A new set of sponge breeding equipment, processing mold and its processing method

Abstract

The present application relates to a set of new sponge seedling raising equipment, processing mold and processing method, especially to the soilless culture technical field. The present application comprises a seedling raising tray and a seedling raising piece matched with the seedling raising tray. The seedling raising blocks are connected by discontinuous thin sponge layers and can be separated by hot melting cutting with electric furnace wire. The sponge seedling raising block is used with the plug, the seedling roots do not entangle each other, the seedlings are easy to separate during transplanting and the roots are not damaged. There is no seedling recovery period. The seedling raising tray has the functions of water storage, water level control and seedling block depth control. The problems of non-hydrophilic sponge material, difficulty in restoring water after water loss, poor control of water level in general trays and root entanglement can be overcome. The seedling raising cost and technical difficulty are reduced, the survival rate and uniformity of seedlings are improved, the neatness is improved, and the seedling block mechanization, automatic and accurate processing can be realized.

Description

A new type of sponge seedling cultivation equipment, processing molds and processing methods Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of soilless cultivation technology, and in particular to a new type of sponge seedling raising equipment, processing mold and processing method. Background Technology

[0002] Soilless cultivation is an important method of modern agricultural production, offering advantages such as controllable water and fertilizer management, no land occupation, no pollution, high yield, good quality, and a favorable working environment. Soilless cultivation includes two main categories: substrate cultivation and nutrient solution cultivation. Nutrient solution cultivation can be further divided into deep liquid culture and nutrient film technology (NFT). Nutrient solution cultivation also boasts advantages such as good aeration, low water consumption, simple facility construction, and low input costs, making it the primary soilless cultivation method for leafy vegetables and other plants, and its development in China is rapid.

[0003] Soilless vegetable cultivation typically involves seedling raising followed by transplanting. Seedling quality significantly impacts later plant growth, vigor, yield, and quality. Traditional vegetable seedling raising processes are somewhat complex, labor-intensive, and require meticulous care, making them technically demanding. Seedling substrates for vegetables typically include conventional substrates composed of peat and vermiculite, rock wool, and sponges. Each substrate has its advantages and disadvantages. Conventional substrates offer good physicochemical properties, strong water retention, compatibility with base fertilizers, and low material costs. However, they are prone to crumbling, shedding excessively, affecting EC / pH, and clogging pipes and drippers. Rock wool is an inert material with stable physicochemical properties, good water absorption, and a fixed shape, but it is expensive, and waste disposal is difficult, hindering large-scale application in production. Sponges have high water absorption, strong water retention, stable physicochemical properties, a fixed shape, are easy to process, and do not shed. However, sponges are not hydrophilic, making rehydration difficult after water loss.

[0004] As mentioned above, sponge seedling blocks have advantages such as high water absorption, strong water retention, stable physicochemical properties, fixed shape, easy processing, and no shedding. However, using sponge blocks for vegetable seedling cultivation has the following disadvantages:

[0005] 1. Generally, sponges are not hydrophilic and require external force to squeeze them to passively absorb water. After the sponge loses water and dries out, it is difficult for seedlings to be watered or irrigated by watering or sprinkler irrigation, making management technically difficult and labor-intensive.

[0006] 2. The sponge seedling blocks currently used in production are arranged in a grid pattern, with discontinuous cuts between the blocks and tightly connected, making them difficult to mechanize and requiring manual tearing to separate the plants;

[0007] 3. The sponge blocks are tightly connected, and the roots will intertwine when the seedlings grow. This can easily damage the roots and affect the growth of the plants when they are divided and transplanted later.

[0008] 4. There are no dedicated seedling trays on the market, which hinders the full realization of the advantages of sponge blocks, and makes their disadvantages even more prominent.

[0009] To address these issues, this invention provides a novel sponge seedling cultivation device, processing mold, and processing method, and proposes the following solutions:

[0010] 1. Design a novel sponge seedling block. The sponge blocks have appropriate gaps between them, but are partially adhered. The sponge blocks are easily torn apart by hand or can be mass-produced using a hot-melt furnace wire. The bottom of the sponge block has a groove for use with a dedicated seedling tray, allowing nutrient solution to be immersed around the perimeter of the sponge block for water absorption and retention. The top of the sponge block also has a groove, allowing water or nutrient solution to be channeled into the interior of the sponge block and the bottom water reservoir through a cross-shaped opening during top irrigation.

[0011] 2. A specialized seedling tray is designed for the aforementioned sponge blocks. This seedling tray consists of multiple small seedling holes, each capable of holding one sponge block. The bottom of each seedling hole is equipped with a water reservoir and a drainage hole. Each seedling hole is independent to prevent the seedling roots from tangling; the water reservoir keeps the sponge block moist and prevents it from drying out; the drainage hole controls the water level and prevents waterlogging. Summary of the Invention

[0012] (1) Technical solution

[0013] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a novel sponge seedling raising device, comprising a seedling tray and seedling sheets used in conjunction with the seedling tray. The seedling sheet is composed of several seedling blocks made of sponge arranged in a rectangular array. Each pair of adjacent seedling blocks is separated by a gap and connected by thin sponge strips. Each seedling block has a top groove on its top and a bottom groove on its bottom. An opening penetrating the top and bottom of each seedling block is provided on the seedling tray. The seedling tray has several seedling holes of the same size and number as the seedling blocks on the seedling sheet, arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. Each seedling hole includes an upper cavity for placing the seedling blocks and a lower water storage tank. The shape and size of the cavity are adapted to the seedling blocks. A drain pipe is vertically installed on the inner wall of the bottom of the water storage tank.

[0014] Preferably, the seedling block is a cuboid, cube, or trapezoid.

[0015] Preferably, the top groove is a hemispherical groove or a funnel-shaped groove, and the bottom groove is a hemispherical groove, a funnel-shaped groove, a strip-shaped groove, or a cross-shaped groove.

[0016] Preferably, the opening is cross-shaped or star-shaped.

[0017] Preferably, the height of the drain pipe is higher than the height of the water storage tank and the upper end extends to the top of the bottom groove, and the difference between the height difference between the drain pipe and the water storage tank and the height of the bottom groove is less than 1 mm.

[0018] Preferably, the length and width of the water storage tank are smaller than the length and width of the receiving cavity.

[0019] Preferably, a processing mold for a novel sponge seedling raising equipment comprises a component A for accommodating seedling sheets, a component B1 for processing grooves on the top and bottom of seedling blocks, and a component B2 for processing cross-shaped or star-shaped openings in the seedling blocks. Component A consists of two or more small holes, each small hole having a round hole at its bottom, and a notch on the common sidewall of every two adjacent small holes. The bottom surface of component B1 has a protrusion corresponding to the round hole at the bottom of the small hole, and the bottom surface of component B2 has a cross-shaped or star-shaped cutting tool.

[0020] Preferably, a method for manufacturing a novel sponge seedling cultivation device using a processing mold includes the following steps:

[0021] Step 1: Processing of Seedling Sheets

[0022] After the sponge is foamed and molded, it is cut using a precision CNC machine tool to form seedling sheet embryos;

[0023] Step 2: Seedling block processing:

[0024] (1) Machining of hemispherical or funnel-shaped top and bottom grooves

[0025] Component B1 is used in conjunction with component A. When component B1 is pressed down, most of the thin sponge strips between the seedling blocks are first cut off. The remaining small part of the thin sponge layer still connects the adjacent seedling blocks, and the seedling blocks still exist as a sheet, forming the intermediate product of the seedling sheet.

[0026] As part B1 continues to be pressed down, the sponge at the bottom of the seedling block protrudes from the bottom round hole of part A. At this time, use a knife to cut along the bottom plane of part A to form the bottom groove of the seedling block. After the bottom groove is processed, flip the seedling block over and repeat the above pressing and cutting to form the top groove.

