Attachment for a young plant pallet

Abstract

Attachment part (2) for a preferably reusable young plant tray (1), • wherein the young plant tray (1) comprises a top surface (3) and several, preferably grid-shaped, supports (4) extending downwards from the top surface, in particular tapering conically, and serving to hold substrate, characterized in that • that the attachment part (2) can be attached, in particular, to the top (3) of the young plant tray (1), and • that the attachment (2) has at least one structural unit (11) assigned to a respective benefit (4) with at least one radial support element (12), • wherein the at least one radial support element (12) extends at least sectionally within the opening of the utility in a top view of the utility (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment for a preferably reusable young plant pallet according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a system comprising a young plant pallet and at least one attachment.

[0002] In a reusable system for raising plants in a first horticultural operation and transferring the young plants to a second horticultural operation for further cultivation, seedling trays are used. These trays are made of robust plastic and feature numerous compartments arranged in a grid of several longitudinal and transverse rows. The compartments, which are cup-shaped and recessed into the top of the tray, have a conical side wall and a base with a drainage hole. For propagation, the compartments are filled with loose substrate and a seedling is placed on them. The seedlings, once established and rooted in the substrate, are transported in the trays to the second horticultural operation, where they are pushed upwards using plungers that engage through the drainage holes in the base of the compartments and transplanted into pots for further cultivation.The workflow is highly automated, with filling, sowing, and transplanting machines adapted to the dimensions and arrangement of the reusable pallets used. Young plant pallets of this type are known from DE 9319024 U1 and NL 7606555 A. Such a young plant pallet is described as prior art in WO 2022076298 A1. Fig. 3 to 5 are shown.

[0003] There is a desire to use stabilized substrate in the form of circular cylindrical paper plugs for propagation. However, the aforementioned seedling trays are less suitable for this purpose, as the paper plugs sit loosely in the conical tray and are not centered, which is a requirement for automated processing. The existing reusable system would need to be supplemented with additional seedling trays optimized for holding paper plugs.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create an attachment for the reusable system with which the existing seedling trays can be converted for the use of substrate plugs, in particular paper plugs, for plant cultivation.

[0005] The problem is solved by an attachment according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims relating to this claim and in the following description of advantages and figures. Claim 15 also claims a system consisting of a tray of young plants and at least one attachment.

[0006] According to the invention, the attachment part is provided in particular on the top of the seedling tray, and the attachment part has at least one structural unit assigned to a respective tray with at least one radial support element, wherein the at least one radial support element extends at least partially within the tray opening in a top view of the tray.

[0007] The radial support element provides lateral guidance and / or support for a preferably cylindrical substrate plug, the cross-sectional area of ​​which is smaller than the width of the panel and which can be stabilized within the panel by the support element, and in particular kept upright. A substrate plug is a dimensionally stable substrate or a stabilized substrate that is held together, for example, by adhesive or a paper sleeve (paper plug). In addition to mineral substrates, i.e., earth- or soil-based, especially peat-containing substrates, organic, often biodegradable substrates such as coconut fiber, wood fiber, wood foam, and compost, as well as inorganic, especially synthetic, substrates such as rock wool, perlite, expanded clay, and plastic foams, and mixtures thereof, are also used. A paper plug typically has a circular cylindrical shape. Substrate plugs can also have a generally prismatic shape and, in particular, be laterally slotted.

[0008] The cup-shaped trays of the seedling tray can be round or polygonal and extend downwards in a cylindrical or conical shape. The side wall can be closed or have one or more openings. The tray base has at least one drainage hole for the drainage and aeration of the substrate contained within. Through this drainage hole, the plant, which has grown on and, in particular, rooted in the substrate, can be pushed out of the tray along with the substrate. Specifically, the at least one radial support element of the attachment ensures that the drainage hole remains unobstructed in the axial direction of removal.

[0009] In a top view of the panel, the radial support element extends at least partially within the panel opening, extending both circumferentially around a longitudinal center axis of the panel and in the direction of the longitudinal center axis. The support element, which is particularly tab-shaped, occupies at least a portion of the full circumference around the longitudinal center axis. In the direction of the longitudinal center axis, it can be arranged within the panel, in the panel opening, and / or above the panel. In particular, the radial support element can be an at least partially, preferably closed, circumferential support ring, which is arranged in and / or above the panel opening and reduces the diameter of the panel or the panel opening. This securely holds a substrate plug with a smaller diameter within the panel.

[0010] The attachment is securely mounted to the seedling tray, allowing the substrate plugs to be pushed out without the attachment even partially lifting from the tray. The pushed-out seedlings can then be easily grasped by the substrate plug and transplanted. The attachment can be glued, (ultrasonic) welded, clamped (force-fit), snapped (form-fit), and / or secured to the seedling tray with additional fasteners.

[0011] The seedling tray can have support feet such that two seedling trays in identical orientation can be nested and stacked rotated 180° over the support feet. In the stacked arrangement, a space is created that can be occupied by the plant growth of the lower seedling tray. Preferably, the extension is designed so that such seedling trays remain stackable and, in particular, nestable. Specifically, the extension has a low profile compared to the top of the seedling tray. The extension does not change the external dimensions of the seedling tray. Plant breeders and horticultural businesses can continue to use existing processing facilities for filling, transplanting, and cleaning. In particular, the facilities do not need to be converted to a different tray spacing.Existing young plant pallets that are repeatedly used in a reusable system can continue to be used and, with the attachment, can be cost-effectively converted to the use of substrate plugs, which have a smaller width or diameter than the usable width and, in particular, a smaller volume, so that substrate can be saved.

[0012] The attachment is preferably made of plastic.

[0013] In a preferred design, the attachment is detachably mounted to the top of the seedling tray. The seedling tray can be adapted to different plug sizes, particularly plug diameters, or reused as a standard tray without the attachment(s). As a standard tray, the seedling tray can be refilled with loose substrate. The attachment can also be used to reduce the volume of the tray, thus requiring less loose substrate.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment component has several, preferably adjacent, structural units. Preferably, the ratio of the number of units to the number of structural units is an integer multiple, so that the seedling tray can be completely filled with a corresponding number of attachment components. The seedling tray can be filled with different attachment components, allowing substrate plugs of varying sizes to be accommodated within a single tray. An attachment component with fewer structural units than the number of units has correspondingly smaller dimensions than the seedling tray and can be manufactured cost-effectively in a suitably small injection mold. Preferably, the attachment component has as many structural units as the seedling tray has units.With a single attachment, the young plant tray can be converted to a different plug size and / or shape.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element projects at least partially into the relevant utility. The preferably tab-shaped support element provides a support surface that extends in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the utility over at least one, preferably upper, portion of the utility's height, so that an inserted substrate plug can be securely supported.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element projects beyond the top of the seedling tray, preferably by extending at least partially upwards beyond the structural unit. Substrate plugs that are taller than the tray height can be held securely, particularly in an upper section projecting upwards from the seedling tray. Preferably, the attachment is elevated by means of integrated or separate spacer elements that rest on the top of the seedling tray, such that the at least one radial support element extends at least partially outside or above the tray, or is located entirely and, in particular, at a distance above the top of the seedling tray.Preferably, the attachment can be rotated 180° and attached to the seedling pallet, so that the at least one radial support element optionally projects into a section or protrudes from the top of the seedling pallet.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one structural unit comprises at least two, preferably three, and more preferably four support elements distributed around the circumference of the tray. This keeps the substrate plug centered within the tray. Inserting the substrate plugs and transplanting the grown plants can be carried out on existing processing equipment without requiring any modifications. Due to its centered position, the substrate plug has a clearance on all sides from the tray wall, ensuring good ventilation of the substrate plug and the plant growing on it.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element has an insertion ramp. This ramp, located opposite the tray base and preferably in the area of ​​the tray opening, facilitates the insertion and placement of the substrate plug into the tray opening, which is reduced in size by the structural unit. During filling, substrate plugs can simply be positioned above the seedling tray and dropped into the tray, enabling automated and, above all, machine-based filling.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element has a discharge ramp. This ramp, located on the side of the tray base and opposite the insertion ramp, allows the substrate plug and the plant attached to and rooted within it to be easily ejected from the tray. The substrate plug is pushed out of the tray from bottom to top along the ramped support elements by a plunger that engages through a hole in the tray base and transferred to a gripper of a transplanting machine.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment component comprises a grid resting on the top of the seedling tray. The at least one structural unit can be attached to the grid or at least partially form the grid. The grid encloses at least the area associated with the at least one structural unit. Preferably, the grid is formed by several interconnected structural units.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least one radial support element of the at least one structural unit is connected directly or via a web to the grid.

[0022] In a preferred further design, it is provided that the grid essentially covers the top of the young plant tray in the section occupied by the growing part.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the grid has openings in its struts that correspond to ventilation openings in the top of the seedling tray. In known seedling trays, these ventilation openings are located at the intersections of four adjacent sections. The attached extension leaves the ventilation openings at least partially open, thus ensuring ventilation for the plants. At least one of the openings can serve as a fastening point for attaching the extension to the seedling tray using rivets, screws, or similar fasteners.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, fastening elements are molded onto the underside of the grid, engaging in openings in the top of the seedling tray. These fastening elements can be integrated expansion or lamellar dowels, or snap pins. Preferably, snap pins are used as fastening elements, featuring a through-hole. Snap pins have a shaft with an expanding head. The shaft and expanding head are divided by the through-hole into at least two flexible parts, which can spring back and lock into place when inserted. The through-hole serves as a ventilation opening, so that each opening in the seedling tray serves both to secure the attachment and to ventilate the plants.

[0025] A system is claimed consisting of a seedling pallet and at least one attachment part according to the invention which can be optionally and in particular detachably attached to the seedling pallet.

[0026] Preferably, the system comprises at least two different designs of attachments that can be selectively or in combination attached to the seedling tray. The attachments may differ, in particular, in the radial position of the at least one support element within the tray or in the reduced tray width caused by the at least one support element, in the number of support elements, and / or in the axial extension of the support elements within (and / or outside) the tray.

[0027] Preferably, the various attachments are color-coded. The attachments, or the young plant pallets equipped with them, can be identified and handled accordingly through this coding. The coding of the attachment can be implemented, for example, by an integrated RFID chip or by printing or labeling a QR or barcode, preferably in an individualized form, so that individual young plant pallets equipped with the attachments can be tracked. Color coding, for example, by manufacturing the attachments entirely from different colored plastics, facilitates visual identification, thus simplifying handling in the respective facilities for plant propagation and subsequent cultivation.

[0028] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Individual technical features of the embodiment described below can also be combined with previously described embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and any further claims to form objects according to the invention. Where appropriate, functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals. The figures show... Fig. 1 in perspective view a pallet of young plants and a cultivation area distanced from it; Fig. 2 the young plant pallet with the attached attachment; Fig. 3 a paperplug; Fig. 4 a section of the attachment in a perspective view from above; Fig. 5 a section of the attachment in a perspective view from below.

[0029] The in Fig. The seedling tray 1 shown in Figure 1 has a total of 180 trays 4 arranged in an 18x10 grid. The cup-shaped trays 4 are recessed into an upper surface 3 of the seedling tray 1 and have a strongly rounded, angular cross-sectional contour that tapers slightly towards the bottom. The closed side wall of the tray 4 transitions into a base with a centrally located drainage hole (not shown). The drainage holes serve to aerate and drain the substrate filled into the tray 4, which contains a seed or a seedling for cultivating a seedling. The upper surface 3 of the seedling tray 1 is provided with ventilation openings 5 ​​between the trays 4, specifically at the intersections of four adjacent trays, through which the foliage of the seedlings is aerated. The trays are conventionally filled with loose substrate.The robust plastic young plant pallet has corner-running support feet (6), which distances the supports from a flat surface, so that when several young plant pallets are stacked, a growing space is created for the plants of the pallet stacked below.

[0030] In the Fig. Above the seedling tray 1, an attachment part 2 according to the invention is located. The attachment part 2 has a number of structural units 11 equal to the number of trays 4 in the seedling tray 1. The structural units 11 have openings and are connected to each other in such a way that they form a grid 15. In each structural unit 11, four radial support elements 12 in the form of spring tabs are distributed around the circumference of the opening. They extend downwards from the top of the grid 5, to which they are attached.

[0031] In the Fig. 2 The attachment part 2 is attached to the seedling tray 1 by the grid 15 resting on the top 3 and being fastened to it with the fastening elements described below. The radial support elements 12 engage in the slots 4 and provide lateral guidance and support for substrate plugs inserted into the slots 4. In the lower left corner, two paper plugs 7 are inserted into the seedling tray as substrate plugs. In the case of the circular cylindrical paper plugs 7, the substrate 8 is held together by a paper sleeve 9 ( Fig. 3) The paper plugs 7, which are smaller in diameter than the width of the substrate plug, are centered in the substrate plug 4 by the radial support elements 12, ensuring a clearance on all sides from the substrate plug wall and thus good ventilation of the substrate plug. It can be seen that the paper plugs 7 still protrude slightly beyond the grid 15 of the attachment 2.

