Pot filling assembly

Abstract

A pot filler assembly configured to fill a pot with soil. The pot filler assembly includes: a soil hopper; and a soil conveyor configured to convey soil out of the hopper and toward the basin. A measurement chamber defines an interior volume, the measurement chamber configured to be adjusted to increase or decrease the interior volume. A funnel is arranged below the measurement chamber. The funnel can be moved vertically into and out of the basin when the basin is positioned below the funnel. The funnel is configured to direct soil into the pot. A paper dispenser is configured to dispose paper between the funnel and the basin. The funnel is vertically movable to push the paper into the basin to form a paper bag within the basin. The funnel is configured to direct soil into the paper bag.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 388,377, filed on July 12, 2022. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a pot filler assembly for filling a pot with soil. Background Art

[0004] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0005] Filling bags with soil and then placing the bags in pots (or other growing containers) in order to grow plants in the pots is an extremely tedious and messy process. For example, measuring the desired amount of soil and then transferring the soil to the pots can result in soil spillage and sometimes waste. Therefore, an improved system, assembly, and method for filling bags with soil and placing the bags in containers would be desirable. The present disclosure advantageously provides an improved bag filler and pot assembly, apparatus, and method that address various needs in the art and provide numerous advantages, as explained in detail herein. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a basin filler assembly configured to fill a basin with soil. The basin filler assembly includes the following items: a soil hopper; a soil conveyor configured to convey soil out of the hopper and toward the basin; a measuring chamber defining an internal volume, the measuring chamber configured to be adjusted to increase or decrease the internal volume; a funnel arranged below the measuring chamber, the funnel being able to move vertically into and out of the basin when the basin is positioned below the funnel, the funnel being configured to guide soil into the basin; and a paper dispenser configured to arrange paper between the funnel and the basin. The funnel is able to move vertically to push the paper into the basin to form a paper bag in the basin, and the funnel is configured to guide soil into the paper bag.

[0007] The present disclosure also provides a method for filling a pot with soil using a pot filler assembly. The method includes the following items: loading soil into the top hopper of the pot filler assembly and closing the upper gate and the lower gate of the measuring chamber; adjusting the length of the measuring chamber to accommodate a predetermined amount of soil to be placed in the pot; opening the upper gate of the measuring chamber and filling the measuring chamber with soil; positioning the pot below the measuring chamber and the funnel of the pot filler assembly; positioning paper on the pot; moving the funnel to push the paper down into the pot so that the paper conforms to the shape of the pot; and opening the lower gate of the measuring chamber to release soil from the measuring chamber into the funnel and into the pot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basin filler assembly according to the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A front view of a basin filler assembly;

[0011] Figure 3 for Figure 1 a side view of a basin filler assembly of; and

[0012] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a basin filler assembly.

[0013] The accompanying drawings illustrate a basin filler assembly according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] Figures 1 to 4 An exemplary pot filler assembly 10 according to the present disclosure is shown. The pot filler assembly 10 includes a soil hopper 12 and a conveyor system 14 extending from the soil hopper 12. Soil to be filled into an exemplary pot 110 or any other suitable pot or container is loaded into the soil hopper 12. The conveyor system 14 conveys the soil from the hopper 12 to the pot 110.

[0016] Near the distal end of the conveyor system 14 is a tube 20 positioned to receive soil that has been loaded into the soil hopper 12. The tube 20 is a measuring chamber configured to be adjustable in length. The length of the tube 20 corresponds to the amount of soil to be added to the pot 110. The tube 20 includes a proximal gate 22 and a distal gate 24 located at opposite ends of the tube 20. The gates 22, 24 can be opened and closed to allow soil to enter and leave the tube 20.

[0017] Below the tube 20 is an inserter 30 that is positioned above the sheets of paper 40 pulled from a roll 42. The inserter 30 may generally be configured as a funnel. The paper 40 pulled from the roll 42 hangs above the basin 110 to be filled and below the inserter 30. A plurality of basins 110 to be filled may be arranged on a conveyor 16 that moves the basins 110 to and from a position below the inserter 30 and the tube 20.

[0018] An exemplary process of filling a plurality of pots 110 with soil using the pot filler assembly 10 shown will now be described. The pots 110 to be filled by the pot filler assembly 10 are placed along the conveyor belt 16, which transports the pots 110 to and from the filling position below the inserter 30 and the tube 20. The length of the tube 20 is set based on the amount of soil to be added to the pots 110. The assembly 10 includes any appropriate arm or other mechanism for changing the length of the tube 20. The tube 20 can have a first portion 26 and a second portion 28, which are arranged in a telescoping manner to change the length of the tube 20. In order to fill the tube 20, the proximal gate 22 is opened, the distal gate 24 is closed, and the soil from the soil hopper 12 is transported into the tube 20. The proximal gate 22 is then closed.

[0019] Two pinch blocks 44 on the opposite sides of the paper 40 pull the paper 40 from the roll 42 to the appropriate length exceeding the basin 110 to be filled. Then the inserter 30 is actuated to push the paper 40 downward into the basin 110 so that the paper 40 conforms to the shape of the basin 110. The bottom gate 24 is opened to release the soil from the tube 20. The soil is collected in the inserter 30 that has pushed the paper 40 downward into the basin 110 and is now placed in the basin 110. After the basin 110 has been filled with soil, the knife is actuated to cut the paper 40. Close the distal gate 24, the pinch blocks 44 release their gripping force, and retract to the initial position of the start, in preparation for grabbing additional paper 40 to fill additional basins 110. The inserter 30, which acts as a soil funnel, is removed from the basin 110. The basin 110 now advantageously has a paper liner 40 filled with soil. The filled basin 110 is transported away from the inserter 30 by the conveyor 16. Then, another pot 110 is transported to the bottom of the inserter 30 by the conveyor 16 so that the other pot 110 can be filled with soil in the same manner as described above. The filling actions set forth by this application can be performed in the order described, or in any other suitable order.

[0020] The following is an exemplary list of steps for a method for filling a plurality of pots 110 with a pot filler assembly of the present disclosure according to the present disclosure (the steps may be performed in the following order, or in any other suitable order): Load soil into the top hopper 12; Close the two gates 22, 24 on the adjustable tube 20; Adjust the length (i.e., height) of the tube 20 to determine the volume of soil (which is set when the machine is set up for the pots to be filled); Open the top gate 22 to fill the tube 20 with soil; Once filled, close the top gate 22; Move one of the pots 110 into the tube 2 0 and the position below the inserter 30; two clamping blocks 44 on both sides of the paper 40 pull the paper 40 out to the appropriate length beyond the basin 110; the inserter 30 pushes the paper 40 downward into the basin 110 to conform to the shape of the basin 110; the bottom gate 24 is opened to release the soil; the soil is collected into the basin 110 through the inserter 30; once the soil enters the basin 110, the knife cuts the paper; the bottom soil gate 24 is closed; the paper clamps 44 release their clamping force and retract to the initial position and are ready to grab more paper 40; and the inserter 30 configured as a soil funnel is lifted upward. The basin 110 now has a paper liner 40 filled with soil therein, and the conveyor 16 moves to fill the next basin 110.

[0021] For the purpose of illustration and description, the foregoing description of the embodiment has been provided. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but are interchangeable where applicable, and may also be used for a selected embodiment even if not specifically shown or described. Also may be varied in many ways. Such variants should not be considered to be out of the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] Providing example embodiments will make the present disclosure thorough and fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Many specific details (such as examples of specific components, devices and methods) are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that the example embodiments can be implemented in many different forms, and that the specific details should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0023] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific example embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may be intended to include plural forms. The terms "comprises, comprising", "including" and "having" are inclusive and therefore specifically refer to the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes and operations described herein should not be interpreted as having to be performed in the specific order discussed or shown, unless explicitly identified as an execution order. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be adopted.

[0024] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on another element or layer," "engaged to another element or layer," "connected to another element or layer," or "coupled to another element or layer," the element or layer may be directly on another element or layer, directly engaged to another element or layer, directly connected to another element or layer, or directly coupled to another element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on another element or layer," "directly engaged to another element or layer," "directly connected to another element or layer," or "directly coupled to another element or layer," there may be no intermediate elements or layers. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted similarly (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0025] Although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. can be used to describe different elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections in this article, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms can only be used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer and / or section from another region, layer and / or section. Terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical items used in this article do not imply order or sequence unless the context clearly indicates. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments, the first element, first component, first region, first layer or first section discussed below can be referred to as the second element, second component, second region, second layer or second section.

[0026] For ease of description, spatially relative terms (e.g., "inside," "outside," "below," "below," "down," "above," and "on," etc.) may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element or feature shown in the drawings and another (other) element or feature. Spatially relative terms may be intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientations described in the drawings. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, the elements described as being "below" or "below" other elements or features will then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Therefore, the example term "below" may cover both the above orientation and the below orientation. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used in this article are interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. A pot filler assembly, the pot filler assembly being configured to fill a pot with soil, the pot filler assembly comprising: Soil hopper; a soil conveyor configured to convey soil out of the soil hopper and toward the basin; a measurement chamber defining an interior volume, the measurement chamber being configured to be adjusted to increase or decrease the interior volume; a funnel disposed below the measuring chamber, the funnel being vertically movable into and out of the pot when the pot is positioned below the funnel, the funnel being configured to guide soil into the pot; as well as a paper dispenser configured to arrange paper between the hopper and the basin; wherein the funnel is vertically movable to push the paper into the basin to form a paper bag within the basin, and the funnel is configured to guide soil into the paper bag.

2. The basin filler assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The measuring chamber is suspended above the funnel.

3. The basin filler assembly of claim 1, wherein: The funnel is configured as an inserter.

4. The pot filler assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pot conveyor configured to move a plurality of pots to and from the hopper.

5. The basin filler assembly of claim 1, wherein: The paper dispenser includes a paper roll mounted below the soil conveyor.

6. The basin filler assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an upper gate located above the funnel and a lower gate located below the funnel, the upper gate and the lower gate being configured to be individually actuated to control the dispensing of soil into and out of the funnel.

7. A method of filling a pot with soil using a pot filler assembly, the method comprising: loading soil into the top hopper of the pot filler assembly and closing the upper and lower gates of the measuring chamber; adjusting the length of the measuring chamber to accommodate a predetermined amount of soil to be placed in the pot; opening the upper gate of the measuring chamber and filling the measuring chamber with soil; positioning the basin beneath the measurement chamber and the funnel of the basin filler assembly; positioning paper over the basin; moving the funnel to push the paper down into the basin so that the paper conforms to the shape of the basin; as well as The lower gate of the measuring chamber is opened to release soil from the measuring chamber into the funnel and into the pot.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising filling a plurality of pots with soil using the pot filler assembly.

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