting location, and - moving the the jaws to release the plant plug.

-21-

The method of claim 1, wherein the growth cells each have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the downward vertical direction, and wherein each cell comprises four plug positioning ridges disposed at vertices of the rectangular annular cell wall.

The method of claim 2, wherein each two adjacent plug positioning ridges define a respective groove between them, and wherein the two grooves, when viewed in the first direction, are opposite each other.

The method of claim 3, wherein each of the plug positioning ridges comprises: a first side surface which is in a plane with at least one component perpendicular to the first direction, a second side surface which is connected to the first side surface and which is in a plane is perpendicular to the second direction, a clamping edge forming a transition between the first side surface and the second side surface, and wherein each two second side surfaces jointly define a groove and are preferably aligned parallel to each other, e.g. aligned in the vertical direction.

The method of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the plug positioning ridges each comprise a rear surface on a side remote from their respective growth cell, wherein the rear surfaces of four adjacent plug positioning ridges of four adjacent growth cells collectively define a continuous vaporization opening to a lower surface of the said plug positioning ridges. main body.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein bottom walls of the growth cells each comprise a continuous drainage opening, adapted to drain excess liquids from the cells.

A method according to claim 6, wherein lower ends of the grooves of each growth cell continue in drainage channels to the drainage opening of the respective cell.

The method of claim 7, wherein the bottom walls comprise each plug positioning lugs between which the drainage channels are defined, the plug positioning lugs of each growth cell being arranged to support the respective plant plug received therein.

-22-

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the growing tray further comprises two handles integrally connected to the main body on opposite sides thereof and extending from the main body in an upward vertical direction, the handles being arranged to form a different growing tray that can be stacked on it to support it.

The method of claim 9, wherein the handles each include a first stacker on an upper surface thereof, a bottom surface of the main body includes a second stacker substantially corresponding to the first stacker, and wherein the first stacker of the growth tray is configured to to engage with a second stacking device of another growth tray that can be stacked on the growth tray.

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing the growth tray includes providing two growth trays, wherein a first of the growth trays is stacked on a second of the growth trays, and wherein the first stacker of the first growth tray engages the second stacking device of the second growth tray to prevent horizontal relative movements between the first growth tray and the second growth tray.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the growing tray comprises a plastic material, for instance consists of a polypropylene (PP) material.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the growing tray is manufactured by means of an injection molding process.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the planting jaws of the planting device each comprise a blade and wherein the inserting step comprises: - cutting soil with the blades to create an opening in the soil for receiving the plant plug.

A method for handling plant plugs, in particular for handling paper pot plugs, by means of a handling device comprising at least two handling jaws, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a growth tray, comprising: a main body, and

-23- 0 a plurality of growth cells, defined in the main body as cavities open at the top and each arranged to receive a plant plug, each of the growth cells being defined by a circumferential cell wall and a bottom wall, the growth cells being arranged in multiple rows extending in a first, e.g. longitudinal horizontal direction, wherein the rows of growth cells are arranged side by side in a second, e.g. transverse horizontal direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, each circumferential cell wall comprising a plurality of plug positioning ridges extending substantially in a downward vertical direction, wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell are arranged together to retain a plant plug between them, and wherein the plug positioning ridges of each cell define at least two grooves between them on opposite sides of the cell, extending mainly into a ne vertical direction, - providing one or more plant plugs with a plant, such as a cutting or a seedling placed in it, preferably one or more paper pot plugs with a chrysanthemum cutting inserted, - clamping the plant plug between the handling jaws, - the moving the plant plug with the jaws towards a growth cell of the growth tray, inserting the plant into the growth cell of the growth tray between plug positioning ridges of cell, during insertion of each of the planting jaws into a respective groove of the growth cell of the growth tray into which a plant plug is inserted.

A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of providing the growth tray comprises: - providing a second growth tray, each of the plant plugs being arranged in a respective growth cell of the second growth tray and held between the plug positioning ridges of that cell and wherein the grooves of the growth cells in the second growth tray are not blocked by the plant plugs, and wherein the clamping step comprises:

-24- - inserting each of the planting jaws into respective grooves of the growth cell of the second growth tray in which a plant plug is arranged, and - moving the jaws together to clamp the planting plug between them.

A growth tray for use in the method according to any one of the preceding claims.