Plant husbandry – Algae culture
Patent
1984-11-14
1988-09-20
Johnson, Richard J.
Plant husbandry
Algae culture
141103, A01G 908
Patent
active
047715693
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to potting machines, more particularly a machine to pot plants into any one of a variety of containers or bags.
The machine is designed for reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of the potting of plants by delivering the proper amount of potting mix into the container, compacting the mix after placement of the plant and placing the finished product for easy removal from the machine; in the case of plastic bags, hard pots and other similar containers automatic removal to a suitable mechanised conveyor.
The invention comprises the steps of a method of placing potting mix and a plant in a potting container wherein said machine comprises a plurality of holders to receive a container for the plant mounted on a rotatable bracket, means for rotating said bracket in step-wise fashion so that each holder passes through a series of stations, means to deliver potting mix to the holder at a filling station, and means to vibrate said container to compact said mixture.
According to a further form of this invention this includes the method of planting a plant within a container the method being characterised in that there is included the steps of locating the roots of a plant within the container either before or during the filling of the container with potting mix, and vibrating the container to consolidate the potting mix around the roots of the plant during the filling step.
Hitherto, the method of planting a plant within a container has comprised the steps of inserting potting mix into the container, gouging or impressing a hole into the mix, inserting a plant and especially the roots of the plant within the hole and then topping the hole up with further potting mix and consolidating by packing the soil around the plant.
After substantial investigation, it has been found that such a process requires significant equipment to effect the necessary steps, has an unfortunate characteristic of effecting in some instances unwanted packing of the soil and a tendency from the action to damage hair roots and the root structure of the plant.
The concept therefore of allowing the potting mix to fill around the roots while this is positioned in the appropriate location on a container minimises such damage to hair roots and consolidation to the extent necessary to reasonably hold the plant is achieved by external vibration which allows minimal damage therefore to the hair roots.
In order to illustrate the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a view from one side of the machine,
FIG. 2 is a view from the opposite side,
FIG. 3 is a semi-diagrammatic view of part of the potting mechanism,
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the indexing mechanism,
FIG. 5 is a view of alternative holders for the bags, and
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the drive mechanism.
The machine 1 consists of a rotating horizontal circular table 2 to which are attached four pivoted brackets 3 which have both a horizontal 4 and vertical member 5 preferably made of square steel bar. The horizontal member provides lateral support and/or points of attachment for any of various container holders being used, depending upon the type of container to hold the potted plant.
The vertical member 5 of each of these brackets is equipped with two adjustable attachments. The lower of these is a tangentially mounted sweep arm 6 which wipes the bottom of the enclosure to direct all spilled mix to a discharge opening in the bottom of the enclosure; the upper attachment is a vertically adjustable circular metal plate 7 to support the container for the plant, which metal plate is adjusted to suit the height of the particular container being used.
The complete table and bracket assemblies are supported and rotated in a sequence of 90.degree. movements by a vertical axle 8.
This axle 8 is in turn supported on pre-lubricated sealed ball bearings contained within a tubular steel casing 9 attached to the fixed, semi-circular steel enclosure and supporting sub-structure 10 which also supports the drive mechanism. A suita
REFERENCES:
patent: 1477485 (1923-12-01), Haskell
patent: 2869283 (1959-01-01), Krause
patent: 3587675 (1971-06-01), DiTucci
patent: 3657839 (1972-04-01), Krause
patent: 3782033 (1974-01-01), Hickerson
patent: 4020881 (1977-05-01), Nothen
Johnson Richard J.
Tolley's Nurseries Pty. Limited
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