WO2020175993A1

WO2020175993A1 - Cup-shaped casing of a biodegradable foil material

Info

Publication number: WO2020175993A1
Application number: PCT/NL2020/050126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Van Geest
Original assignee: J. Van Geest Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2019-02-28
Filing date: 2020-02-27
Publication date: 2020-09-03
Also published as: NL1043175B1

Abstract

Device (1), intended and arranged as a cup-shaped casing (1) between, on the one hand, substrate (2) with cultivation material (3) and, on the other hand, the inner wall (4a) of a cultivation cell (4). The casing is designed and dimensioned such, that in use the casing essentially abuts against the inner wall of the cultivation cell. Preferably, the material of the casing is a porous, biodegradable foil, such as paper. Preferably, the material of the casing is provided with perforations (6).

Description

Title: Cup-shaped casing of a biodegradable foil material

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device for use in the (professional) cultivation of plants by means of cultivation trays, etc.

It is known to use multi-cell cultivation trays for growing plants (see, for example, https://webshop.karobv.nI/g/verpakkingen/trays/kweektray), in which substrate and cultivation material (plant seeds, plant cuttings, etc.) are inserted into the (cultivation) cells (cultivation cavities) of the cultivation trays.

Object of the present invention is to provide a device, with which immediate reuse without cleaning of the trays is obtained after the cultivation period, when the substrate and the rooted plants are removed from the cells. In addition, object of the present invention is to provide better aerating and wetting of the substrate and the cultivation material, during their insertion in the tray cells.

According to the invention, for this purpose a device is provided, intended and arranged as a cup-shaped casing (covering/enveloping layer) between, on the one hand, substrate with cultivation material for cultivating/growing a plant and, on the other hand, the inner wall of a cell of a multi-cell cultivation tray, wherein in use the casing is configured/arranged/designed and dimensioned in such a way, that the casing essentially abuts against the inner wall of the cell of the cultivation tray in which it is inserted. By using the proposed cup-shaped casing between the substrate with the cultivation material and the inner wall of the tray cells, a thin separation is obtained between, on the one hand, the substrate with the cultivation material and, on the other hand, the inner wall of the tray cells, so that the inner wall remains clean when the cup shaped casing including the substrate and the cultivation material is removed from the tray cell.

Preferably, the material of the casing is a porous material, allowing moisture and air to enter through that porous material of the casing. Preferably, the material of the casing is a biodegradable material, preferably a foil, such as paper. Preferably, the material of the casing is provided with perforations, in particular to promote the entry of air. The invention will now be further discussed with reference to the figure description below.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a device, intended and arranged as a cup-shaped casing 1 (also indicated as envelop, shell, wrapping cup or lining cup) between, on the one hand, substrate 2 with cultivation material 3 for cultivating a plant and, on the other hand, the inner wall of a cultivation cavity or (cultivation) cell 4 of a multi-cell cultivation tray 5. The casing 1 is designed and dimensioned such, that in use the casing essentially abuts against the inner wall 4a of the cell 4 of the cultivation tray 5 in which it is inserted. Preferably, the material of the casing 1 is a porous, biodegradable, foil-shaped material such as paper, provided with perforations 6. For the paper type, use can be made of "ordinary" recycled paper or, for example, filter paper.

The example of an embodiment of a cup-shaped casing 1 shown in Figure 1 is a perforated, paper cup, which is suitable for separating the substrate 2 and the tray 5 during rooting and cultivating of plant cutting material 3. It ensures that the plant cutting 3, also with plants that are less rooted, can easily be re-potted. The paper of the casing 1 ensures, that all the substrate 2 remains available for the plant 3 and that no soil residues remain in the tray cell 4.

Due to the special perforation 6 in the porous material, the roots are provided with an additional layer of air, enabling the roots to grow between the casing 1 and the tray wall 4a. The casing 1 remains intact during cultivation because one side of the paper gets dry after watering. After re-potting, the paper decomposes quickly because it no longer gets dry.

Exactly the correct substrate can be used, in other words, taking account of the firmness during processing is not required, contrary to other systems such as glue plugs. The casing 1 can be manufactured from low-quality, recycled paper. Conventional, fully developed machines are available for the production process. The insertion of the encasing cup 1 into the tray is performed with a conventional tray filler; developing a special machine for that operation is not needed. Advantages over alternative systems:

1. Advantages over loose soil (or another loose substrate) within tray:

a. Shorter cultivation period (product suitable for sale if 90% is well rooted). b. Easier start-up (roots do not damage during re-potting).

c. Trays less contaminated with substrate residues.

2. Advantages over "paper pots"

(see for example http://www.optiplug.nl/paperpots.html) :

a. Better root growth through airy substrate, the "paper pot" is compacted soil. b. Simpler and shorter process, by filling DURING the production process, unlike the "paper pot", which is pre-pressed with a separate device.

3. Advantages over glue plugs

(see for example https://www.bpnieuws.nl/article/8015206/op-zoek-naar-een- alternatief-voor-de-chemische-lijmplug/) :

a. Purer substrate (no unnecessary additives and operations).

b. Airier substrate (glue plug needs a certain strength) .

4. Advantages over the Growcoon© (see for example https://growcoon.nl/) : a. Simpler and cheaper production process compared to a Growcoon©.

b. Easier to singulate, no expensive vacuum dispenser required.

c. The paper used is a 100% natural product, the Growcoon is a (degradable) synthetic product.

d. Residues of the Growcoon© (green) have an unappealing appearance as long as they are not yet 100% digested in the consumer phase, the (brown) casing cup according to the invention has a more natural appearance.

e. The casing cup according to the invention has a longer shelf life range in the tray, with the Growcoon© a different design is required for each cultivation period, including an extensive test phase.

Finally, the following is noted :

1. Optionally, holes (perforations) may be provided in the bottom of the cup-shaped casing.

2. The cup-shaped casing (preferably without perforations) can optionally be used to crop plants. So instead of a plastic pot. The pot (cup-shaped casing) is then used to cultivate a plant and to deliver it to the consumer. This is another application.

Claims

1. Device (1), intended and arranged as a cup-shaped casing (1) for encasing the side and the bottom of substrate (2) with cultivation material (3), wherein the cup-shaped casing is manufactured from biodegradable foil material.

2. Device according to claim 1, intended and arranged as a cup-shaped casing (1) between, on the one hand, the substrate (2) with the cultivation material (3), and, on the other hand, the inner wall (4a) of a cultivation cell (4), wherein in use the casing is designed and dimensioned such, that the casing essentially abuts, or is able to abut, against the inner wall of a cultivation cell.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material of the casing is a porous material.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the casing is paper.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the casing is provided with perforations (6) in the wall and/or in the bottom.