DE19504167A1 - Mfr. of environmentally friendly, fibrous, seedling culture pots - Google Patents

Abstract

Culture pots esp. for seedlings comprise \- 2, pref. pre-compressed, fibrous layers (2, 4) joined together. The upper one (2) has a recess for holding a seedling. Also claimed are: (1) a process for mfg. the pots where the layers, one on top of the other, are fed to a first zone for mechanically binding, esp. by needle-punching together and then cut longitudinally and transversely by cutters, and (2) an appts. used in the process and comprising: a plate for feeding the layers in; a conveyor belt for carrying them forward; the first binding zone; and a second zone with \- 1 cutter.

Description

The invention relates to a growing body, in particular for young plants, as well as a method and a device for the production of a growing body.

In ungrounded hydroponic processes for growing young plants are cultivated on special growing bodies activated. Many nutrients in the substrate of known types cultivated bodies are in the plants with an aqueous Me dium either drop by drop for each individual plant separates via dosing lines or by flooding entire culture ren supplied according to an accumulation process. The ver used seedlings, especially for young plants For the insertion of the seed grain, make a top speaking large material recess, with sufficient Water storage capacity of the cultivation body used must be given. Do the young plants have the desired size reached, they are separated and opened in the nursery larger substrates cultivated until harvest.

The cultivation body used in horticultural companies for the culture process just described consists of rock wool. Because of the bacteria and fungi that form Substrate body can be used for a maximum of 2 growing periods and must then be disposed of by landfill, resulting in a not inconsiderable environmental impact.

For young plants that are moved outdoors this substrate body because of the non-given rotatable unsuitable. Such young plants are therefore in in practice preferably pressed-on pottery cubes drawn. The soil used is enriched with fertilizers chert, with the limited available raw material "peat"  mixes and to improve the pressability with admixture gene provided so that a disposal of the pottery cubes is to be equated with that of sewage sludge and their order world problem is well known.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide growing bodies, especially for young plants, the environmentally friendly in terms of manufacture, disposal and conservation of scarce resources and yet simple Way is producible. Another object of the invention consists in creating a simple procedure for Production of a growing body. After all, one should simple yet effective device for manufacturing of the growing body are provided.

This task is accomplished with regard to the growing body the features of claim 1 with regard to the procedure rens by the features of claim 10 and back visually the device by the features of the patent Proverb 14 solved.

According to the invention, cultivation takes place, in particular by Jung plant, by at least two interconnected, preferably pre-consolidated fiber layers, the upper fiber layer arranged on the side an area for receiving which has juniper plants. Through these functional two Division of the fiber layers is achieved that the top tig arranged fiber layer, the top layer, separately can be put, one in particular to water recording or storage of soil layer to be used each according to suction behavior and storage capacity with the top layer is connected. This creates a growing body who on the special growth characteristics and on the respective roots of the young plant are aligned can.  

According to claim 2, the area as a material recess trained, so the shape is a safe on given the seed to be inserted.

Has the fiber layer on the underside according to An Say 3 about an irrigation channel, so what water below the lower layer regardless of the installation distribution of the body so that even watering guaranteed. Such a distribution of the Water is drawn in through a cross-shaped irrigation channel the bottom layer improved. This makes them suitable Culture bodies for hydroponics after the accumulation process.

For example, to adjust the height of the growing body and thus to vary is another fiber in between Layer provided, which also causes the water reservoir fortune is increased. It has been shown that if the Fa layers of natural fibers, especially hemp, jute Ramie, cotton and / or wood fiber fabrics and / or Chemical fibers from natural polymers, such as viscose fiber or cellulose fiber, the environmental impact Is taken into account because these fibers are rotten and thus remain in the ground after spreading outdoors can. Furthermore, for the production of the ß cultivation body basically the admixture of all Fa imaginable that are rotten. Another exit The selection criterion is the required water absorption capacity and the water retention capacity of the fiber in order to grow it to favor the young plants. As a cheap fiber blend are therefore flax / cotton (50% / 50%) hemp / cotton (50% / 50%), flax / jute / cotton (40% / 20% / 40%); Flax / viscose; Cotton / viscose; and / or other Kombina tions of the fiber materials mentioned to be advantageous see. The fact that the fiber layers ge purely mechanically according to claim 7, in particular by needling according to An Proverb 8, are therefore not chemical  Binder used, making an environmentally friendly breeding body is created.

