Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF l`HE INVENTION
This invention relates yenerally to a special ].ocking
clip which can be associated wi-th conveying apparatus and more
particularly to apparatus for conveying plan-ts through a
greenhouse for e~fectincJ watering and even illurnination thereof.
The grow.incJ of house plants on a mass basis i.n a
cJreenhouse is normally accomplished by growing each plant in a.il
individual pot or con-tainer~ The pots or containers are commonly
3 - -
~acked as closely together as possible on a tctbletop or horizontctl
surface in order to conserve space. Periodic wa~ering o t~e
plants is canmonly accc~tplished manually by havinc~ greenhouse per~
sonnel move from plant to plant in accordance with the prescr;bed
schedule, with water being applied from a hose or other spray
device connected to a reservoir or other water source. Alterna-
tively, dripper lines, overhead spray devices, or per~orated ~oses
can be used to spray the plants on a mass basis. While the latter
arranc~ements can be accc~tplished quicker than manual watering, the
us~ of such means does not result in the precise uniorm watering
of the plants. Moreover, these techniques also have other disad-
vantages, namely water wastage and wetting Oe surrounding areas.
Furtherstill, the storage of plants in a greenhouse at
ixed locations on the table or horizontal surEace for watering
and yrowiny results in a varying exposure of light to the plants,
depending upon the location of the plants as well as any changes
in natural light which may or may not be augmented by aeti~ical
light. Such action ~requently results in uneven growth or matura-
tion an obviously undesirable ef~ect for commercial enterprises.
O~JECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it i5 the general object of the instant
invention to provicle apparatus which overc~tes the disadvantages
o~ prior art methods in the apparatus or growincJ plants on a com-
mercial basis.
It is another object o the instant invention to provicle
a conveyor system ~or plants for ef~ecting the automatic wa~er;n~
thereof .
It is a urthee object o the instant invert iOI' to
8~3
provide a conveyor system for plants for insurirg that the plants
receive uniform illumination.
It is still a further object of the instant invention to
provide a conveyor system for plants which have been arranged for
automatic low speed operation to effect the watering thereof and
hic~her s~eed operation to effect the loading and unloadinc~
thereo.
Yet another obj~ct of the invention is to provide a
special locking clip which can be used with the conveyor system of
the invention. This lockiny clip in one of at least two forms is
designated hanger means that can assume either a first orientation
or a second orientation with respect to the conveyor means. Each
hanger means is arranged to support a plant thereon, with each of
the hanger means being held in the firs~ orientation when the
plant is supported thereon and being in the second orientation
when the plant is not supported thereon. Sensing means are
located at the watering s~ation for co-acting with the han~er
means when the han~er means is in the first orientation to actuate
the watering means. On the other hand, when there is no plant
beincJ supported on the hal~er means, the hanger means will be in a
second orientation which will not actuate the waterin~ means~
SUM~ Y OF THE INVENTION
__
These and other objects of the instant in~ention are
achievecl by providincJ a~plratus for carryiry plural plants to a
wate~rin~ station. The apparatus comprises an enclless loop
conveyor means and Sll~pOrC means there~or. ~rive means are
provided for causincJ the conveyor means to be circulated to f~le
wateriny station. PluraL han~er means are mounted ~t spaced
-- 3 --
L3
]ocations on the conveyor means Eor movement therewith~ Each o~
the hanyer means is arranged to assume either a first orientation
or a second orientation with respect to the conveyor means. Each
of the hanger means is arranged to support a plant thereon, ~;th
the hanyer means ~eing in the first orientation when a plant is
s,uppGrted thereon and in the second orientation when a plant is
not supported thereon. Sensing means are provided located at the
wateriny station for coacting with the hanger means when the
hanger means is in the second orientation. In this position the
sensing means causes watering means located at the waterinc~ sta-
tion to water the plant.
The present invention also includes a special orm of the
hanger means having a locking clip, so that the hanger mear~s will
be positively held on the conveyor means.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the
instant invention will be readily appreciated as the same bacomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed descrip-
tion when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing
wherein:
DESCRIPTION OF THE_DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a plant conveying
system for disposition in a greenhouse and inclucling plural plant
ConVeyincJ apparatus constructed in accc)rdar)ce with the inst~lnt
invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlar~ed sectional view taken along line 2-2
o~ Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional v;ew taken along line ~-3 o F`i~.
2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken alon~ line 4-
~of Fic3. 1;
Fig~ 5 is an enlargec3 perspective view of a portion of
the cable support structure oE the subject invention;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken aLong line 6-6
of Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing a modified hanger with
the present invention;
Ficy. 8 i9 an enlarged three dimensional view showing the
association of a locking clip with the hanger means; and
Fig. 9 is an en3arged sectional view taken along the
lines of 9~9 of Fi~. 8.
