DEVICE FOR DELIVERING AT LEAST A LAYER OF COMPOST AND CASING OIL TO A SHELVING FOR GROWING MUSHROOMS

Abstract

Device for delivering at least a layer of compost and casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, comprising a first conveyor, on which in a downstream direction are arranged a first hopper with a receiving opening for receiving compost and a dispensing opening for delivering a compost layer on the first conveyor and a second hopper with a receiving opening for receiving casing soil and a dispensing opening for delivering casing soil on the compost layer wherein at least one separator for separating in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction at least two fractions of the layer of compost with casing soil.

Claims

1. A device for delivering at least a layer of compost and/or casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, comprising: a first conveyor, on which in a downstream direction are arranged: a first hopper with a receiving opening for receiving compost and a dispensing opening for delivering a compost layer on the first conveyor; a second hopper with a receiving opening for receiving casing soil and a dispensing opening for delivering casing soil on the compost layer; and at least one separator for separating in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction at least two fractions of the layer of compost with casing soil.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising delivery end for delivering separately but simultaneously at least two fractions of the compost layer with the casing soil.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a blocking, adjacent to the surface of the conveyor, that locally prohibits the presence of a compost layer and casing soil.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the separator extends at least in the transport direction along the dispensing opening of the first hopper and the second hopper.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the separator comprises a beam-shaped body, that extends essentially over the entire length of the conveyor.

6. The device according to claim 4, comprising: a first equalizer, arranged between the dispensing opening of the first hopper and the dispensing opening of the second hopper for equalizing the compost layer; a second equalizer, arranged downstream of the dispensing opening of the second hopper for equalizing the casing soil.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the equalizers comprises a pressure roller.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the first hopper comprises a second and a third conveyor, arranged above and in parallel to the first conveyor, and dimensioned such that they deliver compost provided to the first hopper at mutual sides of the separator on the first conveyor.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the second hopper comprises a gun conveyor, for dividing the casing sol in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance.

10. The device according to claim 6, comprising a supplier for two foils or comprising two suppliers for a foil, so that each layer of compost and casing soil is arranged on a foil.

11. A method for delivering two parallel layers of compost and casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, the shelving and the layers having corresponding length and width directions, comprising: providing a layer of compost on a carrier; providing a layer of casing soil on the compost; and splitting up the layer of compost and the layer of casing soil in the width direction in at least two separate layers of casing soil on compost.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of splitting up the layer of compost comprises cutting the layer of compost with a knife, such as at least one cutting blade or at least one cutting wire, or by separating and drifting the layer of compost apart in two layers with a tapered or wedge shaped element before or during transferring both parallel layers of compost to a shelving for growing mushrooms.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein means for cutting such as the knife, cutting blade, cutting wire or tapered or wedge shaped element are coupled to a shelving, in particular the front side of a shelving.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein means for cutting such as the knife, cutting blade, cutting wire or tapered or wedge shaped element are coupled to a separate device, for placement in between a shelving and a device for delivering at least a layer of compost and/or casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms.

15. A method for delivering two parallel layers of compost and casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, comprising using a device according to claim 1 for filling two beds in a shelving at least partly simultaneously.

16. A method for delivering two parallel layers of compost and casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, the shelving and the layers having corresponding length and width directions, comprising providing a layer of compost on a carrier; splitting up the layer of compost in the width direction in at least two separate layers of compost; providing a layer of casing soil on both separate layers of compost; and Transferring both parallel layers of compost preferably simultaneously to a shelving for growing mushrooms.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of splitting up the layer of compost comprises cutting the layer of compost with a knife, such as at least one cutting blade or at least one cutting wire, or by separating and drifting the layer of compost apart in two layers with a tapered or wedge shaped element before or during transferring both parallel layers of compost to a shelving for growing mushrooms.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein means for cutting such as the knife, cutting blade, cutting wire or tapered or wedge shaped element are coupled to a shelving, in particular the front side of a shelving.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein means for cutting such as the knife, cutting blade, cutting wire or tapered or wedge shaped element are coupled to a separate device, for placement in between a shelving and a device for delivering at least a layer of compost and/or casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms.

Description

[0019] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to FIG. 1, which shows a perspective view of a device according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for delivering at least a layer of compost and casing soil to a shelving for growing mushrooms, comprising a first conveyor 2, on which in a downstream direction 3 are arranged a first hopper 4 with a receiving opening 5, 6 for receiving compost and a dispensing opening (not visible) for delivering a compost layer on the first conveyor 2 and a second hopper 7 with a receiving opening 8 for receiving casing soil and a dispensing opening (not visible) for delivering casing soil on the compost layer and at least one separator 9 for separating at least two fractions of the layer of compost with casing soil in a direction 10 perpendicular to the downstream direction 3.

[0021] The separator 9 may be chosen such that the pair of streams of compost and casing soil are separated such distance B that they can be delivered to two beds at the same height in the shelving simultaneously. The streams have widths A and C. In a practical embodiment A and C may for instance be 80 cm each, and B may be 15 cm. Alternatively, further conveyors may be present for simultaneously delivering compost and casing soil to beds at different heights, if desired.

[0022] Above the first and or the second hopper a divider may be present, to deliver the compost and/or casing soil evenly over the second and the third conveyor.

[0023] The device is provided with two optional suppliers for a foil 11, 12, arranged upstream of the first hopper 4, so that each layer of compost and casing soil is arranged on a foil. Both foils may in that case be transferred to separate beds in the shelving with the compost and casing soil on top of it.

[0024] The separator 9 extends in the transport direction along the dispensing opening of the first hopper and the second hopper. It comprises a beam-shaped body, that extends essentially over the entire length of the conveyor 2. Herewith, a middle path of the first conveyor 2 is in fact blocked for compost and casing soil.

[0025] The device 1 further comprises a first equalizer 12, arranged between the dispensing opening of the first hopper 4 and the dispensing opening of the second hopper 7 for equalizing the compost layer, and also a second equalizer 13, arranged downstream of the dispensing opening of the second hopper 7 for equalizing the casing soil. These equalizers 12, 13 each comprise a pressure roller, but various solutions may be available according to the art. Further equalizers 14 may be present further downstream.

[0026] The equalizers 12, 13 are placed right above the separator 9, or in other words, the separator 9 extends underneath the equalizers 12, 13, with a height adapted to just not touch them.

[0027] The first hopper 4 comprises a second and a third conveyor 14, 15, arranged above and in parallel to the first conveyor 2, and dimensioned such that they deliver compost provided to the first hopper 4 at mutual sides of the separator 9 on the first conveyor 2. A separation 16 is present between the second and the third conveyor 14, 15. The second hopper 7 may for instance comprise a gun conveyor 17, for dividing the casing sol in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance.

[0028] The above example is exemplary only and in no way limiting the scope of protection as defined in the following claims.