APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING A LENGTH OF GROWTH MEDIUM CUT INTO PIECES OF SUITABLE SIZE INTO A PROPAGATION TRAY

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and system for transporting a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size into a propagation tray.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size to a distributing means (600) adapted for positioning the individual pieces (12) of the length (10) of growth medium into a propagation tray, the apparatus comprising: a compartmentalized conveyor belt (200 comprising a plurality of open-ended compartments (210) adapted of receiving a single length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size; and a first displacement means (300) adapted for: a) positioning a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size into a compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200) through an open end (212) and along the longitudinal direction of the compartment (210); and/or b) positioning a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size into a storage tray (400); wherein the storage tray (400) is adapted for tilting or dropping a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size into a compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first displacement means (300) comprises a spade blade (310), a first drive means (320), and a second drive means (330); wherein the spade blade (310) is configured for fitting within a cutting groove (14) between to individual growth medium pieces (12); wherein the first drive means (320) is configured to move the spade blade from a first position above or below or to one side of a cutting groove (14) between to individual growth medium pieces (12) to a second position within said cutting groove (14); and wherein the second drive means (330) is configured to move the spade blade towards: a) said compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200) through an open end (212) and along the longitudinal direction of the compartment (210); and/or b) said storage tray (400).

3-5. (canceled)

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second displacement means (500) adapted for transporting a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size positioned within a compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200) through the open end (212) of the compartment (210) and into a distributing means (600) adapted for positioning the individual pieces (12) into a propagation tray for cuttings, seeds and the like.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage tray (400) adapted for positioning a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size into a compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200).

8. (canceled)

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means adapted for controlling the presence and/or absence of a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size within a compartment (210) of the compartmentalized conveyor belt (200).

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a programmable control unit configured to activate and/or deactivate the first displacement means (300) and the compartmentalized conveyor (200) sequentially.

11. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a programmable control unit configured to activate and/or deactivate the second displacement means (500) and the compartmentalized conveyor (200) sequentially.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first displacement means (300) is configured for loading neighbouring compartments of the compartmentalized conveyor (200) with varying lengths and/or diameters of lengths (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size.

13. A system for packaging growth medium pots onto propagation trays comprising: An apparatus according to claim 1; and A distributing means (600) adapted for positioning the individual pieces (12) of the length (10) of growth medium into a propagation tray.

14. A system according to claim 9, further comprising an apparatus (700) adapted for producing a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus (700) adapted for producing a length (10) of growth medium cut into pieces (12) of suitable size is configured for positioning its outlet (710) at multiple sites along the length of the compartmentalized conveyor (200).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the compartmentalized conveyor and first displacement means as disclosed in FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the compartmentalized conveyor and second displacement means as disclosed in FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a system where the apparatus adapted for producing a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size comprises two outlets; and

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a different view of the first displacement means shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. The system is shown comprising a compartmentalized conveyor 200 positioned in-between an apparatus 700 adapted for producing a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size and a distributing means 600 adapted for positioning the individual pieces of the length of growth medium into a propagation tray (not shown). The system also comprises a first displacement means 300 adapted for positioning a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size into a compartment 210 of the compartmentalized conveyor 200 through its open end (212, FIG. 2) and along the longitudinal direction of the compartment 210. Furthermore, the system comprises a second displacement means 500 adapted for transporting a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size positioned within a compartment 210 of the compartmentalized conveyor 200 through the open end (212, FIG. 2) of the compartment 210 and into a distributing means 600.

[0060] In FIG. 3, the second displacement means 500 is shown with a number of spade blades 510, each adapted for moving within a single open-ended compartment. The second displacement means 500 comprises a first drive means adapted to move the spade blades 510 from a first position outside the open-ended compartment to a second position within the open-ended compartment. Thereby, the distributing means 600 is loaded with a length (here, several lengths) of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size in a single operation.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the first displacement means 300. The first displacement means 300 is shown comprising a spade blade 310, a first drive means 320, and a second drive means 330. The spade blade 310 is configured for fitting within a cutting groove 14 between to individual growth medium pieces 12. The first drive means 320 is configured to move the spade blade from a first position above a cutting groove 14 between to individual growth medium pieces 12 to a second position within said cutting groove 14. The second drive means 330 is configured to move the spade blade above and along a length 10 of growth medium cut into pieces 12 of suitable size. Thereby, the first displacement means 300 can be configured to move different lengths of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size into a compartment of the compartmentalized conveyor. An example of alternating lengths can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0062] FIG. 4 also shows a first displacement means 300 adapted for:

a) positioning a length 10 of growth medium cut into pieces 12 of suitable size into a compartment 210 of the compartmentalized conveyor 200 through its open end 212 and along the longitudinal direction of the compartment 210; and
b) positioning a length 10 of growth medium cut into pieces 12 of suitable size into a storage tray 400; wherein the storage tray 400 is adapted for positioning a length 10 of growth medium cut into pieces 12 of suitable size into a compartment 210 of the compartmentalized conveyor 200. A different view of the first displacement means 300 is shown in FIG. 5. The apparatus 700 adapted for producing a length of growth medium cut into pieces of suitable size, comprises two outlets 710 configured for positioning along the length of the compartmentalized conveyor. Here, one outlet is positioned in front of the storage tray, while the other is positioned in front of a compartment 210. The spade blade 310 is here shown configured for fitting within a cutting groove 14 between to individual growth medium pieces 12 in both lanes simultaneously.

REFERENCES

[0063] Length of growth medium [0064] 12 Piece of growth medium [0065] 14 Cutting groove [0066] 200 Compartmentalized conveyor [0067] 210 Compartment [0068] 212 Open end [0069] 220 Belt [0070] 300 First displacement means [0071] 310 Spade blade [0072] 320 First drive means [0073] 330 Second drive means [0074] 400 Storage tray [0075] 500 Second displacement means [0076] 510 Spade blade [0077] 600 Distributing means [0078] 700 Apparatus adapted for producing a length of growth medium cut into pieces [0079] of suitable size [0080] 710 Outlet