[0027] (2) Machining of long strip or cross-shaped bottom grooves

[0028] When processing seedling embryos, they are directly cut using a precision CNC machine tool;

[0029] (3) Cross-shaped or star-shaped opening

[0030] Place component A, which contains the intermediate product of the seedling sheet, on a smooth flat plate. Press down with component B2. When the blade of component B2 reaches the flat plate, the desired cut is formed.

[0031] Preferably, in step two, the size and depth of the groove at the bottom of the seedling block can be adjusted by controlling the pressing pressure, the thickness of the bottom of component A and the diameter of the round hole, and the height of the round protrusion of component B1.

[0032] Preferably, the processing sequence of the top groove, bottom groove, and cross-shaped or star-shaped opening in step two can be adjusted as needed.

[0033] (2) Beneficial effects

[0034] This invention provides a novel sponge seedling cultivation equipment, processing mold, and processing method. Compared with the prior art, this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0035] 1. Spacing-out, sheet-like seedling blocks can be filled into seedling trays in one go, saving labor and making them suitable for mechanized and automated operations.

[0036] 2. The seedling blocks are connected by discontinuous thin sponge layers and can be separated by hot-melt cutting with an electric furnace wire, saving labor and making them suitable for mechanized and automated operations.

[0037] 3. When used in conjunction with seedling trays, the roots of seedlings do not become entangled, making it easy to separate seedlings during transplanting without damaging the roots. There is no slow-release period, making it suitable for mechanized and automated operations.

[0038] 4. Special seedling trays have functions such as water storage, water level control, and seedling block depth control. They can overcome problems such as sponge materials being non-hydrophilic, difficulty in rehydration after water loss, difficulty in controlling water level in general trays, and root entanglement. They reduce seedling costs and the difficulty of seedling technology, and improve seedling survival rate, uniformity, and neatness.

[0039] 4. The mold and processing method for seedling blocks can realize the mechanized and automated precision processing of seedling blocks, and improve the uniformity and consistency of seedling block and seedling growth. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seedling sheet and seedling tray of the present invention when separated.

[0042] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the seedling block of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 3-1 is a perspective view of the bottom groove of the seedling block of the present invention when it is a long strip or a cross shape.

[0044] Figure 3-2 is a bottom view of the bottom groove of the seedling block of the present invention when it is long or cross-shaped.

[0045] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the seedling tray of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the seedling hole of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the seedling sheet and seedling tray of the present invention when combined.

[0048] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the seedling embryo of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 7-1 is a bottom view of the seedling embryo after the cross-shaped bottom groove has been processed.

[0050] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intermediate product of the seedling sheet of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of component A of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of component B1 of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of component B2 of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure during the processing of the seedling sheet of the present invention.

[0055] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1-seedling sheet, 11-seedling block, 111-top groove, 112-opening, 113-bottom groove, 12-thin sponge strip, 2-seedling tray, 21-seedling hole, 211-receiving cavity, 212-water storage tank, 213-drainage pipe, 3-seedling sheet embryo, 4-seedling sheet intermediate product, 5-part A, 51-small hole, 511-round hole, 512-notch, 6-part B1, 61-protrusion, 7-part B2, 71-knife. Detailed Implementation

[0056] The present invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the novel sponge seedling raising equipment of the present invention includes a seedling tray 2 and a seedling sheet 1 used in conjunction with the seedling tray 2.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the seedling sheet 1 is composed of several seedling blocks 11 made of sponge arranged in a rectangular array. There is a certain gap between each two adjacent seedling blocks 11 and they are connected by discontinuous thin sponge strips 12. With this design, the seedling blocks 11 do not need to be torn apart and can be placed into the corresponding seedling holes 21 as a whole, which improves the efficiency of the seedling blocks 11 in the tray. The seedling blocks 11 are connected by discontinuous thin sponge strips 12, which makes it convenient to use a hot melt device such as an electric furnace wire to cut the seedling blocks 11 when they need to be separated (such as after sowing, transplanting, etc.), and also facilitates manual tearing. The top of the seedling block 11 is provided with a top groove 111, the bottom of the seedling block 11 is provided with a bottom groove 113, and the seedling block 11 has an opening 112 that penetrates through the top and bottom of the seedling block 11.

[0059] As shown in Figure 3, the seedling block 11 is a cuboid, cube, or trapezoid. The top groove 111 is a hemispherical or funnel-shaped groove, and the bottom groove 113 is a hemispherical, funnel-shaped, elongated, or cross-shaped groove. The elongated or cross-shaped grooves are shown in Figures 3-1 and 3-2. The opening 112 is cross-shaped or star-shaped. The top groove 111 collects water during irrigation and guides it into the seedling block 11 through the opening 112. The bottom groove 113 works in conjunction with the special seedling tray 2 described below, allowing the sponge around the bottom of the seedling block 11 to be immersed in the small water storage tank 212, keeping the seedling block 11 moist for a long time. The cross-shaped or star-shaped opening 112 in the middle is designed for special sowing machinery and is the position of the seeds after sowing, as well as the channel for the seeds to germinate upwards and root downwards.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4, the seedling tray 2 is provided with a number of seedling holes 21 that are the same size and number as the seedling blocks 11 on the seedling sheet 1 and are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. The seedling hole 21 includes a receiving cavity 211 located at the top for placing the seedling blocks 11 and a water storage tank 212 located at the bottom. The shape and size of the receiving cavity 211 are adapted to the seedling blocks 11 and are used to separate the seedlings. The lower part is a water storage tank to supply water to the seedling blocks and keep the seedlings in a moist state for a long time.

[0061] As shown in Figure 5, the length and width of the water storage tank 212 are smaller than the length and width of the receiving cavity 211. The length and width of the water storage tank 212 are smaller than the upper part of the seedling hole 21 and the bottom of the seedling block 11. The purpose of this is to block the seedling block 11 at this position, control the depth of the seedling block 11 in the seedling hole 21 (by using different dimensions of the upper and lower parts of the seedling hole 21), and control the height of the seedling block 11 immersed in the liquid.

[0062] As shown in Figure 6, a drain pipe 213 is vertically installed on the inner wall of the bottom of the water storage tank 212. The height of the drain pipe 213 is higher than the height of the water storage tank 212 and its upper end extends to the top of the bottom groove 113. A drain hole is provided at the lower end of the drain pipe 213. The height difference between the drain pipe 213 and the water storage tank 212 and the height difference between the bottom groove 113 are <1mm. The drain pipe 213 is mainly used to control the water storage height of the seedling block 11 to avoid the seedling block 11 from being overwatered, which would affect the germination and growth of the seeds.

[0063] As shown in Figures 9-11, a processing mold for a new type of sponge seedling raising equipment is used when processing seedling sheet 1. The processing mold consists of component A5 for accommodating seedling sheet 1, component B16 for processing the top and bottom grooves of seedling block 11, and component B27 for processing the cross or star-shaped openings 112 of seedling block 11. Component A5 is a grid-shaped mold composed of two or more small holes 51. Each small hole 51 has a round hole 511 at the bottom. Each pair of adjacent small holes 51 has a notch 512 on the common side wall. The notch 512 can retain the thin sponge strip 12 during processing, so that the seedling block 11 remains connected and maintains the sheet-like state. Component A5 is mainly used to accommodate seedling sheet 1, ensuring that the seedling sheet 1 does not deform when further processed and squeezed from above and below, so as to achieve precise processing. At the same time, it serves as the mold for processing the top and bottom grooves of seedling block 11.

[0064] The bottom surface of component B16 has a protrusion 61 corresponding to the bottom opening of the small hole 51 in component A5, which is used for processing the grooves on the top and bottom of the seedling block 11; the bottom surface of component B27 has a cross or star-shaped cutter 71, which is used for processing the cross or star-shaped opening 112 of the seedling block 11.

