Plant growing and handling system
First Claim
1. A plant flat handling system comprising:
- (a) an elongated horizontally extending main channel for receiving a quantity of liquid;
(b) liquid control means for selectively withdrawing liquid from said main channel for substantially filling said main channel with liquid;
(c) a plurality of elongated branch channels each having a length axis branching outwardly from said main channel for receiving liquid from, said main channel so as to be filled with liquid, or for discharging liquid into, said main channel so as to achieve a substantially drained condition;
(d) selectively operable valve means provided between each of said branch channels and said main channel for permitting or preventing liquid flow between said main channel and each of said branch channels;
(e) vertically fixedly positioned plant flat support means extending lengthwise of said branch channels;
(f) a plurality of floatable plant flats extending in said branch channels and arranged in at least two rows respectively extending transversely to and parallel to the length axis of each branch channel; and
(g) wherein said floatable plant flats are supported above the bottoms of their respective branch channel by said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is drained of liquid but float above said plant flat support means in spaced relation thereto when the respective branch channel is substantially filled with liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plant flat handling system for handling floatable plant flats employs a horizontally extending main channel which can be flooded from either a water tank or a nutrient containing tank with a plurality of branch channels extending outwardly from the main channel. Gate valve means between the branch channel and the main channel can be opened to permit the main channel to fill the branch channel or to drain the branch channel when the main channel is drained. Plural wires extend along the length of the branch channels and support floating plant flats when the branch channels are drained. Periodic flooding and draining of the branch channels is effected until plants in the flats have matured and can be harvested. Harvesting is effected by maintaining light pressure against the outermost plant flats in the branch channel to urge the body of plant flats toward a main work area overlying the main channel. A power conveyor extends downwardly into the branch channel and lifts the flats therefrom for harvesting. A reverse procedure is employed when plant flats are to be deposited in a flooded branch channel with the power conveyor lowering the flats into the channel so that newly added flats push previously positioned flats outwardly along the length of the channel until the channel has been covered with flats.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A plant flat handling system comprising:
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(a) an elongated horizontally extending main channel for receiving a quantity of liquid; (b) liquid control means for selectively withdrawing liquid from said main channel for substantially filling said main channel with liquid; (c) a plurality of elongated branch channels each having a length axis branching outwardly from said main channel for receiving liquid from, said main channel so as to be filled with liquid, or for discharging liquid into, said main channel so as to achieve a substantially drained condition; (d) selectively operable valve means provided between each of said branch channels and said main channel for permitting or preventing liquid flow between said main channel and each of said branch channels; (e) vertically fixedly positioned plant flat support means extending lengthwise of said branch channels; (f) a plurality of floatable plant flats extending in said branch channels and arranged in at least two rows respectively extending transversely to and parallel to the length axis of each branch channel; and (g) wherein said floatable plant flats are supported above the bottoms of their respective branch channel by said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is drained of liquid but float above said plant flat support means in spaced relation thereto when the respective branch channel is substantially filled with liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A plant flat handling system comprising:
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(a) an elongated horizontally extending main channel for receiving a quantity of liquid; (b) liquid control means for selectively withdrawing liquid from said main channel or substantially filling said main channel with liquid; (c) a plurality of elongated branch channels communicating at an inner end with said main channel for receiving liquid from said main channel so as to be substantially filled with liquid, or for discharging liquid into, said main channel so as to achieve a substantially drained condition; (d) selectively operable valving means provided between each of said branch channels and said main channel for either permitting or preventing liquid flow between said main channel and each of said branch channels; (e) substantially immovable plant flat support means provided in said branch channels; (f) a plurality of floatable plant flats in said branch channels above said plant flat support means; (g) wherein said floatable plant flats when in a branch channel are supported above the bottoms of their respective branch channels by said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is drained of liquid but float above and spaced from said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is substantially filled with liquid above a given level; and (h) a work area extending over the length of said main channel and extending immediately adjacent the inner ends of said branch channels for permitting the deposit of plant flats in or the removal of plant flats from, said branch channels. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A plant flat handling system comprising:
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(a) an elongated horizontally extending work area having at least one side edge; (b) a plurality of elongated branch channels communicating at an inner end with said side end and being capable of being substantially filled with liquid; (c) selectively operable control means associated with each one of said branch channels for either filling said branch channel with liquid or draining said branch channel; (d) plant flat support means provided in each of said branch channels; and (e) a plurality of floatable plant flats positionable in said branch channels for vertical movement relative to said plant flat support means; (f) wherein said floatable plant flats when in a branch channel are supported above the bottoms of their respective branch channels by said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is drained of liquid but float above and spaced from said plant flat support means when the respective branch channel is substantially filled with liquid whereby said branch channels can be filled with plant flats from said work area by serially inserting plant flats into a liquid filled branch channel and pushing previously inserted plant flats outwardly from the inner end of the branch channel. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification