Harvest Tray

Abstract

A harvest tray for carrying potted herbs, the harvest tray including a rectangular base portion, having two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides, wherein an extension direction of the two long sides defines a longitudinal direction of the harvest tray, a pair of side walls, each side wall arranged in the direction of the long sides of the base portion, respectively, and extending in a vertical direction from the base portion, said side walls defining two sides of a reception cavity, dividing elements, arranged in a row in said reception cavity, said dividing elements being distanced from the side walls defining the reception cavity, at least along a portion of their height, such that an open passage is formed on each side of the row of dividing elements along a portion of the height of the reception cavity in the longitudinal direction of said harvest tray.

Claims

1. A harvest tray for carrying potted herbs, the harvest tray comprising: a rectangular base portion, having two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides, wherein an extension direction of the two long sides defines a longitudinal direction of the harvest tray; a pair of side walls, each side wall arranged in the direction of the long sides of the base portion, respectively, and extending in a vertical direction from the base portion, said side walls defining two sides of a reception cavity; and dividing elements, arranged in a row in said reception cavity, said dividing elements being distanced from the side walls defining the reception cavity, at least along a portion of their height, such that an open passage is formed on each side of the row of dividing elements along a portion of the height of the reception cavity in the longitudinal direction of said harvest tray, each passage being open towards at least one short side and towards the top of said harvest tray.

2. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein the harvest tray comprises two outer side walls extending along the long sides of the base portion of the harvest tray and an intermediate side wall, wherein the intermediate side wall is arranged between the pair of outer side walls, such that two reception cavities are provided in the harvest tray, wherein each reception cavity is provided with dividing elements arranged along the longitudinal direction of the harvest tray, such that each reception cavity comprises two open passages.

3. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein the dividing elements are in contact with the adjacent side walls at their lower portions, such that each passage extends over a portion of the distance between the top of the harvest tray and downwards towards the base portion.

4. A harvest tray according to claim 3, wherein each passage extends over more than 50% of the distance from the harvest tray's top towards the base portion.

5. The harvest tray according to claim 1, further comprising: outer short side walls provided at each short side of the harvest tray, the outer short side walls are in contact with the adjacent side walls at their lower portions thereof, and at least one of the outer short side walls are distanced from the adjacent side walls at an upper portion thereof.

6. The harvest tray according to claim 5, wherein each of the outer short side walls has a similar cross-sectional profile as the dividing elements and are aligned with each row of dividing elements, whereby the open passages extends along the entire length of the harvest tray.

7. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein the harvest tray is hollow with a rectangular opening in the base portion, wherein the opening is provided on the side of the base portion that is directed away from the reception cavity of the harvest tray.

8. The harvest tray according to claim 7, wherein the outer dimensions of the top of the harvest tray extend over a smaller area than the rectangular opening in the base portion of the harvest tray.

9. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein the dividing elements have a rounded profile at the top side.

10. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein the outer side walls and the intermediate side wall, if present, have a rounded profile in any cross section taken in the lateral direction of the harvest tray.

11. The harvest tray according to claim 1, wherein pot receiving recesses are formed in the base portion, arranged on each side of the dividing elements, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the harvest tray.

12. The harvest tray according to claim 11, wherein four pot receiving recesses are formed along each row of dividing elements.

13. A system comprising a harvest tray according claim 1 and at least one potted herb, wherein the height of the harvest tray is at least 50% of the harvested potted herb.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein pot receiving recesses are formed in the base portion of the harvest tray, the pot receiving recesses are arranged on each side of the dividing elements, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the harvest tray and is adapted to receive a pot so that when the pot is received an upper edge of the pot is located above a lower edge of each passage, with reference to the vertical direction from the base portion towards the top of the harvest tray.

15. A method of harvesting potted herbs, said method comprising: collecting a potted herb from a gully system; and placing said potted herb in a harvest tray according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] For exemplifying purposes, the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of a harvest tray according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a harvest tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, from one of the short sides of the harvest tray, and

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of a harvest tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0051] A harvest tray 1 for carrying potted herbs 2 is disclosed in the drawings. The harvest tray 1 comprises a rectangular planar base portion 3. The rectangular base portion 3 has two parallel long sides 4, 5 and two parallel short sides 6, 7. The extension direction of the two long sides 4, 5 defines a longitudinal direction of the harvest tray. The harvest tray 1 in the illustrated embodiment also comprises three side walls 8, 10, which are arranged in the direction of the long sides 4, 5 of the base portion 3, respectively, and extending in a vertical direction to a top plane 14 of the harvest tray, opposite from the base portion 3. In the illustrated embodiment, two of the side walls are outer side walls 8 and one of the side walls is an intermediate side wall 10. The side walls define two reception cavities 11.

[0052] As the harvest tray 1 is open towards above, the top plane 14 is in this embodiment defined by the uppermost portions of the side walls 8, 10.

[0053] The dimensions of the illustrated harvest tray are preferably 600 mm in the longitudinal direction and 300 mm in the transversal direction. The height of the harvest tray is in the illustrated embodiment approximately 240 mm.

[0054] The harvest tray also comprises dividing elements 12, arranged in a row in each of said reception cavities 11. The height of the dividing elements 12 are the same as the height of the side walls 8, 10. The dividing elements 12 are distanced from the side walls 8, 10 defining the reception cavity, at least along a portion of their height, such that an open passage 13 is formed on each side of the row of dividing elements 12 along a portion of the height of the reception cavity 11 in the longitudinal direction of said harvest tray 1. Each of the passages 13 is open towards each short side 6, 7 of the harvest tray 1 and towards the top 14 of said harvest tray. Hence, it is possible to access each one of the passages 13 from either above or from the short sides 6, 7 of the harvest tray 1.

[0055] As can be best seen in FIG. 1, the dividing elements 12 are in contact with the adjacent side walls 8, 10 at their lower portions 12a. Hence, the lower portions 12a of the dividing elements 12 are broader than the upper portions 12b thereof. The height of the lower portions 12a are approximately 60 mm and the total height of the tray is approximately 240 mm. Thereby, each passage 13 extends over a portion of the distance between the top 14 of the harvest tray and downwards towards the base portion 3. In the illustrated embodiment, each passage 13 extends over approximately 75% of said distance. The specific relationship between the heights of the passages in relation to the height of the side walls is dependent on the size of the pots for the herbs intended to be placed in the harvest tray 1. The illustrated harvest tray is suitable for holding potted herbs having a height of approximately 300 mm, and of which the pot has a height of approximately 80 mm. In order to provide a stable holding of potted herbs, the height of the harvest tray is in the illustrated embodiment at least 80 percent of the height of the harvested potted herb.

[0056] The harvest tray 1 also comprises outer short side walls 9 provided at each short side 6, 7 of the harvest tray 1. The height of the outer short side walls 9 are the same as the height of the side walls 8, 10 and the dividing elements 12. The outer short side walls 9 are in contact with the adjacent side walls 8, 10 at their lower portions 9a thereof, and are distanced from the adjacent side walls 8, 10 at an upper portion 9b thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer short side walls 9 have a similar cross-sectional profile as the dividing elements 12 and are aligned with each row of dividing elements 12. Thereby the open passages 13 can extend along the entire length of the harvest tray. The benefit of this will be explained further below when the use of the harvest tray is described in an automated handling system. The height of the lower portions 9a is, similarly to the height of the lower portions 12a of the dividing elements 12, approximately 60 mm.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows the harvest tray in a perspective view from the bottom. As can be seen, the harvest tray is hollow with a rectangular opening 15 in the base portion 3. The opening 15 is provided on the side of the base portion 3 that is directed away from the reception cavities 5 of the harvest tray 1. Also the side walls 8, 10, short side walls 9 and dividing elements 12 are hollow. As is perhaps best seen in FIG. 2, the outer dimensions of the top 14 of the harvest tray 1 extends over a smaller area than the rectangular opening 15 in the base portion 3 of said harvest tray. This is achieved by providing the outer side walls 8, the intermediate side wall 10, the dividing elements 12, and the short side walls slanted, such that each of the elements has a smaller width at the top than at their respective portions being adjacent the base portion of the harvest tray. Thereby, the harvest trays 1 become stackable in one another.

[0058] As can also be seen in e.g. FIGS. 1 and 2, the dividing elements have a rounded profile at the top side and the intermediate side wall 10 and outer side walls 8 have a rounded profile in any cross section taken in the lateral direction of the harvest tray. The short side walls 9 have a rounded profile in any cross section taken in the longitudinal direction of the harvest tray. By this, the risk that the potted herbs will be damaged when it comes in contact with the potted herb is lower.

[0059] The base portion 3 of the harvest tray 1 also comprises pot receiving recesses 18 formed in the base portion 3. The pot receiving recesses are arranged on each side of the dividing elements 12, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the harvest tray. In the illustrated embodiment, each reception cavity comprises four pot receiving recesses. Hence, the harvest tray comprises eight pot receiving recesses. The height of each pot receiving recess is adapted so that when the pot is received an upper edge of the pot is located above a lower edge of each passage, with reference to the vertical direction from the base portion towards the top of the harvest tray.

[0060] The harvest tray in the illustrated embodiment may preferably be made of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and may preferably be made by rotational molding.

[0061] The harvest tray 1 will now be described in use. In FIG. 2, potted herbs 2 are illustrated in the reception cavities 5. The potted herb 2 has been placed there by an operator picking the potted herb from e.g. a gully system in a green house. The harvest tray 1 is provided for receiving one potted herb 2 in each pot receiving recess, and the potted herb will thereby be supported by either one short side wall 9 and one dividing element 12 and an outer side wall 8 and the intermediate side wall 10, or by two dividing elements 12 and an outer side wall 8 and the intermediate side wall 10.

[0062] The dividing elements 12 and short side walls 9 are provided so that the rim 16 of the pot 17 extends above the respective lower portions 12a, 9a thereof. Thereby, the rims 16 are provided in the passages 13 of the harvest tray. This, together with the fact that the passages 13 extends along the length of the tray and are open upwards, makes it possible to use the harvest tray in e.g. an automated bagging system with lower risk of damaging the herbs.

[0063] Hence, when the operator has filled the harvest tray 1 with potted herbs 2, the harvest tray may be transferred to e.g. an automated bagging device. In such a device, a picking arm of a robot may enter the harvest tray through one of the outer short side walls 9 and grip the pot 17 provided between the outer short side wall 9 and the dividing element 12 below its rim 16. The potted herb 2 may thereafter be lifted straight up. When the next potted herb should be picked, the gripping element may be inserted into the empty space where the first potted herb was provided, brought to the next potted herb trough the passages 13 provided for between the outer side wall 8 and the intermediate side wall 10 and grip the next potted herb 2 below the rim 16 of its pot 17. Thereafter, also this potted herb may be lifted straight up. By using a harvest tray according to the present invention, the gripping arm or other means for gripping the potted herb does not need to enter into the reception cavities from directly above the potted herb it is about to grip. Thereby, the risk of damaging the potted herb is lower.

[0064] The above-described embodiments are not limited to the concept of the invention, but describe only the currently preferred embodiments. It is for example conceivable with other dimensions of the harvest tray than those described. It is also conceivable with harvest trays comprising only one reception cavity, i.e. no intermediate side wall is provided. On the other hand, it is also conceivable with harvest trays comprising three or more reception cavities.

[0065] Furthermore, any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.