Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
  • A01G9/029—Receptacles for seedlings
  • A01G9/0295—Units comprising two or more connected receptacles

Definitions

• the present disclosure generally concerns the propagation of plants in individual compartments in a plant tray.
• trays For the growing of seedlings and cuttings forest nurseries employ different types of trays that generally consist of rows of cells gathered in a frame.
• the trays may either be manufactured in one piece, i.e. with the cells being formed integral with each other as well as with a tray frame, or may consist of a frame with openings in which separate, loose cells may be received and supported to complete the tray.
• the use of frames having separate cells especially creates an advantageous possibility of providing a flexible system wherein frames may be used in combination with different cell types within the system.
• the choice of the specific type of tray design may be determined for instance by the species to be grown, the climate conditions, etc.
• a general object is to provide a solution to the described problem.
• a specific object is to provide an improved cell for a plant propagation tray, having a generally tubular body with cell sides forming an open upper end and an at least partly open lower end and cell corner portions between each of the cell sides.
• Another object is to suggest a plant propagation tray for receiving separate improved cells.
• a further object is to suggest a plant propagation tray with improved cells integrated therein.
• the present technology generally relates to a cell for a plant propagation tray, comprising a generally tubular body with cell sides forming at least partly open upper and lower ends of the cell and cell corner portions between each of the cell sides.
• inwardly facing channels extend along the cell sides generally from an area of the upper end and to an area of the lower end of the cell and are provided at least mainly outside a main plane of the respective cell side.
• the technology in another aspect relates to a plant propagation tray having a frame with plant receiving openings.
• a cell of the present technology is received in each tray opening, with support tabs of the cells being supported on tray frame support lugs.
• the technology relates to a plant propagation tray for receiving plants.
• a plant propagation tray for receiving plants.
• fixed cells of the present technology are integrated in a distributed pattern in the plant propagation tray.
• Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art plant propagation tray
• Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of another prior art plant propagation tray
• Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of a separate plant propagation cell of the present invention
• Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the plant propagation cell embodiment of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 is a side view of the plant propagation cell embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4;
• Fig. 6 is a top view of the plant propagation cell embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4;
• Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the plant propagation cell embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4;
• Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of a separate plant propagation cell of the present invention.
• Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of the plant propagation cell embodiment of Fig. 8.
• Fig. 10 is a partial illustration of separate plant propagation cells of the invention supported in a plant propagation tray.
• Fig. 11 is a partial illustration of fixed plant propagation cells of the invention integrated in a plant propagation tray.
• Fig. 1 a tray 330 of a known configuration having a base frame 331 with uniformly distributed openings 332.
• the openings 332 are provided for receiving a respective cell or insert 301 being supported with support knobs 321 thereof on corresponding support lugs 333 of the tray base frame 331.
• Fig. 2 is illustrated an alternative tray 430 likewise consisting of a frame 431. In this case cells 401 are integrated in a distributed pattern in the tray 430 frame 431 , forming its openings 432.
• the separate type propagation tray cells 1 are formed as a generally tubular body 2, having a basically square cross-section (see Fig. 6).
• the body 2 is formed by four sides 3, 4, 5 and 6 that are each separated by a flattened corner or corner portion 9, 10, 11 and 12 and that each extend from an entirely open upper end 7 to a partially open lower end 8.
• the sides 3-6 as well as the corners 9-12 of the cell body 2 taper from the open upper end 7 towards the partially open lower end 8 to enable easy stacking of the cells and also to facilitate removal of a seedling and substrate, not illustrated, from the cell for transplanting purposes.
• the lower end 8 of the cell 1 is here partially open, having a generally cross-shaped bottom structure formed by corner apertures 28 and central apertures 29 (see Fig. 7).
• corner apertures 28 and central apertures 29 see Fig. 7
• the bottom may have a different design and may even be entirely open.
• outwardly directed cell supporting and positioning knobs 23 are provided at distributed locations around the upper end 7 of the cells 1 to support the cells at their open top, while still allowing free access for air to the interior of an associated tray 30 illustrated schematically and partially in Fig. 10.
• the depicted tray 30 of Fig. 10 corresponds to that of Fig. 1 so that the cells 1 are supported in tray openings 32 of a tray frame 31 with their support knobs 23 engaging and being supported by corresponding support lugs 33 of the frame 31.
• Such a design provides excellent support for and stabilization of the cells in such a tray structure accommodating the cells.
• the tray structure may be of any other conventional type provided with corresponding openings or apertures for the insertion of the cells.
• This dam 18 is preferably in the shape of a damming barrier wall that will assist in increasing the collection and retaining of applied irrigation water and fertilizer in the cell 1.
