WO2001091537A1

WO2001091537A1 - Apparatus for pushing a plurality of articles from respective receptacles

Info

Publication number: WO2001091537A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mervyn Williams
Original assignee: Mervyn Williams
Priority date: 2000-05-31
Filing date: 2001-05-31
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AUPQ788700A0

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for simultaneously pushing a plurality of articles out of respective receptacles provided in a carrier includes a retaining system (12) for retaining the carrier on the apparatus (10) and a plurality of elongated pins (14) disposed below the retaining system (12). In one embodiment a manually operated cam displacement mechanism (16) lifts the pins (14) upwardly through the retaining system (12) to force the articles from the receptacles. In an alternate embodiment, the retaining system (12) is resiliently mounted relative to the pins (14) by spring (80). Applying a compression force on the spring (80) causes the pins (14) to be extended through the retaining system (12) to push or force out articles from respective receptacles in a carrier held within the retaining system (12).

Description

APPARATUS FOR PUSHING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES FROM RESPECTIVE RECEPTACLES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for pushing a plurality of articles from respective receptacles and, in particular, but not exclusively to an apparatus for pushing or lifting plants held in separate receptacles in a tray.

Background of the Invention

It is common for plants to be grown as seedlings in seedling trays. A seedling tray is typically of rectangular shape and is formed with a matrix of receptacles in which respective seedlings can be grown. The seedlings are held in individual containers respective ones of which are deposited in the receptacles. Often these containers are in the form of a sheet of plastics material wrapped around a body of earth in which the seedlings are grown or alternately thin- walled pots holding the volume of earth in which the seedlings are grown.

Eventually it becomes necessary to lift the seedlings from the tray for example at time of purchase or when they have reached a certain stage of growth. Hitherto, the seedlings have been extracted from the trays by pushing one's finger or thumb on the underside of the tray under a particular receptacle. This pushes or lifts the seedling at least partially from the receptacle allowing it to be gripped and then fully lifted or extracted from the tray. This process is slow and physically demanding as each seedling must be individually manually removed.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention was developed with a view to providing a quicker less physically demanding way of extracting seedlings from a tray. However embodiments of the invention can be applied for removing other articles from corresponding receptacles. According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for simultaneously pushing a plurality of articles at least partially from respective receptacles provided in a carrier, said apparatus including at least: retaining system for retaining said carrier on or in said apparatus; a plurality of elongated pins disposed below said retaining system; said retaining system and said pins supported on said apparatus in a manner to allow said retaining system and pins to be moved relative to each other to enable said pins to move into respective receptacles and push said articles at least partially out of said receptacles.

Preferably said retaining system includes a support on which said carrier is supported, said support provided with a plurality of holes positioned to enable passage of said pins therethrough.

Preferably said retaining system includes retaining means that extend across said carrier when on said support.

Preferably said retaining means includes one or more fingers that extend across said carrier when on said support.

Preferably said fingers are slidably mounted on a head of the apparatus.

Preferably said apparatus includes a base frame, and said head is removably coupled to an upper end of said base frame.

In one embodiment, said apparatus includes a displacement mechanism for moving said retaining system relative to said pins.

Preferably one of said retaining system and said pins is supported by said displacement mechanism.

Preferably said displacement mechanism includes a manually operable cam mechanism for moving said pins toward, and retracting said pins from, said retaining system.

However, in an alternate embodiment, said apparatus includes a resilient support system for resiliently supporting said retaining system relative to said pins.

Preferably said resilient support system includes bias means for biasing said retaining system away from said pins and guide means for guiding motion of said retaining system relative to said pins.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric schematic representation of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a section view of a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a pin plate incorporated in the apparatus depicted in Figure 4; and,

Figure 7 is a section view of a third embodiment of the apparatus.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

In a first embodiment depicted in Figures 1 - 3, the apparatus 10 for simultaneously pushing a plurality of articles, such as seedlings (not shown) out of a plurality of receptacles provided in a carrier, such as a seedling tray (not shown) includes a retaining system 12 for retaining the tray on or in the apparatus 10 and, a plurality of elongated pins 14 (only one shown) disposed below the retaining system 12. The retaining system 12 and pins 1 are supported on or in the apparatus 10 in a manner to allow them to be moved relative to each other to enable the pins 14 to move into the respective receptacles and push or otherwise lift the seedlings from the receptacles in the seedling tray. In this particular embodiment, the relative movement of the retaining system 12 and pins 14 is facilitated by a displacement mechanism 16. However, as explained in greater detail below with reference to further embodiments, this relative motion can also be facilitated by resiliently supporting the retaining system 12 relative to the pins 14.