According to the invention, there is also a method of manufacture of a growing body according to claim 10, in which to egg at least two superimposed fiber layers ner first zone are fed in the fiber layers me be connected mechanically, with the one arranged on the top Fiber layer an area for receiving the young plant and the mechanically connected fiber layers using longitudinal and cross cutting devices in their end shapes to be cut. Because the individual Fa layers only mechanically, especially by Ver needling, be connected, this procedure is considered to be to look world friendly. With this solidification method the fiber layers are covered by a multitude of needles, so-called felting needles connected. The felting needles are on their labor with notches (reverse contra ken) equipped with a fiber intake and thus a Enable fiber transport. When piercing vertically the horizontal fiber layer is therefore fibers from ih reoriented the horizontal position into a vertical position. The resulting increasing density in the fiber layer causes in Connection with the trained fiber beards / fiber loops the consolidation in the form of friction and positive locking. The higher the needling density in the layered composite (Punctures per square centimeter) is selected, the more Beards / loops are in the vertical direction in arranged the fiber layers. Those trained in this way Fiber beards cause a correspondingly absorbent fiber mat rial a wicking effect. It has been shown that puncture seal in the range of 30 to 100 punctures per square centimeters proved to be cheap. Higher puncture ten cause an excessive reduction in thickness of the individual Fiber layers, so that then additional fiber layers for used the structure of a certain growing body height Need to become. Furthermore, the seedlings may because of  the rooting of the young plants only a low fiber have density, so that due to the required amount of Culture body a needling with only a small puncture seal with a high needle penetration depth before is drawn. The needling is preferably carried out on both sides at the same time (simultaneous needling) with the longest possible Na involved.

Become the fiber layers before entering the first Zone, so-called needling zone, of at least one Compression band pre-compressed, so the Ver Needle generated friction and positive locking strengthened. The pre-compression has the additional advantage that the layers lying on top of each other are not due to vibration slide against each other.

During the needling process, fibers from the edge are also removed range of the area for receiving the young plants, so that the contours of the areas no longer exactly exist are. For this reason, it is advantageous to claim 12, the fiber layers after exiting the needling zone of an embossing device to which the original restores the contour of the areas. This can be done at for example, a metal mandrel of the embossing device, the one Has diameter corresponding to the receiving area, le diglich be lowered to the recording depth.

According to claim 13, the fiber is transported further layers in cycles, so both the needling and also the embossing process and the cross cutting process in the Cycle breaks or the standstill phases take place. This one in Termitting drive also allows the integration of egg punching machine into the process.

According to the invention there is also a device for manufacturing tion of a growing body created a transport level in which at least two fiber layers are guided  the, at least one conveyor belt, the fiber layers transported further, a first zone in which the fiber layers mechanically, especially by needling, ver be bound, and has a second zone in which the mechanically connected fiber layers by means of at least a cutting tool in the longitudinal and transverse directions be cut. With this device according to the invention will be a breeding body in a simple and space-saving way provided that no further processing steps are required to be available for the cultivation of young plants hen.

With the embossing device provided according to claim 15, preferably between the first and second zones is ordered, those included in the needling process Fibers of the edge area of the localized areas for opening I took the young plants back to their original ones the resulting contour is pushed back.

The fact that behind the first zone, a discharge belt according Claim 16 is provided, the onward transport of needled fiber layers supported. On advantageous The mechanical connection of the fiber layers is ge according to claim 17 by a arranged in the first zone Needle facility completed. It is demented speaking of a purely mechanical process, so this can be described as environmentally friendly.

Because the seedlings only have one because of the rooting may have low fiber density and due to the ge required height of the cultivation body is a needling only low puncture density with a high needle penetration depth prefer. This is achieved in that according to claim 18 the needling device two needle boards with felt needles and corresponding needle plates, each because arranged above and below the transport level  are, so that simultaneous needling on both sides (Simultaneous needling) can be made.

According to An are suitable for cutting the growing bodies saying 19 in particular circumferential band knives as cutting tools. The cut in the transverse direction is made while during the standstill phase when there is an intermittent advance thrust has been used.

For example, two conveyor belts are provided above and below the company listed in the transport level layers are arranged, they can also be used as Ver sealing tapes act that the fiber layers for a Pre-consolidate or pre-compact better needling.

An embodiment of the invention is below Reference to the accompanying drawing explained in more detail. It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a three-layer growing body for young plants.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a three-layer growing body for young plants with irrigation channels underside gene. and

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a side view of the device according to the invention for producing the growing body.

