NZ241848A - Press for producing disc shaped biscuits of compressed material such as sphagnum moss growing medium for orchids: columnar members on rotable table coact with plunger and removal device to form disc - Google Patents

Description

2 A1848, hnno Patents Form 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (COGNATE) After Provisionals Nos. 241848, 242075 and 244170 Dated 5 March 1992, 20 March 1992 and 1 September 1992 respectively "COMPRESSED SPHAGNUM MOSS USEFUL IN ORCHID PROPAGATION" WE, BRIAN RICHARD MURRAY and ANNETTE PATRICIA MURRAY both of State Highway 6, Waitaha, R.D. 1, Ross, Westland, New Zealand, both being New Zealand citizens, hereby declare the invention from which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 241848 The invention relates to horticulture and more particularly to the propagation of orchids and other plants requiring an open root system in certain growing mediums and to a press suitable for producing material used in horticulture.

In the propagation of orchids and some other plants sphagnum moss is used as a sterile medium which adds bulk to a growing medium. At present sphagnum moss is dried, after is it picked, before it is shipped in bales for use as a plant growing medium. The transportation of bulk sphagnum moss is a costly operation because of its fibrous and bulky nature. The baling methods used at present can also result in an unacceptable degree of wastage.

An object of the invention is to overcome at least in part, the above identified disadvantage and provide a compact easily transportable growing medium.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a press for producing from a compressible material a plurality of the disk or biscuit shaped pellets which are generally cylindrically shaped.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a press including a rotatable table or platen mounted in a generally horizontal plane on a frame, the table having at least two columnar members positioned thereon, the columnar members being open at both ends, the frame having a support for a plunger the shape in cross-section of which is similar to and slightly smaller than the internal shape of the columnar members, the frame additionally supporting a removal means, the arrangement being such that in sequence the columnar members are filled with a compressible material, the table is rotated to position a first of the filled columnar ji^fember under the plunger, the plunger being reciprocated downward to jcbjmpress the material to form a disk or biscuit of the compressible uj I Material, the plunger then being raised to allow a further rotation of the 241848 rotation of the table until the next filled columnar member is under the plunger, in this position the columnar member with the formed disk or biscuit therein is under the removal means which is operated to force the disk or biscuit from the columnar member.

Each columnar member can be positioned over an aperture in the table or platen.

The table can have two or more columnar members and apertures. The table can have six apertures each of which has positioned thereover an apertured plate with a columnar member mounted thereon. The apertured plates and columnar members may be interchangeable with similar fittings in which the cross-sectional shape and size of the aperture and columnar member are different.

The frame can be a pedestal shaped member which supports hydraulic or pneumatic rams which rotate the table and raise and lower the plunger and removal means.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a product produced by the process which as mentioned is readily transported in biscuit form.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a growing medium for an orchid the medium consisting of a generally disc shaped biscuit of compressed sphagnum moss, the biscuit having a keyhole shaped hole extending from its periphery, the arrangement being such that, in use, a stem of an orchid plant is inserted in the hole before or after the biscuit is inserted in water for growing.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of biscuit_acco«l+Rg-»to hch i the third aspect of the invention; - " 241848 Figure 2 is a perspective view of example of press according to the aspect of the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of the press shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a circuit diagram for the pneumatic system incorporated in the press shown in Figures 2 and 3.

An example of growing medium is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings which is given by way of example only.

At present sphagnum moss is dried in racks or in known manner to have a moisture content of as low as 14% and up to 22% compared with its normal moisture content of 95%.

The dried sphagnum moss is then in accordance with the invention, placed in lots in a pressing cylinder and compressed under a pressure of up to 80 to 120 lbs per square inch to form a biscuit about 8 centimetres in diameter and up to a centimetre in thickness. The natural resins in the sphagnum moss together with the application of pressure make the biscuit retain its shape until moistened. An example of biscuit is generally indicated by arrow "a" in Figure 1.

The biscuit 9 has a keyhole shaped hole "b" form therein. The hole "b" can be formed by incorporating a key shaped insert in a die or press used to compress the dried sphagnum moss into the biscuit. The end of the hole "b" is dimensioned so that the stem (not shown) of an orchid plant (not shown) can be in the end "c" to support the plant during planting out and growth. The biscuit can be about 25gm (dried weight) and about 75 cm in diameter.

In this form the biscuits can be readily shipped in a form ready to be used.

The biscuit in this form when added to water fills a beaker with the required amount of sphagnum moss for growing a single orchid.

It is however to be appreciated that for certain users requirements the size and naturally the weight of the biscuit can be varied deperuiinci_©o r77~~ T OFFICE the size of the container which the biscuit is to be used. 1 2 GET 1995 241848 The press shown in Figures 2 and 3 will be described with reference to the production of disc or biscuit shaped pellets produced from sphagnum moss of the type shown in Figure 1. It is however to be appreciated that the press can be used for the production of other pellets.

In Figures 2 and 3 is shown a press with a rotatable table or platen 1. The platen or table 1 is supported on a frame 2. The frame 2 in this example is a single pedestal of sufficient strength to withstand the pressures involved in the production of the pellets. The table 1 is supported on a sub-frame member 3, immediately above which is a support 4 for a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 5. The cylinder 5 operates in conjunction with a ram or plunger 6. The ram or plunger 6 may incorporate an interchangeable head. The head is dimensioned, in cross-section, to be of the shape and size of the pellet to be formed.