[0065] A method for manufacturing a novel sponge seedling cultivation device using a processing mold includes the following steps:

[0066] Step 1: Processing of Seedling Embryo 3

[0067] After the sponge is foamed and molded, it is cut using a precision CNC machine tool to form seedling sheet embryo 3, as shown in Figure 7;

[0068] Step 2: Processing of Seedling Block 11:

[0069] (1) Machining of hemispherical or funnel-shaped top and bottom grooves

[0070] Part B16 is used in conjunction with Part A5. When Part B16 is pressed down, most of the thin sponge strips 12 between the seedling blocks 11 are first cut off. The remaining small part of the thin sponge layer 12 is still connected to the adjacent seedling blocks 11. The seedling blocks 11 still exist in sheets, forming the intermediate product 4 of the seedling sheet, as shown in Figure 8.

[0071] As component B16 continues to press down, the sponge at the bottom of the seedling block 11 extends out from the bottom round hole 511 of component A5. At this time, a knife is used to cut along the bottom plane of component A5 to form the bottom groove 113 of the seedling block 11. After the bottom groove 113 is processed, the seedling block is flipped over, and the above pressing and cutting are repeated to form the top groove 111. The size and depth of the bottom groove 113 of the seedling block 11 can be adjusted by controlling the pressing pressure, the bottom thickness of component A5 and the diameter of the round hole 511, and the height of the round protrusion 61 of component B16.

[0072] (2) Machining of long strip or cross-shaped bottom grooves

[0073] When processing seedling embryos, they are directly cut using a precision CNC machine tool, as shown in Figure 7-1.

[0074] (3) Cross-shaped or star-shaped opening

[0075] Place component A5 with the seedling sheet intermediate product 4 on a smooth flat plate and press it down with component B27. When the cutter of component B27 reaches the flat plate, the required cut is formed. The processing sequence of the top groove 111, the bottom groove 113, and the cross-shaped or star-shaped opening 112 can be adjusted as needed.

[0076] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are described in a relatively specific and detailed manner. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any modifications made without departing from the spirit of the present invention fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A new type of sponge seedling cultivation equipment, characterized in that, The system includes a seedling tray (2) and a seedling sheet (1) used in conjunction with the seedling tray (2). The seedling sheet (1) is composed of several seedling blocks (11) made of sponge arranged in a rectangular array. There is a gap between each two adjacent seedling blocks (11) and they are connected by thin sponge strips (12). The top of the seedling block (11) is provided with a top groove (111), and the bottom of the seedling block (11) is provided with a bottom groove (113). The seedling block (11) has an opening (112) that penetrates the top and bottom of the seedling block (11). The seedling tray (2) is provided with several seedling holes (21) that are the same size and number as the seedling blocks (11) on the seedling sheet (1) and are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. The seedling hole (21) includes a section located at the top for placing the seedling blocks (11). The seedling block (11) has a receiving cavity (211) and a water storage tank (212) located at the bottom. The shape and size of the receiving cavity (211) are adapted to the seedling block (11). The bottom inner wall of the water storage tank (212) is provided with a drain pipe (213) that is vertically upward. The height of the drain pipe (213) is higher than the height of the water storage tank (212) and the upper end extends to the top of the bottom groove (113). The height difference between the drain pipe (213) and the water storage tank (212) and the height difference between the bottom groove (113) are <1mm. The length and width of the water storage tank (212) are correspondingly smaller than the length and width of the receiving cavity (211). The length and width of the water storage tank (212) are smaller than the upper half of the seedling hole (21) and the bottom of the seedling block (11).

2. The novel sponge seedling raising equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The seedling block (11) is a cuboid, cube, or trapezoid.

3. The novel sponge seedling raising equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top groove (111) is a hemispherical groove or a funnel-shaped groove, and the bottom groove (113) is a hemispherical groove, a funnel-shaped groove, a strip-shaped groove or a cross-shaped groove.

4. The novel sponge seedling raising equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening (112) is cross-shaped or star-shaped.

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