Potting apparatus

• US 8,590,583 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitchell Ellis Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mitchell Ellis Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Ellis, Sean Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warner, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US13/485,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20120285580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/71, 141/80, 141/129, 141/139, 141/177, 141/231
• US Class Current: 141/129
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/081 Devices for filling-up pots

Abstract

A potting apparatus has a first conveyor suitable for receiving a pot thereon, a second conveyor has a surface suitable for receiving soil thereon and having an end positioned so as to deliver soil to the pot on the first conveyor, a drill positioned above the first conveyor so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on the first conveyor so as to form a hole in the pot, and a driving means cooperative with the first conveyor for moving the first conveyor in an indexing manner such that the first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below the drill. The drill is slidably supported on a frame so as to be driven by a belt connected to the drill. A servomotor is drivingly connected to the belt so as to move the drill in an upward direction or a downward direction.

Claims

1. A potting apparatus comprising:

a first conveyor being a belt having an upper surface suitable for receiving a pot thereon, said upper surface being devoid of any pot-receiving fixtures extending upwardly therefrom, said first conveyor having a loading end and a discharge end, said first conveyor following an entirely linear path from said loading end to said discharge end;

a second conveyor suitable for receiving soil thereon, said second conveyor having an end positioned so as to deliver soil to the pot on the first conveyor;

a drill positioned above said upper surface of said first conveyor, said drill being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on said first conveyor so as to form a hole in the soil in the pot; and

a driving means cooperative with said first conveyor for moving said first conveyor in an indexing manner such that said first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below said drill.

2. The potting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hopper positioned at an opposite end of said second conveyor, said hopper suitable for receiving soil therein, said second conveyor suitable for moving the soil from said hopper.

3. The potting apparatus of claim 2, said second conveyor positioned in a channel, said second conveyor being a chain having bars extending across a portion of said channel, said bars being in generally spaced parallel relation to each other.

4. The potting apparatus of claim 1, said drill being slidably supported on a frame, the potting apparatus further comprising:

a belt connected to said drill; and

a servomotor drivingly connected to said belt so as to move the drill in an upward direction or a downward direction.

5. The potting apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a packing plate resiliently positioned in relation to said drill, said packing plate having a diameter equal to or greater than a diameter of the pot.

6. The potting apparatus of claim 5, said packing plate having an aperture formed therein, said drill positioned so as to be extendable through said aperture when the drill forms a hole in the soil of the pot.

7. The potting apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a sensing means positioned upstream of said drill for sensing when the pot is directly below said drill.

8. The potting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of shafts positioned downstream of said discharge end of said first conveyor, said plurality of shafts arranged in spaced parallel relation.

9. The potting apparatus of claim 8, said plurality of shafts having roller members affixed thereto, the potting apparatus further comprising:

a means for rotating said plurality of shafts so as to cause the pot thereon to move therealong.

10. The potting apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a bin positioned below the plurality of shafts so as to receive residual soil from said first conveyor as passed through spaces between said plurality of shafts; and

an auger extending into said bin so as to move the residual soil from said bin back to said second conveyor.

11. The potting apparatus of claim 1, said first conveyor extending in a direction transverse to a direction of said second conveyor.

12. A potting apparatus comprising:

a first conveyor being a belt having an upper surface suitable for receiving a pot thereon, said upper surface being devoid of any pot-receiving fixtures thereon;

a second conveyor suitable for receiving soil thereon, said second conveyor having an end positioned so as to deliver soil to the pot on the first conveyor;

a drill positioned above said upper surface of said first conveyor, said drill being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on said first conveyor so as to form a hole in the soil in the pot;

a driving means cooperative with said first conveyor for moving said first conveyor in an indexing manner such that said first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below said drill;

a sweeper positioned upstream of said drill, said sweeper suitable for sweeping soil extending above a vertical axis;

a shaft extending vertically and rotatable about a vertical axis;

at least one arm extending radially outwardly of said shaft adjacent a lower end of said shaft;

a brush affixed to the arm and extending downwardly, therefrom; and

a means for driving said shaft in rotation such that said brush moves in a horizontal plane.

13. A potting apparatus comprising:

a first conveyor being a belt having an upper surface suitable for receiving a pot thereon, said upper surface being devoid of any pot-receiving fixtures extending upwardly therefrom, said first conveyor having a loading end and a discharge end, said first conveyor following an entirely linear path from said loading end to said discharge end;

a second conveyor suitable for receiving soil thereon, said second conveyor having an end positioned so as to deliver soil to the pot on the first conveyor;

a drill positioned above said upper surface of said first conveyor, said drill being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the pot on said first conveyor so as to form a hole in the soil in the pot; and

a driving means cooperative with said first conveyor for moving said first conveyor in an indexing manner such that said first conveyor temporarily stops at a location directly below said drill, said driving means for moving said first conveyor from another location to said location directly below said drill in a pattern which slowly accelerates up from said another location and which slowly decelerates toward said location directly below said drill and for having a maximum speed between the location.