The support 4 also incorporates a member 7 on which a removal means 8 is supported. As is shown in Figures 2 and 3 the removal means 8 is a pneumatic cylinder 9 incorporating a punch-out head 10.

The table 1 in the example shown has six apertures formed therein. It is to be appreciated that the number and precise placement of the apertures can be varied to suit users requirements. In association with each aperture is a plate 11 with a hole therein. The plate 11 can be fixed to the table 1 and is interchangeable if different sized and shaped pellets are to be formed. Each plate 11 has formed in association therewith a columnar member 12. The internal diameter of the member 1 2 is slightly greater than the external diameter of the plunger 6.

The table 1 has positioned therebeneath a plate 13 which is immediately below the table 1 and forms a platform which allows compressible material to be inserted into the columnar members 12 directly opposite the pedestal. The plate 13 retains the material in the columnar members 12 as they are successively rotated until they are directly beneath the plunger 6.

N.Z. PATENT OFFie;:"! 241848 In practice each member 12 is loaded with a predetermined weight of material so that similarly sized and shaped pellets are formed. Initially when the first to be filled columnar member 12 is directly beneath the plunger 6 activation of the cylinder 5 compresses the material. When the compression stage has stopped after a preset time, the plunger 6 is raised to allow the table 1 to be turned until in succession, the columnar members 12 are beneath the plunger 6. In this position activation of both the plunger 6 and the removal means 8 occurs so that as the next biscuit or disc is formed the completed biscuit or disc is to be collected in a hopper positioned immediately beneath the removal means.

Shown in Figure 4 is a pneumatic circuit suitable for controlling operation of the press shown in Figures 2 and 3. The controls include a trip valve 14 operation of which activates an index cylinder 15 which can operate in conjunction with an index speed control 16.

Operation of the ram 6 is controlled by an up-sensor 17 and down-sensor 18 which cut on and off the air from an air supply (not shown). This movement is in parallel with operation of the pneumatic cylinder 9 for the removal means.

Control for the ram 6 and cylinder 9 is via the control valve 19. The circuit can include a counter 20 and signal valve 21. A timer 22, regulator valve 23 (set at 60psi), main ram control valve 19 and stop/start valve 25 are also incorporated to provide control to the circuit.

In use the press is operated with a person or persons filling in succession manually the columnar members 12. It is, of course, envisaged that an automatic filling mechanism may be incorporated. The filling mechanism is adapted to supply a specific weight of the compressible material into each columnar member 1 2. It is envisaged that the disks can range in size from 1gm to 50gm or larger depending on the end use of the product. The stepwise motion of the table 1 moves successive columnar members 12 under the plunger 6 and with each operation of plunger 6 the removal means 8 moves in conjunction therewith to remove the formed 241848 disks and drop them in a hopper or the like 26 (which sits on subframe member 3 in Figure 2) for transportation or further handling.

Thus by this invention there is provided a growing medium for orchids and its method of manufacture.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 241848

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A press including a rotatable table or platen mounted in a generally horizontal plane on a frame, the table having at least two columnar members positioned thereon, the columnar members being open at both ends, the frame having a support for a plunger the shape in cross-section of which is similar to and slightly smaller than the internal shape of the columnar members, the frame additionally supporting a removal means, the arrangement being such that in sequence the columnar members are filled with a compressible material, the table is rotated to position a first of the filled columnar member under the plunger, the plunger being reciprocated downward to compress the material to form a disk or biscuit of the compressible material, the plunger then being raised to allow a further rotation of the table until the next filled columnar member is under the plunger, and wherein in this position the columnar member with the formed disk or biscuit therein is under the removal means which is operated to force the disk or biscuit from the columnar member.

2. A press as claimed in claim 1 wherein each columnar member is positioned over an aperture in the table or platen.

3. A press as claimed in claim 2 wherein the table has two or more columnar members and apertures.

4. A press as claimed in claim 3 where the table has six apertures each of which has positioned thereover an apertured plate with a columnar member mounted thereon.

5. A press as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the apertured plates and columnar members can be interchanged with similar fittings in which the cross-sectional shape and size of the aperture and columnar member are different.

Lr , en <" :

16. | A press as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 5 wherein the frame is a : pedestal shaped member which supports hydraulic or pneumatic rams Wlpich rotate the table and raise and lower the plunger and removal means. a A product produced by the press according to one of claims 1 to 6. - 9 - 241848

8. A product as claimed in claim 7 which is readily transported in biscuit form.

9. A product as claimed in claim 7 and claim 8 wherein the compressible material is sphagnum moss.

10. A product as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 which has a moisture content of substantially 18% - 22%.

11. A product as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 which has an average weight of 5 to 50 grams.

12. A product as claimed in claim 7 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A growing medium for an orchid produced in the press as claimed in claim 1, the medium consisting of a generally disc shaped biscuit of compressed sphagnum moss, the biscuit having a keyhole shaped hole extending from its periphery, the arrangements being such that, in use, a stem of an orchid plant is inserted in the hole before or after the biscuit is inserted in water for growing.

14. A growing medium claimed in claim and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. BRIAN RICHARD MURRAY and ANNETTE PATRICIA MURRAY By Their Attorneys BALDWIN. SON & CAREY CSPEC10086