DETAII.~D DESCRIPTION O~ PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
~ .
Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of
the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts,
there is shown at 20 in Fig. 1 a plant watering conveyor system
constructed in accordance with the instant invention. The s~stem
basically comprises a plurality of plant conveying apparatus 22
each of which is arranged to be mounted within a building, such as
a conventional commercial greenhouse~ only one wall o~ which 23 is
shown. The cJreenhouse includes at least one roof portion (not
shown) throucJh which light passes to reach at least a portion of
each apparatus 22 of the system. ~ach of the apparatus 22 is
constructed in an identical manner and basically includes a con-
veyor :Loop 24 on wh;ch p'Lural plant hangers (to be described
later) are mounted at equally spaced locations. Hence only a
single conveyor apparatus will be described hereina~t~?r. The
neans ~or drivin~ the plural conveyor apparatus comprises a common
elc?ctric motor and associated drive assembly which îs common to
all oE the conveyor apparatus.
~ f~ L~ ~
Each conveyor apparatus is arranged to carry plural
plants 25 (Fig. 2) in a circulating loop past an associate~ water~
in~ station 28. The system is arranged so that each time a plant
reaches the watering station it i5 automatically watered. Thus,
the system 22 basically comprises the con~eyor loop 24 which is
~reerably in the form of an endless st~el cable 26 extending
about a pair of cylin~rical drums 30 and 32. The drums 30 and 32
~re arranyed to be spaced apart by a distance to accomodat0 any
length yreenhouse~ The drum 30 is coupled to drive means 34 to
e~fect the rotation of the drum. The drums 30 and 32 and the
conveyor 24 are supp~rted in horizontal orientation within the
greenhouse at an elevated position. The means for supporting
those components ~ill be described later. The portion of the
cable 26 spanning the two drums 30 and 32 is supported at
intermediately spaced loc~tions via plural support roller
assemblies 36. Each cable 26 includes plural plant hangers 38
mounted thereon at equadistantly spaced locations.
Each of the hangers 38 is constructed so as to automati-
cally assume one of two orientations depending on whether or not
it i5 supporting a plant therefrom. In the first orientation,
that is when it is supporting a plant, the hanger automatically
assurnes an orientation which cooperates with sensor means (to be
described l~ter) at the watering station 28 to automatically
actlvate the watering means to water the plant when it reaches
that station~ When the hangers are in the second orientation,
which they automatically assume when no plant is suspended
there~rorn, the hangers do not actuate the sensor 50 that no water-
ing occurs when the empty hanger passes the watering station.
-- 6 --
3L3
The details vf a typical hanger 38 will now be conside~ed
and are best understood by reference to Figs~ 3 and 5. However~
beEore describing the construction of hanger 38 a ~rie~ descrip-
tion of the ~able 26 is in order. As can be seen cable 26 is of
conventional construction, such as braided steel cable and is o~
circular profile. The cable 26 is in the form of an endless loop
e~tendinc~ tightly about the two drums 30 and 32.
The hanger 38 is a generally assymetrical C-shaped mem~er
includinc~ an arcuate upper leg portion 40, an arcuate lower leg
portion 42 and an intermediate portion 44. The intermediate
portion is formed by a pair of arms 46 and 48 extending at an
obtuse anyle with respect to each other. The arcuate end portion
40 extends frosn the end of arm 46 while the arcuate end portion ~2
extends from the end of arm 48. Arcuate portion 42 is curved
upwards so that it fvrms a hook-like configuration for supporting
the hook 50 of a conventional hanging basket 52 holding plant 25
therein. The arcuate portion 40 of the hanger 38 terminates in an
arcuate recess 54 at the free end of portion 40~ This recess
serves as the means for mounting the hanger on the cable. To that
end the cable is snap-fit into the recess throu~h its open mouth
56. As can be seen the mouth 56 exterlds sufficiently about the
periphery o~ the pa~sac~eway 54 so that when the cable is located
within the passageway the hanger can pivot with respect to the
lonc~itudillal axis of the cahle withvut ~alling off the cable. In
orcler to l~revent the hanger froln slippin(J lonclitudin~lly on the
ca~le a pair of rin(l-like stops 58 are disposed on each side oE
the hallcler at the pivoting connection (See Fig. 5).
