Attachment for a seedling pallet

Abstract

The invention relates to an attachment (2) for a preferably reusable seedling pallet (1) which comprises a plurality of cup-shaped recessed compartments (4). The attachment (2) can be secured to the upper face (3) of the seedling pallet (1), in particular the attachment can be releasably secured thereto, and has at least one structural unit (11) which is paired with a respective compartment (4) and has at least one radial support element (12), the at least one radial support element (12) extending at least partly within the compartment opening in a plan view of the compartment (4). 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 compartment width and which can be stabilized and in particular held upright in the compartment by the support element.

Description

[0001] Attachment for a young plant pallet

[0002] 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.

[0003] 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 tray arrangements of the reusable pallets used. Young plant pallets of this type are known from DE 9319024 U1 and NL 7606555 A. WO 2022076298 A1 shows such a young plant pallet as prior art in Figures 3 to 5. KR 200199950 Y1 shows a two-part propagation pallet consisting of a lower part with cup-shaped trays and an upper part that rests loosely on the lower part and has support elements that engage with the trays. The respective support elements comprise a support plate spaced from the tray base, which is connected via two webs to support rails resting on the top of the lower part, the webs being received in elongated recesses in the tray wall.At the end of a propagation phase, the upper part is grasped by laterally protruding handles and lifted off the lower part, whereby the young plants rooted in the substrate are lifted out of the growing area by the support elements.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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 13 further claims a system consisting of a seedling tray and at least one attachment. According to the invention, the attachment is provided, in particular, that the attachment can be detachably fastened to the top of the seedling tray, and that the attachment has at least one structural unit associated with 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 taper. 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 the substrate and is particularly rooted in it, can be pushed out of the tray along with the substrate. Specifically, the at least one radial support element of the attachment leaves the drainage hole clear in the axial direction of ejection. In a top view of the tray, the radial support element extends at least partially within the tray opening, extending both circumferentially around a longitudinal center axis of the tray and along 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 socket, in the socket opening, and / or above the socket. In particular, the radial support element can be a support ring that is at least partially, preferably completely, circumferential, and is arranged in and / or above the socket opening, thus reducing the diameter of the socket or the socket opening. This securely holds a substrate plug with a smaller diameter within the socket.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] The attachment is preferably made of plastic.

[0012] The attachment is easily removable and can be attached to the top of the seedling tray. The seedling tray can be adapted to different plug sizes, particularly plug diameters, or used again 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element has an insertion ramp and / or an exit ramp. An insertion ramp pointing away from the tray base and preferably located 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 mechanized and, above all, automated filling. An exit ramp located on the tray base side and opposite the insertion ramp allows for the smooth removal of the substrate plug and the plant attached to and rooted in it from the tray.The substrate plug is pushed out of the tray from bottom to top along the angled support elements by a plunger that engages through a hole in the tray's base and transferred to a gripper of a transplanting machine. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial support element is formed by a spring-loaded tab extending essentially along the longitudinal center axis, which is elastically flexible. This allows even substrate plugs with diameter tolerances to be guided securely and, in particular, clamped in place. The substrate plugs held by the spring-loaded tabs are secured against being pushed out by the ongoing growth of the plant or roots.

[0016] Preferably, the tab-shaped support element projects at least partially into the relevant tray. It thus provides a support surface that extends along the longitudinal center axis of the tray over at least one, preferably upper, portion of the tray's height, ensuring the stability of an inserted substrate plug. More preferably, the tab-shaped support element projects from the top of the seedling tray, for example, by projecting upwards at least partially relative to the structural unit. This allows substrate plugs that are taller than the tray's height to be held securely, particularly in an upper section projecting upwards from the seedling tray. For this purpose, the attachment can be elevated by means of integrated or separate spacer elements that rest on the top of the seedling tray, so that the at least one radial support element extends at least partially outside or...The attachment extends 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 tray so that the at least one radial support element optionally projects into a tray or protrudes from the top of the seedling tray.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the spring tab forms or incorporates a clamping rib. This clamping rib laterally constricts a substrate plug, particularly a paper plug, ensuring a particularly secure hold.