As shown in Fig. 1, the top layer 2 has a preferably cylindrical material recess 1 , which serves to accommodate the seed. The upper layer is mechanically connected to the intermediate layer 3 and the bottom layer 4 . Additional intermediate layers allow higher versions of the growing body. The bottom layer 4 can be equipped with a cruciform irrigation channel 5 , as shown in FIG. 2, for example. As a result, such bodies are suitable for hydroponics after the accumulation process. Regardless of the position of the body, the water can be distributed underneath the growing body evenly and favorably, thereby ensuring uniform irrigation. The sucking behavior and water storage capacity of the cultivation body is primarily determined by the needling density, the fiber orientation and the fiber material used for the individual layers. Although the structure of the growing body can be made from homogeneous materials, ie only using a single type of fiber, fiber mixtures over the entire cross-section or a layered structure of different fiber materials are also possible. In combination with different layer thicknesses, this allows adjustments to be made to the germination and root rate of different plant species.

As shown in Fig. 3, the production of the inventive seedlings for young plants takes place in that a perforated top layer 2 together with the intermediate layer 3 and the bottom layer 4 between two compaction strips 6 a first zone 1 , so-called Vernade treatment zone 7 is supplied. As shown in Fig. 3, the needling in the needling zone 7 is carried out on both sides. Viewed in the direction of transport, an embossing device 8 for restoring the material recess 1 is provided behind the needling zone Ver, if this was changed during the needling. The embossing device 8 thus takes over the reforming of the material recess 1 . Another discharge belt 9 leads the needled layered bundle to a longitudinal and cross-cutting device 10 , which cuts out the growing body according to the invention from the fiber layers. Circumferential band knives are particularly suitable for cutting the cultivation bodies, the cut being made in the transverse direction during the standstill phase of the infeeding feed.

The invention thus provides a growing body, a ver drive and a device for producing the culture body pers, whereby the cultivation body is characterized by a special environment tolerance. The growing body is made of meh Other fiber layers built up, the different funk take over and in particular are rotten.

Claims (21)

1. Cultivation body, in particular for young plants, characterized by at least two interconnected, preferably pre-consolidated fiber layers ( 2 , 4 ), where the fiber layer ( 2 ) arranged on the top has an area ( 1 ) for receiving the young plants. 2. cultivation body according to claim 1, characterized in that the region ( 1 ) is a material recess. 3. cultivation body according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the underside fiber layer ( 4 ) has an irrigation channel ( 5 ) ver. 4. growing body according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the irrigation channel ( 5 ) is arranged kreuzför mig. 5. growing body according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized marked by a further intermediate fiber layer ( 3 ) which is used to adjust the height of the growing body. 6. cultivation body according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fiber layers ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) made of natural fibers, in particular flax, hemp, jute, Ramie cotton and / or wood fiber and / or chemical fibers made of natural polymers such as viscose fibers or other cellulosic fibers. 7. growing body according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fiber layers ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) are purely mechanically connected to each other. 8. cultivation body according to claim 7, characterized in that the fiber layers ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) are connected to each other by needling. 9. growing body according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized characterized in that the growing body Layers have different densities. 10. A method for producing a growing body preferably for young plants, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9 with the following process steps:

• a) supplying at least two superimposed fiber layers ( 2 , 4 ) to a first zone ( 1 ), in which the fiber layers are mechanically connected, in particular by needling, the fiber layer ( 2 ) arranged on the top being an area ( 1 ) for receiving the Young plant, in particular Ma material recess, has;
• b) Cutting the mechanically connected fiber layers using longitudinal and cross cutting devices.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the fiber layers ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) are pre-compressed by at least one compression belt ( 6 ) before entering the first zone. 12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the fiber layers after exiting the first zone of an embossing device ( 8 ) are fed. 13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the further transport of the fiber layers ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) takes place in cycles. 14. A device for producing a growing body, in particular using one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by

• a) a transport plane (T) in which at least two fiber layers ( 2 , 4 ) are guided;
• b) at least one conveyor belt ( 6 ), which further transports the fiber layers;
• c) a first zone ( 1 ) in which the fiber layers are connected mechanically, in particular by needling;
• d) a second zone in which the mechanically connected fiber layers are cut in the longitudinal and transverse directions by means of at least one cutting tool.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that an embossing device ( 8 ) is provided, which is before angeord net between the first and second zones. 16. The device according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that a discharge belt ( 9 ) is arranged behind the first zone ( 1 ). 17. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the first zone ( 1 ) has a Vernade treatment device ( 7 ). 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the needling device ( 7 ) has two needle boards with felting needles and corresponding needle plates, which are arranged above and below the transport level (T). 19. Device according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized characterized in that the cutting tool rotating Band knives are. 20. Device according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized characterized in that a punching device, preferably is provided in the first zone. 21. Device according to one of claims 14 to 20, characterized characterized that the needling from both sides at the same time (simultaneous needling).