As can be seen in FicJ. 3 when a plant 2~ is hung fror
hook porti~n 42 of the han~er 3~ the weight on the han~er causes
~ ~ ~ . . .
it to assume the firs~ orientation wherein its arm portion 4~ is
di~osed generally verticcllly and with the arcuate end portion ~0
extending a substantial height above the elevation of the plane of
the cable loop. It is in this first orientation that the portion
40 i5 arra~ ed to contact a sensor mechanism (to be described
later) to effect the watering operation. When the plant 26 i5
removed from the ha~ er 3U the nat~ral twist of the cable causes
lt to rotate or pivot the hanger inward with respect to the
lon~itudinal axis o the cable 26 to the second orisntation and
which is shown by phantom lines in Fig. 6. In this second
orientation the upper arcuate arm portion 4~ is disposed almost
laterally of the cable 2fi so as to avoid actuatiny the water
initiatin~ sensor or solenoid actuating arm 7~.
~ eferring now to Fig. 6 it can be seen that each watering
station consists of a watering conduit or spray tube 7U which is
connected to a source of water sup~ly (not shown). The free end
of the spray tube 7~ is in the form o~ a nozzle 72 directed at the
position at which plant ~S will be located when carried by a
hanyer 38 to the watering station. Each watering station 2U also
includes actuatable valve means 74 for controllin~ the flow o
water throu(~h conduit 70 and out nozzle 7~. The valve means 7~
basically comprises an electrically opecated solenoid valve of any
suitahle conventional type. The solenoid is connectecl in the
electrical circuit of the system 2~ via plural conductors 76. The
actu;ltion of the solenoid value to cause it to open is effected by
the movement oE its contactor arm 78. Thus, when contactor arm 7
is moved an associated relay in the solenoid valve 7~ is actuated,
whereupon water is enabled to flow from the water source through
conduit 7U and out no2zle 7~.
_ ~ _
The actuator arm 78 of valve 74 is oriented so that it is
located just slightly above the horizontal plane in which the
cable loop 26 is located. Accordingly when a plant 25 is suspen-
ded from a hanger 38 so that the hanger i5 rotated to the position
shown in Fig. 6 the arcuate portion 40 of the han~er 3~ extends
above the plane of the cable loop, whereupon when the hanger is
carried to the wateriny station the actuator arm is tripped by
hangar's arcuate portion 40. This action causes the solenoid
valve to open, whereupon the plant 25 suspencied from the ha~yer is
sprayed with water~ If the hanger 38 is empty ti.e. not carrying
a plant) the hanger will be in the second orientation shown în
phantc~n in Fig. 6. In this orientation the upper arcuate leg 4U
of the han3er 38 is disposed almost laterally of the plane of the
cable loop 26 and is hence bolow the free end of solenoid actuator
arm 78. Accordingly, the actuator a~n is not tripped, whereupon
the solenoid valve 74 remains closed and no water is enabled t~
pass through conduit 70.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the details o the
two drums 3~ and 32 will no~ be described. As can be seen drum 3U
is the drive drum and basically c~mprisas a wheelike tubular
member havin-~ a central hub 80 from which project a plur31ity o~
radiaL spokes 82. Each spoke is secured to the inner periphery of
the drum 30. R .stationary vertical support shaft 84 is mountecl
vertically from a support plate or bracket 86. The hub ~0 of the
drum is mounted on the free e~d 88 of tha support shaft and is
held in place by means (not sho~n). The su~)port shat ~4 thus
serves as an axle ~or th~ drum 30 so that the drum 30 can rotate
about the lon~itudinal axis o~ the shaft ~4. A ring~ e sup~rt
leclge 90 axtends about the periphery o the drum 30 adjacent its
_ g _
lower edge 92 and is welded in place. This support ledye servss
as the means for supporting the cable 26 about the periphery oE
the drum so that the cable does not fall off, The drum 30 is
arranged to be driven by the drive means 34. To that end the drum
30 includes a link chain 94 extending about its periphery adjacent
its upper edge 96. The link-chain is welded in place and forms a
set of gear teeth fo~ engagement by gear means of the drive means
~to be described hereinafter).
The gear means basically comprises a hori~ontally dispos-
ed spur gear 98 fixedly mounted on the lower end of a vertically
disposed shaft 100~ The upper end of shaft 100 includes a bevel
gear 102. The shaft 100 is journaled in a motor mounting bracke~
104 via pair of bushings 106. The teeth o~ spur gear 98 are
arranged to engage the links of chain 94 so that when sha~t 100 is
rotated the rotary action imparted to gear 98 is imparted to drum
30. The rotation of bevel gear 102 is e~fected via a cooperating
bevel gear 108 which is mounted on a horizontally extending drive
shaft 110, The shaft 110 comprises the rotary output sha~t of the
system's common motor 112. The motor 112 is a conventional
electrical motor and mounted on the motor mount bracket 102. The
drive shaft 110 being common to all o~ the plural conveyor
apparatus of the sy~tern is an elongated rnember which is coupled to
each conveyor apparatus 22. Thus, as Ca11 be seen in FigO 1 the
drive shat 110 extends horizontally from the left most con~eyor
apparatus 22 to the next sucessive conveyor apparatus 22 and frorn
there to the next sucessive conveyor apparatus and so forth. At
each conv2yor apparat-ls a bevel gear 108 i5 located on the shaft
110. This bevel gear cooperates with the other portions of the
drive means located at that conveyor apparatus e.~.~ the bevel
-- 10 --
8~3
gear 102 and the other associated components, for effecting the
rotation of drum 30 as just described heretofor.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention each
conveyor apparatus is arranged to be driven at two different
speeds. Thus when plants are loaded or unloaded from the conveyor
the system is arranged to operate at a faster speed than it oper-
ates in moving the plants to and ~rom the watering station.