Looking at the apparatus 10 in more detail, apparatus 10 includes a base frame 18 comprising four upright legs 20 arranged at the corners of an imaginary rectangle. The legs 20 are joined by transversely extending trusses 22 located in a plane disposed near a lower end of the base frame 18. The apparatus 10 also includes a head 24 that is removably coupled to the base frame 18. The head 24 includes four parallel posts 26 which are configured and juxtaposed so as to seat in the upper end of respective legs 20.

The retaining system 12 is provided on the head 24. The retaining system 12 includes a support in the form of a plate 28 attached to the posts 26 and lying in a plane transverse to the posts 26. The plate 28 is provided with a matrix of holes 30, one being provided for each pin 14. The holes 30 in pins 14 are relatively configured so that on operation of the mechanism 16 the pins 14 can slide through the holes 30. The retaining system 12 also includes a plurality of fingers 32 supported by the head 24 that extend over the plate 28. In use, a tray of seedlings is supported on the plate 28 with the fingers 32 extending over the top of the tray. The fingers 32 are slidably mounted on a cross bar 34 extending along a back edge of the head 24 and coupled at opposite ends to adjacent posts 26. This enables the fingers 32 to be positioned across the top of the tray at locations above ribs or webs provided in the tray and therefore not interfering with the extraction of seedlings from the tray.

The retaining system 12 also includes a pair of tray guides 36 that extend along opposite sides of the head 24 parallel to the fingers 32. Each guide 36 includes an upper and lower flange 38 and 40 respectively for receiving therebetween a lateral lip (if one exists) on opposite sides of the tray.

The mechanism 16 is mounted on a plate 42 which is parallel to but below the plate 28 and attached to the legs 20 near the top of the base frame 18. Attached to an upperside of plate 42 are two pairs of bearings 44 and 46. The bearings 44 are in alignment with each other as are bearings 46. Further, the bearing pairs 44 and 46 are arranged side-by-side. Rods 48 and 50 are supported by bearing pairs 44 and 46 respectively. Fixed to each rod 48 and 50 is a pair of spaced apart cams 52. Each cam 52 comprises a short arm 54 having an end through which the respective rod 48 or 50 passes and a wheel 56 rotatably coupled to an opposite end of the arm 54. The arms 54 are locked onto the respective rods 48 and 50 so as to rotate with the rods 48 and 50. A handle 58 is attached at one end of rod 48 to facilitate manual rotation of the rod 48 about its length. Handle 58 is coupled by a link 60 (shown most clearly in Figure 2) to the rod 50. The link 60 comprises an arm 62 fixed at one end to the rod 50 and a member 64 pivotally coupled at opposite ends to both the arm 62 and the handle 58.

Disposed over the bearings 48, 50 and cams 52 is a bearing plate 66. A pin plate 67 from which pins 14 extend, is supported on the bearing plate 66. Depending from an underside of the bearing plate 66 are four guide rods 68. The guide rods pass through bushes 70 supported on the underlying plate 42. The guide rods 68 and bushes 70 guide the bearing plate 66 so as to move in a vertical plane.

By pulling on the handle 58 from a rest position depicted in Figure 2, the rods 48 and 50 are caused to rotate about their respective lengths rotating the cams 52 to a first position where they contact an underside of the bearing plate 66. Upon further rotation of the handle 58 the cams 52 continue to rotate and thus lift the plate 66 which is guided in its vertical motion by the interaction of the guide rods 68 and bushes 70. This in turn causes the pin plate 67 to be lifted consequently pushing the pins 14 through the holes 30 in the overlying plate 28. Assuming that a seedling tray is retained between the plate 28 and the fingers 32 the pins push on the seedlings in the tray thus lifting them at least partially from the tray.