• the cell or insert 1 is of a known design for use with a conventional type of plant propagation tray 30.
• said basic design has been further developed and improved, as will now be described in detail.
• a cell 1 of the invention is intended for use in the above briefly described plant propagation tray 30 of a generally conventional, existing type.
• the cell 1 is a separate part intended to be received in the respective opening 32 of the plant propagation tray 30 frame 31, as is partially shown in Fig. 10.
• the above mentioned tray support knobs 23 are supported on corresponding support lugs 33 of the tray frame 31 as described.
• the cell 1 has the briefly described generally tubular body 2 with cell sides 3-6 forming the upper end 7 and the lower end 8 of the cell and the cell corner portions 9-12 between each of said cell sides 3-6.
• the now suggested plant propagation cell 1 further has inwardly facing or open channels 13- 16 that extend along the respective cell sides 3-6 generally from an area of the upper end 7 and to an area of the lower end 8 of the cell 1.
• the channels 13-16 project generally outwardly from the cell sides 3-6 and are thus provided with a bottom wall 19-22 thereof outside a main plane P3-P6 (see Fig. 6) of the respective cell sides 3-6.
• the tray support knobs 23 are likewise provided outside the main plane P3-P6 of the respective cell side 3-6. They are provided on each side of the respective channel 13-16, between said channels and the adjacent cell corner portions 9-12.
• the channels 13-16 are designed having a generally box-like cross section with side edges 26, 27 (only those of the channel 13 are denoted in Fig. 6).
• These side edges 26, 27 of the channels 13-16 are provided generally perpendicular to both the bottom wall 19-22 of the respective channels and to the adjacent cell 1 sides 3-6. Being provided centrally on each side 3-6 of the cell 1 and with their side edges 26, 27 sharply meeting the associated channel bottom wall 19-22, the channels 13-16 do not only add extra volume to the cell. With this design they rather also provide protection against horizontally growing roots causing "root spiraling".
• the inwardly facing channels 13-16 extend along the full extension of the respective cell sides 3-6, from the upper end 7 to the lower end 8 of the cell 1. As mentioned above they are preferably provided in a longitudinally central area of the cell sides 3-6.
• the channels 13-16 thus divide the respective cell sides approximately in half, into two separate generally flat side wall parts 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, provided on either side of the respective channel 13-16.
• the inwardly facing channels 13-16 are open-ended at said upper 7 and lower 8 ends of the cell 1.
• the described dam 18 extends around the entire outer circumference of the upper cell end 7, including along the outer bottom wall 19-22 of each channel 13-16.
• the cell 1 sides 3-6 taper from a wide upper cell end 7 towards a narrower lower cell end 8.
• the channels 13-16 will in such cases likewise taper towards the lower cell end 8.
• the cell corner portions 9- 12 are in this embodiment provided with at least one open corner slit 24, 25.
• two slits 24, 25 are provided at different height along the respective corner portion 9-12.
• the described cell configuration with outwardly projecting channels or outer “boxes” makes it possible to make the cell larger than before while still fitting in an existing tray frame. Actually, the useable cross section area of the cell is increased all along its height.
• FIGs. 8 and 9 is briefly illustrated an alternative second embodiment of a separate plant propagation cell 101 according to the invention.
• This alternative cell 101 is identical to the first basic cell embodiment of Figs. 3-7 except that the cell corner portions 109-112 are continuous. In other words, there are not provided any slits in the corner portions 109-112. Such an embodiment may be appropriate for some specific conditions and/or plant types.
• the expression "cell” is intended to cover not only the separate cells that are illustrated in Figs. 3-10 and that are intended to be individually received in a respective opening 32 of a tray 30 frame 31 of the general type illustrated in Fig. 10. It likewise covers an alternative embodiment where fixed cells of the described configuration form integral parts of a seedling tray, as in the conventional tray illustrated in Fig. 2.
• This alternative embodiment of the present technology is schematically illustrated in connection with the partly illustrated plant propagation tray 230 of Fig. 11.
• the complete plant propagation cell 201 is an integrated part of a plant propagation tray frame 231.
• the plant propagation tray 230 includes the tray frame 231 wherein the fixed cells 201 having the suggested channels of the invention are integrated.
• the fixed cells 201 are provided in a distributed pattern (only partially shown) in the plant propagation tray 230, forming the tray openings 232 in the tray base frame 231.
• the fixed cells 201 may also in this case be provided with a surrounding dam 218 extending around the entire outer circumference of the cells 201.
• variations of the different illustrated parts of the inventive units may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. An example of this is varying the number of and specific positioning of the provided corner slits.
• the configuration of the cell bottom may be varied for specific circumstances and/or applications of the invention.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=48905610

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2012
  • 2012-02-02 WO PCT/SE2012/050103 patent/WO2013115689A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2012-02-02 IN IN1591KON2014 patent/IN2014KN01591A/en unknown
  • 2012-02-02 CN CN201280068648.1A patent/CN104185418B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2014
  • 2014-04-10 ZA ZA2014/02628A patent/ZA201402628B/en unknown

Patent Citations (5)

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