NL7808459A - Adjusting spacings between rows of plant pots - by fork with unequally spaced prongs first lifting row, then lowering in stages onto moving support - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism is for re-spacing rows of objects (10, 11) such as plant pots, which have larger-diameter near the top than further down. It comprises a form (8) with horizontal prongs (9) which can be moved between the objects standing in one row on a support (4). Adjacent spaces between prongs have unequal widths so that lifting the fork causes the objects to be supported at different levels (10, 11). Subsequent lowering of the fork in more than one step (x, y) first (x) places the lower objects (11) on the surface (4), and thereafter (y) the higher objects (10). Respacing is achieved by relative horizontal movement between fork and support between the steps (x, y).

Description

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Foundation Institute for Mechanization, Labor and Buildings in Wageningen.

Device for arranging rows of bodies at different distances, such as plant pots.

The invention relates to an apparatus for spacing rows of bodies, such as plant pots, with a part near the top end having a larger horizontal dimension than the lower parts in the same direction. 5

In the non-prepublished Dutch patent application 77.04744, such a device is described, wherein the bodies are removed from a carrier, for instance a rack, and then by the choice of the mutual speed of conveying parts, such as a conveyor belt and the bodies over a bearing surface 10 sliding fork are delivered to a carrier at other mutual distances. This device is complicated and not particularly efficient for this purpose, although significant advantages are achievable in other respects with this device.

The object of the invention is now to improve and simplify that part of such a device that provides for spacing. Putting it at different distances is especially suitable for growing plants in pots in industrialized plant cultivation. As long as the plants are small, the pots can be close together, but when the plants grow larger, the pots must be placed at greater distances, in this case mechanically and as much as possible automatically. However, the invention can also be applied to other bodies and can be used both when the distance between the bodies is to be increased and when it is to be reduced. 25 7808459 f 2

In connection with this, a device as referred to in the preamble, according to the invention, is characterized in that the device has a fork with approximately horizontal teeth, which can be moved between the bodies of a ry, the spaces between sets of two adjacent fork tines are accidental, so that the fork can carry part of the bodies in higher and another part in lower positions, and that the means for moving the fork relative to a bearing surface for the bodies can be vertical to each other move in steps with a horizontal movement between them to dispense the bodies at different levels: 10 fork-supported bodies in different locations on a bearing surface, or vice versa.

The fork is preferably rotatable about a vertical axis.

At different levels: picking up the bodies by the fork through different spaces between sets of two adjacent fork teeth can advantageously be achieved by making the fork teeth L-shaped with the horizontal legs of the L from two adjacent teeth to facing each other.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the by-drawing. In it is: 20

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment; and

Fig. 2 a vertical section through part of it.

The device according to fig. 1 has two conveyor tracks 1 and 2 parallel to and next to each other, for instance each formed by two equal-section rails or gutters, over which flat pallets 3 and 4 with rollers 5 and 6 can move on the rails or in the gutters.

Between the conveyor tracks 1 and 2 there is a vertical shaft 7, which can rotate and move up and down and carries four forks 8 on a hub, each with a series of protruding teeth 9 * 30 7808459 Τ '3 -

Fig. 2 shows the shape of the teeth 9L-shaped in cross-section and arranged in the fork such that one in each case points horizontally to an adjacent fork tooth. At the top Fig. 2 shows how plant pots are thus carried by the fork tines, alternately higher (pots 10) and lower (pots 11). 5

If now a loading hook 3 in fig. 1 arrives (pyl direction to courts) at the top, so to the right in Fig. 1 protruding fork 8, its teeth engage between the front ry 12 of plant pots. Now either loading hook 5 is moved downwards or fork 8 is moved upwards. The latter is most easily accomplished, since only the shaft 7 needs to be moved up and down, for example with a simple lever. The pots of ry 12 then hang in the fork 8 as in fig. 2 drawn: alternating high and low. Now the fork 8 is rotated with axle 7 until it assumes position 8 ', so above loading platform 4. The fork is now moved downwards by distance x (Fig. 2). As a result, the lower hanging pots 11 come to rest on loading board 4. Loading cord 4 is now moved forward in the arrow direction, so the pots 11 thus move out of the fork 8 '. Now the fork 8 ', as soon as loading hook 4 has removed the pots 11 sufficiently far, is moved further downwards, namely over the distance y (Fig. 2), so that now the pots 10, which hung higher than the pots 11, rest on the loading platform. By moving the loading platform further, these pots are also removed from the fork 8 ".

If one wants to place the pots 10 and 11 in a different pattern on the loading plate 4, namely not staggered but in a square or rectangular pattern, after the pots 11 have been deposited one can use fork 8 'and move it over the desired distance. move forward of loading platform 4 move this fork 8 * with the axle 7 to the side, over the distance between the centers of two adjacent pots 10 and 11, or make the fork 8 'extendable on a carrier on the axle 7 · 30

Such shifting of the forks 8, 8 'sideways with or without the axle 7 has the advantage that it is thus also possible to receive pots which are staggered in ryen.

7808459

Claims (5)

1. Device for spacing rows of bodies, such as plant pots with a part near the upper end, which has a larger horizontal dimension than the lower parts in the same direction, characterized in that the device has a fork with approximately horizontal teeth, which can be moved between the bodies of a row, the spaces between sets of two adjacent fork tines being uneven, so that the fork can carry part of the bodies in higher and another part in lower positions , and that the means for moving the fork relative to a bearing surface for the bodies can cause them to move vertically relative to each other in steps with a horizontal movement between them to accommodate the bodies carried at different levels by the fork at different locations. to issue a support base or vice versa. 7808458 .'5 \ \ 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fork is rotatable about a vertical axis and thereby transfers the bodies supported by it from a supporting surface for supplied bodies moving on one side along its axis to a side on the other side along it moving support surface for discharged, 5-spaced bodies 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that four forks protrude relative to said vertical axis. 4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the fork is also movable in its longitudinal direction transverse to the teeth with respect to a bearing surface for the bodies in order to be able to deposit the bodies in any desired pattern. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork tines are L-shaped, with the horizontal legs of the L of two adjacent teeth lying towards each other. 7808459