[0018] In a preferred further design, the attachment component includes a grid resting on the top of the seedling tray. At least one structural unit can be attached to the grid or at least partially form part of the grid.

[0019] The grid encloses at least the utility associated with the at least one structural unit. Preferably, the grid is formed by several interconnected structural units.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] Preferably, the various attachments are color-coded. The attachments, or the young plant pallets equipped with the respective attachments, 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 a customized format.

[0027] The design allows for the tracking of individual young plant pallets equipped with the growing components. Color coding, for example by manufacturing the growing components 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...

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet of young plants and a growing area set apart from it;

[0030] Fig. 2 the young plant pallet with the attached attachment;

[0031] Fig. 3 a paperplug;

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a section of the attachment in a perspective view from above;

[0033] Fig. 5 shows a section of the attachment in a perspective view from below;

[0034] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment.

[0035] The seedling tray 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a total of 180 compartments 4 arranged in an 18x10 grid. The cup-shaped compartments 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 compartment 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 compartment 4, which contains a seed or a seedling for growing a seedling. The upper surface 3 of the seedling tray 1 is provided with ventilation openings 5 ​​between the compartments 4, specifically at the intersections of four adjacent compartments, through which the foliage of the seedlings is aerated. The compartments 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.

[0036] In Fig. 1, an attachment part 2 according to the invention is located above the seedling tray 1. 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.

[0037] In Fig. 2, the attachment part 2 is shown on the seedling tray 1, with the grid 15 resting on the upper surface 3 and attached to it by the fastening elements described below. The radial support elements 12 engage in the trays 4 and provide lateral guidance and support for the substrate plugs inserted into the trays 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 tray width, are centered in the tray 4 by the radial support elements 12, ensuring a clearance on all sides from the tray wall, which guarantees 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 part 2. Figures 4 and 5 show the attachment part 2.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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] The seedling tray 1 and the extension unit 2 form a versatile system (Fig. 2) that can be adapted to the use of specific substrate plugs by means of a respective extension unit 2. The extension unit 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.

[0040] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment. The spring tabs are designed as...

[0041] Support elements 12 each have a cam-like projecting clamping rib 19. The narrow clamping rib 19, extending in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the respective utility, engages in the paperplug in a form-fitting manner, thereby securing it against being pushed out by the progressive growth of the plant or roots.

[0042] Reference symbol list

Claims

Patent claims 1. 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 detachably attached 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 part according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment part (2) has several, preferably adjacent, structural units (11).

3. Add-on component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one structural unit (11) has at least two, preferably three, more preferably four support elements (12) arranged distributed over the circumference of the utility.

4. Attachment component according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one radial support element (12) has an insertion ramp (13) and / or an exit ramp (14).

5. Attachment component according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one radial support element (12) is formed by a spring tab extending substantially in the direction of the longitudinal center axis.

6. Attachment component according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the spring tab forms or has a clamping rib.

7. Attachment part according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the attachment part (2) comprises a grid (15) resting on the top (3) of the young plant pallet (1).

8. Attachment component according to claim 7, characterized in 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).

9. Attachment part according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the grid (15) substantially covers the top (3) of the seedling tray (1) in the section occupied by the attachment part (2).

10. Attachment component according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in 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).

11. Attachment component according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that fastening elements (17) are formed on the underside of the grid (15) which engage in openings (5) in the top (3) of the seedling tray (1).

12. Attachment component according to claim 11, characterized by snap pins (17) as fastening elements which have a through hole (18).

13. 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 12.

14. System according to claim 13, characterized by at least two different versions of attachment parts (2) which can be optionally or in combination attached to the young plant pallet (1).

15. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the various attachment parts (2) are in particular color-coded.

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