초록 ▼

A plug tray for growing, planting and transplanting plants includes a surface member having a plurality of rows of inner cells and a pair of rows of outer cells. Each row of outer cells is positioned proximate to an end of the surface member. A plurality of aeration apertures are formed in the surfa

A plug tray for growing, planting and transplanting plants includes a surface member having a plurality of rows of inner cells and a pair of rows of outer cells. Each row of outer cells is positioned proximate to an end of the surface member. A plurality of aeration apertures are formed in the surface member to thereby provide aeration to plants growing within the cells. The inner cells and outer cells are offset with respect to the major axis of the surface member to thereby provide increased strength and rigidity, allowing the tray to be manufactured using the relatively inexpensive process of thermoforming. The outer cells are configured such that the center-to-center distance between adjacent outer cells of a pair of plug trays placed end-to-end is substantially equal to the center-to-center distance between adjacent cells within a particular plug tray. The uniform center-to-center distance between outer cells of adjacent plug trays permits the plug tray to be used in a continuous automated process for planting and transplanting purpose. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a plug tray includes a plurality of rows of inner cells and a pair of rows of outer cells. Each inner cell and outer cell has four top edges, each of which is parallel to the opposing ends or opposing sides of the tray. Each outer cell is slightly smaller than each inner cell such that the center-to-center distance between adjacent plug trays is maintained.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plug tray formed from a thermoformed, thin, polymeric sheet having a thickness within the range of about 0.025 to about 0.075 inches and comprising:a surface member having a pair of opposing ends, a pair of opposing sides, and a major axis; a plurality of rows of inner cells formed in said surf

1. A plug tray formed from a thermoformed, thin, polymeric sheet having a thickness within the range of about 0.025 to about 0.075 inches and comprising:a surface member having a pair of opposing ends, a pair of opposing sides, and a major axis; a plurality of rows of inner cells formed in said surface member, each inner cell of said plurality of rows of inner cells having a center and dimensioned to receive a charge of growing material and at least one seed, each inner cell having a fist shape, a plurality of side top edges, and a center; a pair of rows of outer cells formed in said surface member, each outer cell of said pair of rows of outer cells having a center, a plurality of side top edges, and dimensioned to receive a charge of growing material and at least one seed, each row of said pair of rows of outer cells positioned adjacent an end of said pair of opposing ends of said surface member, wherein each inner cell of said plurality of rows of inner cells and each outer cell of said pair of rows of outer cells is positioned at a preselected offset angle extending between said major axis which extends from one of said opposing sides to the other of said sides through said centers of said cells in any one row of inner and outer cells and a plane including a side top edge of a cell in said one row, said offset angle being between about 15.degree. to 45.degree., each outer cell of said pair of rows of outer cells having a second shape, wherein said first shape is different than said second shape; a plurality of apertures formed in said surface member to provide aeration for plant growth, each aperture of said plurality of apertures being separated from said inner cells and said outer cells by said surface member; each inner cell of said plurality of inner cells having sides defining a downwardly tapered configuration, and each outer cell of said plurality of outer cells having sides defining a downwardly tapered configuration said surface member further comprising a skit depending from said pair of opposing sides and said pair of opposing ends, said skirt having an outer edge and being flared outwardly at a pre-selected angle to said pair of opposing ends and to said pair of opposing sides to facilitate strength and rigidity of said plug tray, said flared skirt and downwardly tapered configuration of said inner and outer cell sides cooperating to allow compact stacking of said plug tray in a vertical arrangement with others of said plug tray; wherein the center-to-center distance between adjacent inner cells, the center-to-center distance between adjacent outer cells, and the center-to-center distance between adjacent inner and outer cells are all substantially equal and comprise a fast distance, and the distance between the center of any one of said outer cells of said plug tray and said outer edge of said flared skirt adjacent to such outer cell taken together with the distance between the center of an adjacent outer cell of another of said plug trays and the adjacent outer edge of the flared skirt on the other plug tray being substantially equal to said first distance when the other plug tray is placed end to end with said plug tray and said flared skirt on said plug tray and the flared skirt on the other plug tray are contacting one another whereby said plug tray is useful in continuous automated planting and transplantation processes.