[0032] The characters Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows an enlarged section of the attachment part 2. It can be seen that the radial support elements 12 have an insertion ramp 13 for the paperplugs 7. At the end of the support elements 12 opposite the connection to the grid 15, there is an exit ramp 14. This allows the paperplug 7, along with the young plant grown on and in the substrate 8, to be pushed out without interference. The paperplugs are pushed out by plungers that engage through the bottom hole of the tray 4 and lift the paperplug from the young plant tray at least far enough for a gripper of a transplanting machine to grasp the paperplug laterally and transfer the young plant, along with the paperplug, into a planting pot for further cultivation.

[0033] The extension part 2 is attached to the seedling tray 1 to prevent it from lifting off when the paper plugs 7 are extended. It is attached using snap pins 17, which are molded onto the underside of the grid 15 and engage in the ventilation openings 5 ​​of the seedling tray 1. To ensure that the foliage is not obstructed, the snap pins 17 have a through-hole 18 that leads into openings 16 in the extension part 2, which in turn correspond to ventilation openings 5 ​​in the seedling tray 1.

[0034] The young plant pallet 1 and the cultivation section 2 form a flexible system ( Fig.2), which can be adapted to the use of specific substrate plugs by means of a respective attachment 2. The attachment 2 is detachably attached to the seedling tray 1 by means of its snap pins 17, so that the system can be reconfigured accordingly if other plug sizes and / or shapes are used for propagation. Reference symbol list 1 young plant pallet 2 Attachment part 3 Top 4 Benefits 5 ventilation openings 6 Mounting feet 7 Paperplug 8 Substrat 9 paper nozzles 11 Structural unit 12 support elements 13. Lead-in ramp 14 Extrusion slope 15 grids 16 Opening 17 Snap pin 18 through holes QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 9319024 U1

[0002] NL 7606555 A

[0002] WO 2022076298 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Attachment (2) for a preferably reusable young plant tray (1), • wherein the young plant tray (1) comprises a top surface (3) and several, preferably grid-shaped, supports (4) extending downwards from the top surface, in particular tapering conically, and serving to hold substrate, characterized by , • that the attachment part (2) can be attached, in particular, to the top (3) of the young plant tray (1), and • that the attachment (2) has at least one structural unit (11) assigned to a respective benefit (4) with at least one radial support element (12), • wherein the at least one radial support element (12) extends at least sectionally within the opening of the utility in a top view of the utility (4). [2] Attachment according to claim 1, characterized by , that the attachment part (2) can be detachably attached to the top (3) of the young plant pallet (1). [3] Attachment part according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the attachment (2) has several, preferably adjacent, structural units (11). [4] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the at least one radial support element (12) projects at least partially into the relevant utility (4). [5] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that at least one radial support element (12) protrudes from the top (3) of the seedling tray (1). [6] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the at least one structural unit (11) has at least two, preferably three, more preferably four support elements (12) distributed over the circumference of the utility. [7] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the at least one radial support element (12) has an insertion ramp (13). [8] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the at least one radial support element (12) has a chamfer (14). [9] Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the attachment part (2) comprises a grid (15) resting on the top (3) of the seedling tray (1). [10] Attachment according to claim 9, characterized by , that the at least one radial support element (12) of the at least one structural unit (11) is connected directly or via a web to the grid (15). [11] Attachment according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by , that the grid (15) substantially covers the top (3) of the seedling tray (1) in the section occupied by the growing part (2). [12] Attachment according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by, that the grid (15) has openings (16) in its grid struts which correlate with ventilation openings (5) in the top (3) of the seedling tray (1). [13] Attachment according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized by , that fastening elements (17) are molded onto the underside of the grid (15), which engage in openings (5) in the top (3) of the seedling tray (1). [14] Attachment according to claims 12 and 13, characterized by Snap pins (17) as fastening elements which have a through hole (18). [15] System consisting of a seedling pallet (1) and at least one attachment part (2) which can be optionally and in particular detachably attached to the seedling pallet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14. [16] System according to claim 15, characterized by at least two different versions of attachment parts (2) which can be attached to the young plant pallet (1) either optionally or in combination. [17] System according to claim 16, characterized by , that the various attachments (2) are in particular color-coded.

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