Seedling container

Abstract

To provide seedling-growing containers that can ensure the sufficient drainage from a drain port.SOLUTION: A seedling-growing container 11 has a bottom wall 16 and side walls 17, and has a bottomed box-shaped body whose upper end is open. An inner position surface 22 positioned inside an upper position surface 24 positioned above the lower end of an outer surface of the side wall 17 is formed at the lower end of the outer surface of the side wall 17. A drainage port 21 penetrating through the side wall 17 is formed in the inner position surface 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seedling container equipped with a drainage hole. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of seedling container, a seedling pot as shown in Patent Document 1 is known. In such a seedling pot, an opening for drainage is formed at the bottom. In this case, the opening is formed so as to extend in an L-shape from the side wall to the bottom wall of the seedling pot. The seedling pot is used in a state where it is housed in a system tray in which a plurality of containers capable of housing the seedling pots are arranged vertically and horizontally. In this case, the container is, for example, a rectangular frame shape with an opening at the upper end, a side wall formed by four pillars, and a bottom wall formed by a plurality of beams connecting the lower ends of the four pillars, forming a substantially rectangular box shape with a bottom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-204305 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the seedling pot described above, the drainage opening is flush with the surface surrounding the opening, so when the seedling pot described above is housed in the housing of the system tray, the opening of the seedling pot may be blocked by the inner surface of the housing, making it difficult to ensure sufficient drainage from the opening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below. The seedling container that solves the above problem is a bottomed box-shaped seedling container having a bottom wall and side walls and an open upper end, wherein the lower end of the outer surface of the side wall is formed with an inner position surface that is located more inward than an upper position surface that is located above the lower end of the outer surface of the side wall, and a drainage hole that penetrates the side wall is formed on the inner position surface.

[0006] According to this configuration, since the drainage outlet is formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the seedling container, even if the seedling container is stored in a storage section of a system tray, for example, a gap is always formed between the inner surface of the storage section and the drainage outlet. Therefore, the drainage outlet is prevented from being blocked by the inner surface of the storage section, and sufficient drainage from the drainage outlet can be ensured.

[0007] In the above-mentioned seedling container, when the bottom wall is placed so that it is in contact with a horizontal surface, it is preferable that the angle between a straight line connecting the upper and lower ends of the inner position surface of the side wall and the horizontal plane is smaller than the angle between a straight line connecting the upper and lower ends of the upper position surface of the side wall and the horizontal plane.

[0008] Generally, when forming a drainage hole in a side wall by punching with a die, the smaller the angle between the bottom wall and the horizontal plane when the bottom wall is placed in contact with the horizontal plane, the easier the punching with the die. In this respect, with this configuration, the drainage hole is formed on the inner side surface of the side wall that forms a smaller angle with the horizontal plane than the upper side surface of the side wall. Therefore, the formation of the drainage hole by punching with a die can be performed more easily than when the drainage hole is formed on the upper side surface of the side wall.

[0009] In the above seedling container, it is preferable that a step surface intersecting the inner position surface is formed between the inner position surface and the upper position surface of the side wall. According to this configuration, the stepped surface formed on the side wall functions as a rib, which contributes to improving the strength of the seedling container. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, sufficient drainage from the drain outlet can be ensured. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a system tray in which seedling containers are housed in one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seedling container from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seedling container seen from below. [Figure 4] Top view of a seedling container. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a main portion of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified seedling container from below. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seedling container of another modified example viewed from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a seedling container will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2, the seedling containers 11 are configured to be accommodated in the accommodation sections 12 of a system tray 13 having a plurality of accommodation sections 12 (15 in this example) arranged vertically and horizontally. As an example, each accommodation section 12 is in the shape of a rectangular frame with an opening at the upper end, a side wall formed by four pillars 14, and a bottom wall formed by a plurality of beams 15 connecting the lower ends of the four pillars 14, forming a substantially square box with a bottom. In other words, the side wall and bottom wall of each accommodation section 12 have openings.

[0013] The seedling container 11 has a bottom wall 16 and side walls 17, and is shaped like a substantially rectangular box with an open top, and contains a medium G in which plant seedlings N are planted. The seedling container 11 is formed by vacuum molding using a soft synthetic resin material, for example, and is flexible. The four corners 18 of the side walls 17 of the seedling container 11 are rounded.

[0014] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the sidewall 17 of the seedling container 11 is tapered so that the area of ​​the inside of the sidewall 17 becomes smaller as it approaches the bottom wall 16. A recess 19 is formed at the lower end of the outer surface of each of the four corners 18 of the sidewall 17 of the seedling container 11. The surface of the outer surface of the sidewall 17 located above the recess 19 is defined as an upper position surface 24. The bottom surface of the recess 19 is defined as an inner position surface 22 located more inward than the upper position surface 24. In other words, the lower end of the outer surface of the sidewall 17 is formed with the inner position surface 22 located more inward than the upper position surface 24, which is located above the lower end of the outer surface of the sidewall 17.

[0015] At positions on the inner surface of side wall 17 corresponding to the portions where each recess 19 is formed, protrusions 20 corresponding to each recess 19 are formed. In other words, at the lower end of corner portion 18, which is the portion of side wall 17 where each recess 19 is formed, the inside bulges out by an amount equal to the amount that the outside is recessed due to the formation of recess 19.

[0016] A long and narrow drainage opening 21 penetrating the side wall 17 is formed in each inner positioned surface 22. Each drainage opening 21 extends in a substantially vertical direction along the inner positioned surface 22, and its lower end reaches the outer edge of the bottom wall 16. That is, each drainage opening 21 extends in a substantially L-shape so as to straddle the side wall 17 and the bottom wall 16.

[0017] 3 and 4, a step surface 23 that is perpendicular to (intersects with) the inner positioned surface 22 is formed between the inner positioned surface 22 and the upper positioned surface 24 of the side wall 17. The step surface 23 constitutes the upper surface of the recess 19.

[0018] A plurality of groove-shaped first ribs 25 extending substantially in the vertical direction are formed at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the side wall 17 other than the recessed portion 19 in order to increase the strength of the side wall 17. The lower end of each of the first ribs 25 reaches the outer edge of the outer surface of the bottom wall 16. That is, each of the first ribs 25 extends in a substantially L-shape so as to straddle the side wall 17 and the bottom wall 16. A cross-groove-shaped second rib 26 is formed on the outer surface of the bottom wall 16 in order to increase the strength of the bottom wall 16.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 5, the seedling container 11 is configured such that, when the bottom wall 16 is placed in contact with the horizontal plane S, the angle A between the inner position surface 22 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S is smaller than the angle B between the upper position surface 24 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S. In other words, the angle A between the horizontal plane S and a straight line extending in the vertical direction within the inner position surface 22 connecting the upper end and the lower end of the inner position surface 22 of the side wall 17 is smaller than the angle B between the horizontal plane S and a straight line extending in the vertical direction within the upper position surface 24 connecting the upper end and the lower end of the upper position surface 24 of the side wall 17. In this embodiment, as an example, both the inner position surface 22 and the upper position surface 24 are configured by flat surfaces.

[0020] Next, the function of the seedling raising container 11 will be described. 1 and 6, the seedling container 11, containing the medium G in which the seedlings N are planted, is housed in each storage section 12 of the system tray 13 for use. When the seedling container 11 is housed in the storage section 12, the side wall 17 elastically deforms so as to fit the inner surface 27 of the pillar 14 of the storage section 12.

[0021] If a conventional seedling container in which a drainage outlet is formed without forming a recess in the lower end of the side wall is used instead of the seedling container 11 of this embodiment, the drainage outlet will be blocked by the pillars 14 of the storage section 12 if the position of the pillars 14 of the storage section 12 coincides with the position of the drainage outlet of the conventional seedling container. Therefore, the conventional seedling container has a problem in that it is not possible to ensure sufficient drainage from the drainage outlet when water is given to the seedlings and culture soil inside.

[0022] In this regard, in the seedling container 11 of this embodiment, the drainage outlet 21 is formed on the inner position surface 22 within the recess 19 of the side wall 17. Therefore, even when the seedling container 11 is housed in the storage section 12 so that the position of the pillar 14 of the storage section 12 and the position of the drainage outlet 21 coincide with each other, a gap is always formed between the drainage outlet 21 and the inner surface 27 of the pillar 14. Therefore, even when the seedling container 11 is housed in the storage section 12, the drainage outlet 21 is not blocked by the pillar 14. Therefore, in the seedling container 11, sufficient drainage from the drainage outlet 21 is ensured when water is applied to the seedlings N and the culture soil in the seedling container 11.

[0023] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are achieved. (1) The seedling container 11 has a bottom wall 16 and side walls 17 and is in the shape of a rectangular box with an open top. A recess 19 is formed at the lower end of the side wall 17, and a drainage hole 21 penetrating the side wall 17 is formed on the inner surface 22 of the recess 19.

[0024] According to this configuration, the drainage opening 21 is formed on the inner position surface 22 within the recess 19 of the side wall 17 of the seedling container 11, so that even when the seedling container 11 is stored in the storage section 12 of the system tray 13, a gap is always formed between the drainage opening 21 and the inner surface 27 of the pillars 14 of the storage section 12. Therefore, the drainage opening 21 is not blocked by the pillars 14 of the storage section 12, so that sufficient drainage from the drainage opening 21 can be ensured.

[0025] (2) When the seedling container 11 is placed so that the bottom wall 16 is in contact with the horizontal plane S, the angle A between the inner position surface 22 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S is smaller than the angle B between the upper position surface 24 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S.

[0026] In general, when forming a drainage hole in a side wall of a seedling container by punching and die in the vertical direction, the smaller the angle between the bottom wall and the horizontal plane when the container is placed so as to contact the horizontal plane, the easier the punching and die processing becomes. In this regard, in the seedling container 11 of this embodiment, the drainage hole 21 is formed on the inner surface 22 of the side wall 17, which has an angle A, B between the bottom wall and the horizontal plane S smaller than that of the upper surface 24 of the side wall 17. Therefore, the formation of the drainage hole 21 on the inner surface 22 of the side wall 17 by punching and die in the vertical direction can be performed more easily than the formation of the drainage hole 21 on the upper surface 24 of the side wall 17 by punching and die in the vertical direction.

[0027] (3) In the seedling container 11 , a step surface 23 that is perpendicular to (intersects with) the inner position surface 22 is formed between the inner position surface 22 and the upper position surface 24 of the side wall 17 . According to this configuration, the step surface 23 formed on the side wall 17 functions as a rib extending laterally, which contributes to improving the strength of the seedling raising container 11.

[0028] (Example of change) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other as long as they are not technically inconsistent.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 7, instead of the recess 19, an inner positioned surface 30 formed by a flat surface located inside the upper positioned surface 24 may be provided on the side wall 17 of the seedling container 11. In this case, at least one of the upper positioned surface 24 and the inner positioned surface 30 may be formed by a curved surface.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 8, the recesses 19 and the step surfaces 23 may be omitted from the side walls 17 of the seedling container 11, and inner positioning surfaces 31 formed by flat surfaces may be provided at positions between the four corner portions 18 at the lower end of the outer surface of the side walls 17 of the seedling container 11. In this case, at least one of the upper positioning surface 24 and the inner positioning surface 31 may be formed by a curved surface.

[0031] The step surface 23 may be omitted. At least one of the upper positioning surface 24 and the inner positioning surface 22 may be formed by a curved surface.

[0032] The drainage port 21 may be formed on a surface other than the bottom surface and the step surface 23 within the recess 19 . When the seedling container 11 is placed so that the bottom wall 16 is in contact with the horizontal plane S, the angle A between the inner position surface 22 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S does not necessarily have to be smaller than the angle B between the upper position surface 24 of the side wall 17 and the horizontal plane S. In other words, the angle A may be the same as the angle B or may be larger than the angle B.

[0033] The recess 19 may be formed at a position between the corner portions 18 at the lower end of the outer surface of the side wall 17 of the seedling container 11. The number, size, and shape of the recesses 19 may be changed as appropriate.

[0034] The width and length of the drainage opening 21 may be changed as appropriate. The shape of the drain outlet 21 may be changed as appropriate, for example to an oblong shape. The shape of the seedling raising container 11 may be changed as appropriate, for example, to a circular box with a bottom or an elliptical box with a bottom. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 11...Seedling container 12…Storage section 13. System Tray 14…Pillar 15...Beam 16…Bottom wall 17…Side wall 18…Corner section 19…Recess 20…Convex part 21…Drain port 22,30,31…Inner position plane 23…Step surface 24…Upper position plane 25…First rib 26…Second rib 27…Inner A,B…Angle G: Culture medium N...Seedlings S…Horizontal surface

Claims

1. A seedling container having a bottom wall, a side wall, and a rectangular box shape with an open top, A recess is formed at a lower end of a corner portion or a position between the corner portions on the outer surface of the side wall, A drain hole penetrating the side wall is formed in the bottom surface of the recess, A seedling container characterized in that the drainage hole is not formed in any part of the side wall other than the recess.

2. A seedling container as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the bottom wall is placed so that it is in contact with a horizontal surface, the angle between the bottom surface of the recess in the side wall and the horizontal plane is smaller than the angle between an upper position surface, which is a surface located above the recess on the outer surface of the side wall, and the horizontal plane.

3. A seedling container as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a step surface that intersects with the bottom surface of the recess is formed between the bottom surface of the recess in the side wall and an upper position surface, which is a surface located above the recess on the outer surface of the side wall.

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