In order to accommodate trays of different dimension the head 24 can be replaced with heads of different configuration. More particularly, a head 24 can be replaced with a different head 24 having plate 28 and pin plate 67 of different configurations. For example, one head 24 can be provided with a plate 28 and pin pusher 67 with a 15x10 matrix of holes 30 and pins 14 respectively while a different head 24 can be provided with a plate 28 and pin plate 67 having a 10x12 matrix of holes 30 and pins 14 respectively.

A table 72 (see Figure 1) is provided on the base frame 18 adjacent to head 24 for supporting a seedling tray prior to insertion into the retaining system 12.

Figures 4 - 7 depict further embodiments of the apparatus 10 in which the features identical or similar to those described in relation to the first embodiment depicted in Figures 1 - 3 are denoted by the same reference numbers but with the addition of a letter 'a' or 'b'. The embodiments of the apparatus 10 depicted in Figures 4 - 7 are specifically suited to use with small punnets of seedlings which may typically include 6 to 8 individual receptacles for holding separate seedlings.

With specific reference to Figures 4 - 6, in the apparatus 10a, the retaining system 12a is made of a shape substantially complimentary to a shape of a punnet in relation to which the apparatus 10 is to be used. In this regard, the system 12a includes a plate 28a provided with a matrix of holes 30a. A ridge 74 extends upwardly from the plate 28a and runs along a central longitudinal axis of the plate 28a. The ridge 74 extends into a complimentarily shaped recess typically provided in punnets. However, the ridge 74 is not essential and can be dispensed with particularity in the case of the apparatus 10a being used to lift seedlings from a punnet which is not provided with such a recess. In such instance the system 12a can be interchanged with another which does not include the ridge 74. Side walls 76 extend upwardly from the longitudinal sides of the plate 28a. The side walls 74 are slightly inclined away from each other. Further end walls (not shown) extend upwardly from opposite end edges of the plate 28a.

Instead of the fingers 32 used in the first embodiment 10, the apparatus 10a is provided with a lip 32a that extends inwardly from an upper end of the side walls 76. The lip 32a acts in a similar manner to the fingers 32 in that it extends across an upper edge or rim of a punnet placed within the system 12a to hold it in place during pushing or lifting of the seedlings from the punnet. In this regard, an upper edge or rim of the punnet is typically resiliently deformed in order for it to be locked into the system 12a below the lips 32a.

The pins 14a extend upwardly from a support plate 67a which is attached to a base 18a. The base 18a is formed in a configuration substantially complimentary to that of the system 12a. A plurality of holes 78 are formed in the base 18a through which the pins 14a extend. Bias means in the form of one or more springs 80 (only one shown) are disposed between the base 18a and an underside of the plate 28a of the system 12a. The holes 30a and pins 14a are relatively disposed in registration with each other. In addition to the springs 80 the retaining system 12a is supported on the base 12a by four upright pins 82 (only two shown). The pins 82 are coupled between flanges 84 and 86. The flanges 84 extend generally laterally from an upper edge of the side walls 76 while the flanges 86 extend laterally and outwardly from side walls 88 of the base 18a.

More particularly, the pins 82 are fastened at their upper end to the flanges 84 and passed through respective holes in the flanges 86. Stops in the form of nuts 90 are coupled to the ends of pins 82 on a side of the flanges 86 opposite the flanges 84 to prevent the pins 82 from retracting from the holes within the flanges 86. The pins 82 in effect create a guide mechanism for guiding the motion of the retaining system 12a relative to the pins 14a and in a more general sense, the combination of the springs 80 and pins 82 can be considered as a resilient support system. The resilient support system functions in a similar manner to the mechanism 16 of the apparatus 10, in facilitation the relative motion of the pins 14a and retaining system 12a/plate 28a.

