Rapid transplanting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10772271-B2
Application number	US-201715825642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A seedling transplanting system is provided that utilizes a seedling feeder that is configured to fit between a tray of seedlings contained within a series of chain pots and a hydroponic trough. The feeder includes a ramp and a chute that direct the seedlings from the tray into the trough. A pair of guide surfaces, which form ramp sidewalls, help the seedlings to self-right as they are drawn into the hydroponic trough. A restraining jig aids in establishing and maintaining the relative positions of the seedling tray, feeder and trough during the transplanting process. A pulling tool simplifies the transplanting process by providing means for pulling a pair of media strips along with the captured chain pots into the hydroponic trough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seedling transplanting system, comprising:
a seedling tray containing a plurality of seedlings;
a hydroponic trough; and
a seedling feeder, said seedling feeder configured to fit between said seedling tray and said hydroponic trough during a transplanting process, said seedling feeder comprising:
a ramp surface, wherein said seedlings from said seedling tray pass over said ramp surface during said transplanting process;
a transition member located at a first end portion of said seedling feeder, said transition member configured to provide a transition surface between said seedling tray and said ramp surface;
a feed chute located at a second end portion of said seedling feeder, wherein said second end portion is distal from said first end portion, said feed chute configured to guide said seedlings passing over said ramp surface into said hydroponic trough;
a first guide surface interposed between said transition member and said feed chute, said first guide surface defining a first edge of said ramp surface, said first guide surface extending upwards from said ramp surface to form a first ramp sidewall, wherein said first guide surface angles away from said transition member at a first acute angle; and
a second guide surface interposed between said transition member and said feed chute, said second guide surface defining a second edge of said ramp surface, said second guide surface extending upwards from said ramp surface to form a second ramp sidewall, wherein said second guide surface angles away from said transition member at a second acute angle, wherein said first acute angle is different from said second acute angle.

2. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , said plurality of seedlings contained within a plurality of chain pots.

3. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , wherein said hydroponic trough is configured to be placed in an upright, vertical position after completion of said transplanting process and during a growth cycle of said seedlings.

4. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , said first acute angle within a first angular range of 25 to 45 degrees, and said second acute angle within a second angular range of 35 to 60 degrees.

5. The seedling transplanting system of claim 4 , wherein a difference between said first acute angle and said second acute angle is between 5 and 15 degrees.

6. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , wherein said first guide surface forms a first obtuse angle with said ramp surface, and wherein said second guide surface forms a second obtuse angle with said ramp surface.

7. The seedling transplanting system of claim 6 , said first obtuse angle and said second obtuse angle within an angular range of 100 to 135 degrees.

8. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , wherein during said transplanting process said transition member is configured to extend over a leading edge of said seedling tray and fit at least partially within said seedling tray.

9. The seedling transplanting system of claim 8 , said transition member further comprising a pair of tabs, said pair of tabs extending downwards from said transition member, and wherein during said transplanting process said pair of tabs is configured to extend into said seedling tray.

10. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , said first guide surface and said second guide surface configured to right said seedlings during said transplanting process and before said seedlings move into said feeder chute.

11. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , wherein a first width corresponding to said feeder chute is within plus or minus 0.25 inches of a second width corresponding to a slot within said hydroponic trough.

12. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , wherein a first sidewall and a second sidewall corresponding to said feeder chute are angled such that a first chute width corresponding to an upper portion of said feeder chute is larger than a second chute width corresponding to a lower portion of said feeder chute.

13. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , further comprising a restraining jig, said restraining jig configured to hold said seedling tray during said transplanting process.

14. The seedling transplanting system of claim 13 , said restraining jig further comprising at least one restraining pin, said at least one restraining pin configured to fit within at least one complimentary feature of said seedling tray when said seedling tray is mounted to said restraining jig during said transplanting process.

15. The seedling transplanting system of claim 13 , said restraining jig further comprising a plurality of locating pins configured to position said seedling tray within said restraining jig when said seedling tray is mounted to said restraining jig during said transplanting process.

16. The seedling transplanting system of claim 13 , said restraining jig further comprising a mounting bracket coupled to a lower surface of said restraining jig, said mounting bracket configured to minimize movement of said restraining jig during said transplanting process.

17. The seedling transplanting system of claim 13 , said restraining jig further comprising at least one pin configured to fit within at least one complimentary feature of said hydroponic trough, said at least one pin maintaining said hydroponic trough in position relative to said seedling feeder and said seedling tray during said transplanting process.

18. The seedling transplanting system of claim 1 , further comprising a media strip pulling tool configured to pull a pair of media strips along with a plurality of chain pots captured between said pair of media strips into said hydroponic trough during said transplanting process, wherein said plurality of seedlings are contained within said plurality of chain pots.

19. The seedling transplanting system of claim 18 , said media strip pulling tool further comprising a plurality of barbs configured to pierce said media strips.

20. The seedling transplanting system of claim 18 , further comprising a winch, wherein said winch is coupled to said media strip pulling tool via a cable, said winch and cable configured to pull said media strip pulling tool, said pair of media strips, and said plurality of chain pots through said hydroponic trough during said transplanting process.

Assignees

• Mjnn Llc

Inventors

• Storey Nathaniel R
• Grauberger Kevin
• Smith Damon Henry
• Eskin Jonah

Classifications

• Y02P60/21

  Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures · CPC title

• A01G9/085

  Devices for setting seeds in pots · CPC title

• A01G31/02 Primary

  Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00) · CPC title

• A01C11/02

  for seedlings · CPC title

• Y02P60/216

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic