Packaging, device and method for wrapping a root ball

Abstract

The invention concerns a packaging (6) configured and suitable for wrapping therein the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, comprising at least one piece of mesh material (9,10), such as jute mesh cloth or iron wire mesh, and a tensioning wire (3), such as an iron wire or a rope, for pulling the at least one piece of mesh material (9,10) taut around the root ball by tensioning thereof, wherein the packaging (6) comprises a number of auxiliary members (1), wherein each auxiliary member (1) is provided with a passage (4), which passage (4) has a form such that a loop is formed in the tensioning wire (3) when a part of the tensioning wire (3) is passed through the passage (4). The invention also concerns a device configured and suitable for wrapping the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, in such a packaging (6). The invention also concerns a method for wrapping the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, in such a packaging (6) by means of such a device. Thus, the root ball (8) can be wrapped in a low-effort, rapid and advantageous manner.

Description

[0001] Packaging, device and method for wrapping a root ball

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a packaging configured and suitable for wrapping therein the root ball of a plant, such as a tree or shrub, comprising at least one piece of mesh material, such as jute mesh doth or iron wire mesh, and a tensioning wire, such as an iron wire or a rope, for pulling the at least one piece of mesh material taut around the root ball by tensioning thereof. The invention also relates to a device configured and suitable for wrapping the root ball of a plant, such as a tree or shrub, in such a packaging. The invention also relates to a method for wrapping the root ball of a plant, such as a tree or shrub, in such a packaging by means of such a device.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] It is known to excavate / cut out the root bail of a tree or shrub to be transplanted, and to wrap the excavated / cut-out root bail. After the root ball has been excavated / cut out, the plant is lifted and placed with the root ball on a piece of iron wire mesh and / or a piece of jute mesh cloth. The wire mesh and / or the mesh cloth is then folded around the root ball and pulled taut around the root ball by tension ing / tightening a tensioning wire / tightening wire and / or by means of hooks / twisters suitable for this purpose, the root ball is thus wrapped, stabilized and protected, and the plant is prepared for transport and transplanting.

[0006] Manually excavating / cutting out a root ball is labour-intensive, time-consuming and expensive, as is manually wrapping the excavated / cut -out root ball. Known are devices for cutting out a root ball mechanically, for instance CN114208622A and CN106888925A, and devices for wrapping an excavated / cut-out root ball mechanically, for instance US2009038219A1 and DE9315079U1, whereby it is possible to work relatively effortlessly, rapidly and advantageously. The present Invention has for its object to provide an improved solution, whereby work can be carried out with even less effort, even more rapidly, and even more advantageously.

[0007] Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention provides a packaging of the described type, characterized in that the packaging comprises a number of auxiliary members, wherein each auxiliary member is provided with a passage, which passage has a form such that a loop is formed in the tensioning wire when a part of the tensioning wire is passed through the passage.

[0009] The invention also provides a device of the described type, characterized in that the device comprises: - a number of first engaging members, such as hooks, for engaging on loops formed in the tensioning wire by means of the auxiliary members; and

[0010] - a number of first mechanisms configured and suitable for moving the first engaging members.

[0011] The invention also provides a method of the described type, characterized in that the method comprises of;

[0012] - forming a number of loops in the tensioning wire by means of the auxiliary members by passing parts of the tensioning wire through the passages;

[0013] - positioning the root ball and the packaging relative to each other;

[0014] - engaging on the loops by means of the first engaging members; and

[0015] - moving the first engaging members by means of the first mechanisms, such that the lengths of the loops increase and the tensioning wire is tensioned.

[0016] In the context of the invention the term 'number of is always understood to mean 'one or more’. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The invention is further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments. In the drawings: figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an auxiliary member, and figure 2 shows a loop in a wire formed thereby; figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a packaging according to the invention; and

[0018] - figure 4 shows schematically (a portion of) an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention, and figures 5 and 6 show details thereof,

[0019] Further elucidation and exemplary embodiments

[0020] The auxiliary member (1) shown in figure 1 is provided with a passage (4) which has a form such that, when passing a part of a wire (3) through the passage (4), a loop (2) is formed in the wire (3), as shown in figure 2, The auxiliary member (1) is here also provided with inhibiting means (5), here in the form of barbs, for inhibiting a return movement, through the passage (4) of the part of the wire (3), here a braided rope, passed through the passage (4), The wall of the passage (4) is here bent with bend radii which are sufficiently large for the part of the wire (3) to be passed through the passage (4) without excessive resistance and without excessive bending. The auxiliary member (1) is here also provided with a third engaging member (13), here a protruding pin, for engaging on a mesh material.

[0021] The packaging (6) shown in figure 3 comprises a first piece of mesh material (9), here jute mesh cloth, and a second piece of mesh material (10), here iron wire mesh, and also a tensioning wire (3), here a braided rope. According to the invention, the packaging (6) now also comprises a number of, here four, auxiliary members (1) as shown in figure 1, whereby a number of, here four, ioops (2) as shown in figure 2 are formed in the tensioning wire (3).

[0022] The device shown (partially) in figures 4-6 for wrapping the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub,. In a packaging (6) as shown in figure 3 comprises according to the invention a number of, here four, first engaging members (11), here hooks, for engaging on the ioops (2) formed in the tensioning wire (3) by means of the auxiliary members (1), and also a number of first mechanisms (14) for moving the first engaging members (11). The device also comprises here a number of, here four, second engaging members (12) for engaging on the auxiliary members (.1), and also a number of second mechanisms (15), here four, for moving the second engaging members (12), The device here also comprises a number of third mechanisms (16), here four, here each comprising a hinge, for codisplacing the second engaging members (.12) with the auxiliary members (1) during tensioning of the tensioning wire (3), as shown in figure 6. The device also comprises here a number of co-acting cutting-out members (17), here spades, for cutting out the root baii (8) and lifting the cut-out root ball (8) from the ground, and also a number of fourth mechanisms (18) for moving the cutting-out members (17).

[0023] The method shown in figures 4-6 for wrapping the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, in a packaging (6) as shown In figure 3 by means of a device as shown (partially) in figures 4-6 comprises according to the invention of:

[0024] - forming a number of loops (2) in the tensioning wire (3) by means of the auxiliary members (1) by passing parts of the tensioning wire (3) through the passages (4);

[0025] - positioning the root ball (8) and the packaging (6) relative to each other; - engaging on the loops (2) by means of the first engaging members (11); and

[0026] - moving the first engaging members (11), here upward, by means of the first mechanisms (14), such that the lengths of the loops (2) increase and the tensioning wire (3) is tensioned.

[0027] The barbs (5) here inhibit a return movement through the passages (4) of the parts of the braided rope (3) passed through the passages (4), so that the tensioning wire (3) is held in tensioned state after tensioning thereof.

[0028] The method here also comprises of engaging on the auxiliary members (1) by means of the second engaging members (12) and of moving the second engaging members (12) by means of the second mechanisms (IS) such that the first engaging members (11) engaging on the loops (2) and the second engaging members (12) engaging on the auxiliary members (1) move away from each other and the lengths of the loops (2) increase further and the tensioning wire (3) is tensioned farther, as shown in figure 5, The second engaging members (12) co-displace here with the auxiliary members (1) by means of the third mechanisms (16) during tensioning of the tensioning wire (3), as shown in figure 6,

[0029] The method here also comprises of engaging on the first piece of mesh material (9), here the jute mesh cloth, by means of the third engaging members (13), here the protruding pins. The jute mesh cloth (9) can thus be attached to the auxiliary members (1), and thereby to the tensioning wire (3) and the second piece of mesh material (10), here the iron wire mesh, and so form thereby a whole.

[0030] The method here also comprises of cutting out the root ball (8) and lifting the cut-out root ball (8) from the ground by means of the co-acting cutting-out members (17), here the spades, wherein the cutting-out members (17) are moved by means of the fourth mechanisms (18). Both the cutting out of the root ball (8) and the wrapping of the cut-out root ball (8) can thus take place by means of the device in a single operation, in a low-effort, rapid and advantageous manner. in another embodiment of a packaging according to the invention each auxiliary member is configured and suitable for deforming, such that the passage deforms such that a return movement through the passage of a part of the tensioning wire passed through the passage is impeded, if appropriate forces are exerted on the auxiliary member by means of means provided for this purpose. A part of the auxiliary member can for instance be squeezed, wherein the passage narrows and the part of the tensioning wire situated in the passage becomes stuck therein. The device can then comprise the means for exerting these forces, and the method can then comprise of exerting these forces on an auxiliary member by means of these means.

[0031] Reference numerals used

[0032] 1. auxiliary member

[0033] 2. loop

[0034] 3. tensioning wire; iron wire; (braided) rope

[0035] 4. passage (in 1)

[0036] 5. inhibiting means; barbs

[0037] 6. packaging

[0038] 7. plant; tree or shrub

[0039] 8. root bail of 7

[0040] 9. first piece of mesh material; jute mesh doth

[0041] 10. second piece of mesh material; iron wire mesh

[0042] 11. first engaging member; hook (for engaging on 2.)

[0043] 12. second engaging member (for engaging on 1)

[0044] 13. third engaging member; protruding pin (for engaging on mesh material; jute mesh cloth)

[0045] 14. first mechanism (for moving 11)

[0046] 15. second mechanism (for moving 12)

[0047] 16. third mechanism (for co-displacement of 12 with 1)

[0048] 17. cutting-out member; spade (for cutting out 8)

[0049] 18. fourth mechanism (for moving 17)

Claims

Claims1. Packaging (6) configured and suitable for wrapping therein the rout ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, comprising at least one piece of mesh material (9, 10), such as jute mesh cloth (9) or iron wire mesh (10), and a tensioning wire (3), such as an iron wire or a rope, for pulling the at least, one piece of mesh material taut around the root bali by tensioning thereof, characterized in that the packaging comprises a number of auxiliary members (1), wherein each auxiliary member is provided with a passage (4), which passage has a form such that a loop (2) is formed in the tensioning wire when a part of the tensioning wire (3) is passed through the passage.

2. Packaging (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that each auxiliary member is also provided with inhibiting means (5) for inhibiting a return movement through the passage of a part of the tensioning wire passed through the passage.

3. Packaging (6) according to claim 2, wherein de tensioning wire is a rope, for instance a braided rope, characterized in that the inhibiting means comprise barbs.

4. Packaging (6) according to any one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the wall of the passage is bent with bend radii which are sufficiently large for a part of the tensioning wire to be passed through the passage without excessive resistance and without excessive bending.

5. Packaging (6) according to any one of the claims 1-4 characterized in that each auxiliary member is also provided with a third engaging member (13), such as a protruding pin, for engaging on the at least one mesh material6. Packaging according to any one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that each auxiliary member is configured and suitable for deforming, such that the passage deforms such that a return movement through the passage of a part of the tensioning wire passed through the passage is impeded, if appropriate forces are exerted on the auxiliary member by means of means provided for this purpose.

7. Device configured and suitable for wrapping the root bail (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, in a packaging (6) according to any one of the claims 1-5, characterised in that the device comprises: a number of first engaging members (11), such as hooks, for engaging on loops (2) formed in the tensioning wire (3) by means of the auxiliary members (1).; and a number of first mechanisms (14) configured and suitable for moving the first engaging members.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the device also comprises: a number of second engaging members (12) for engaging on ths auxiliary members (1); and a number of second mechanisms (15) configured and suitable for moving the second engaging members.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the device aiso comprises a number of third mechanisms (16) configured and suitable for co-displacing the second engaging members (12) with the auxiliary members (1) during tensioning of the tensioning wire (3).

10. Device according to any one of the claims 7-9, characterized in that the device also comprises:- a number of mutually co-acting cutting-out members (17), such as spades, for cutting out the root ball (8) and lifting the cut-out root ball from the ground; and a number of fourth mechanisms (18) configured and suitable for moving the cutting-out members.

11. Device according to any one of the claims 7-10, characterized in that, the device aiso comprises means configured and suitable for exerting suitable forces on an auxiliary member, such that the auxiliary member deforms such that the passage deforms, such that a return movement through the passage of a part of the tensioning wire passed through the passage is impeded.

12. Method for wrapping the root ball (8) of a plant (7), such as a tree or shrub, in a packaging (6) according to any one of the claims 1-5 by means of a device according to claim 7, characterised In that the method comprises of:- forming a number of loops (2) in the tensioning wire (3) by means of the auxiliary members (1) by passing parts of the tensioning wire through the passages (4);- positioning the root ball and the packaging relative to each other;- engaging on the loops by means of the first engaging members (11); and- moving the first engaging members by means of the first mechanisms (14), such that the lengths of the loops increase and the tensioning wire is tensioned.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the method also comprises of:- engaging on the auxiliary members (1) by means of a number of second engaging members (12) provided for this purpose; and- moving the second engaging members by means of a number of second mechanisms (15) provided for this purpose, such that the first engaging members (11) engaging on the loops (2) and the second engaging members (12) engaging on the auxiliary members move away from each other and the lengths of the loops (2) increase further and the tensioning wire (3) is tensioned further.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the method also comprises of codisplacing the second engaging members (12) with the auxiliary members (1) during tensioning of the tensioning wire (3) by means of a number of third mechanisms (16) provided for this purpose,15. Method according to any one of the claims 12-14, characterized in that the method also comprises of engaging on the at least one piece of mesh material (9, 10) by means of third engaging members (13) provided for this purpose, such as protruding pins, with which the auxiliary members (1) are provided for this purpose.

16. Method according to any one of the claims 12-15, characterized in that the method also comprises of: cutting out the root ball (8) and lifting the cut-out root ball from the ground by means of a number of co-acting cutting-out members (17), such as spades, provided for this purpose; andmoving the cutting-out members by means of a number of fourth mechanisms (18) provided for this purpose.

17. Method according to any one of the ciaims 12-16, characterized in that the method aiso comprises of exerting suitable forces on an auxiliary member by means of means provided for this purpose, such that the auxiliary member deforms such that the passage deforms, such that a return movement through the passage of a part, of the tensioning wire passed through the passage is impeded.

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