When the apparatus 10a is in use, a punnet is loaded into the retaining system 12a with its upper edge locked beneath the lips 32a. A user would then typically push down on the flanges 84 causing the system 12a to move downwardly against the bias of springs 80. Alternately a user can grip the flanges 84 and 86 on each side of the apparatus 10a with each hand and press the flanges 84 and 86 together. Consequently, the pins 14a extend through the holes 30a and into the punnet lifting the seedlings therefrom. Once a user releases pressure on the retaining system 12a, the springs 80 are able to act to push the system 12a away from the base 18a effectively retracting the pins 14a from the punnet.

The pins 14a and/or the retaining system 12a can be easily replaced to accommodate punnets having different numbers or locations of receptacles. Figure 5 depicts in plan, the retaining system 12a and in particular the plate 28a. It will be seen that the plate 28a is provided with a plurality of holes 30a at different locations. There are more holes 38a provided on plate 28a than typically pins 14a. This allows a single plate 28a to be used with more than one set of pins 13a and corresponding support plates 57a. When the support plate 67a supports 8 pins 14a as depicted in Figure 6, then the pins extend through the holes marked X in Figure 5. However, if the apparatus 10a is being used for a punnet which is provided with only six receptacles, then the plate 67a is changed to one having only six pins 14a which would then extend through the holes marked Y on Figure 5.

Figure 7 depicts a further embodiment of the apparatus 10b which is functionally identical to the apparatus 10a depicted in Figure 4 and structurally differs only in the form of the fingers 32b used for retaining a punnet within the retaining system 12b and the pins 82. In the apparatus 10b, the fingers 32b are formed separately from the flanges 84 and integrally with the pins 82 which are rotatably retained in both flanges 84 and 86. Accordingly the fingers 32b can be rotated between a retaining position where they extend inwardly of an upper edge of walls 76 to retain the punnet held within the retaining system 12b, and an unloading position (not shown) where they can be turned to a position where they lie outside of the upper edge of the walls 76.

Now that embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, in apparatus 10 a mechanical cam mechanism is depicted for lifting the pins 14. However, any other form of lifting mechanism can be used such as a simple manual hydraulic jack. Additionally, the mechanism 16 is depicted as operating by moving the pins 14 relative to the plate 28. However the mechanism 16 and apparatus 10 can be reconfigured so as to move the plate 28 relative to the pins 15. Further, while the operation of the apparatus 10 as described in relation to lifting seedlings from a seedling tray, apparatus 10 can be used for lifting different articles from trays or other types of containers.

With reference to the embodiments of the apparatus 10a and 10b depicted in Figures 4 and 7, rather than forming the plate 28a integrally with the walls 76, the plate 28a may be formed separately and releasably coupled or attached to the walls 76 to allow replacement with other plates having different configurations of holes 30a. It is envisaged that the apparatus 10a and 10b would be made from a plastics material, though this is not necessary and other materials e.g. steel or aluminium could be used.

All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the above description and the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for simultaneously pushing a plurality of articles at least partially from respective receptacles provided in a carrier, said apparatus including at least: retaining system for retaining said carrier on or in said apparatus; a plurality of elongated pins disposed below said retaining system; said retaining system and said pins supported on said apparatus in a manner to allow said retaining system and pins to be moved relative to each other to enable said pins to move into respective receptacles and push said articles at least partially out of said receptacles.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retaining system includes a support on which said carrier is supported, said support provided with a plurality of holes positioned to enable passage of said pins therethrough.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein retaining system includes retaining means that extend across said carrier when on said support.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means includes one or more fingers that extend across said carrier when on said support.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fingers are slidably mounted on a head of the apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including a base frame, and said head is removably coupled to an upper end of said base frame.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 6 further including a displacement mechanism for moving said retaining system relative to said pins.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein one of said retaining system and said pins is supported by said displacement mechanism.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said displacement mechanism includes a manually operable cam mechanism for moving said pins toward, and retracting said pins from, said retaining system.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 3 further including a resilient support system for resiliently supporting said retaining system relative to said pins.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said resilient support system includes bias means for biasing said retaining system away from said pins and guide means for guiding motion of said retaining system relative to said pins.