The support plate 86 serves as the means for mounting the
conveyor apparatus. In particular the motor housing 104 is
mounted on plate 86. As can be seen in Fig. 2 the support plate
includes a downwardly extending flange 120 from which a roller 122
projects radially inward on a journeled shaft 124. The roller L22
includes an annular recess 126 in its periphery adapted to receive
the top edge 96 of the drum 30. This roller thus acts to hold the
drum in position against the tension applied by the cable 26. The
support plate 86 is mounted in the huilding via two pair of longi-
tudinally extending angle brackets 128 welded to the top side o
the support plate 86.
The other or passive drum 32 is constructed in a basic-
ally similar manner to drum 30 and hence the common components are
given the same reference numerals as drum 30. As can be seen
in Fig. 4 the cable 26 also extends about the periphery of drum 32
and rests on its ring-like ledge 90~ In orcler to keep the cable
loop 26 taut the support plate 86 of the drum 32 also includes a
downwardly extending flange 130 which receives one end of an
adjustable turn buckle assembly 132. The turn buckle assembly 132
includes a threaded rod 134 terminating in a flanged end 136 and
extendin~ through an opening 138 in the support bracket flange
130. The other end of rod 134 extends into a threaded sleeve 140
38~;~
of the turn huckle assembly. A second threaded rod 142 of the
turn buckle assembly includes a ~readed en~ 144 which i~ l~cated
in the opposi~e end of the sleeve 140. The frse end of rod 1-12 is
in the form of a hook 146. The hook 146 engages an eyelet 148 of
a pin 150 anchored in the wall 23. Thus, as will ~e appreciated
by those skilled in the art by the rotation of the sleeve 4U the
rod portions 134 and 142 of the turn buckle assembly are brought
closer together. This action applies tension to the ca~le via the
support plate 86, the associa~ed roller 12~, and the drum 32.
Since the cable loop can extend for a substantial
distance e.g., 100 feet or more, between the drums plural roller
means 36 ar~ utilized to support the cable between the drums.
~e~erring now to Fig. 5, the details of a typical roller support
means 36 will now be descr;bed. As can be seen the roller means
36 basically comprises a roller 160 having a peripheral groove 162
for supporting the cable 26 thereon. The roller 160 is mounted on
a support rod 164. The support rod 164 includes a horizontally
disposed free end on wh;ch the roller is located. The roller is
held in place on the free end of the support rod via a bolt head
166 and an associated washer 168, The remaining portion o~
support rod 164 includes a vertically extending section termina-
tlny in a threaded end 170. The end portion 170 extends upward
hetween the vertical ~lan~les of a pair of right angle support bars
17~, The support bars are mounted by means (not shown~ to the
building. The threaded portion 170 of the support rod ex~ending
between the 1anges of members 172 is held in place via an opposed
pair of nuts 174 and assc~:iated washers 176. Thus, hy tightening
the nuts 174 the support ro~ lfi4 is rig;dly secured to the ~embers
172, and hence to the building.
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2g~3
In accordance with the commercial embodiment o~ the
instant invention the drums 30 and 34 are each 30 i~ches (~6.2
~entimeters3 in diameter, the cable is ~ inch l6.35 milimeters~ in
diameter and formed of galvanized steel and ~he motor is ~ horse~
power.
The motor is arranged to be operated at two speeds so
that with the gear system as disclosed ~hen it operates at the
slower speed the cable circulates at approximately 30 feet t9.14
meters~ per minute while at the Past speed the cable circulates at
~pproximately 60 feet (l8,28 met~rs) per minute.
Operation oE the system as described heretofor is as
Eollows~ Plants are loaded and unloaded from each conveyor appara-
tus at either end thereof~ During the loading and unloading of
the apparatus drive is operated at the faster speed~ As each han-
ger reaches an end where the loading or unloading is to occ~r the
person at that end either hangs a plant on the hanger 38 or remov-
es a plant from the hanger, When a plant is hung on the hanger 3
it causes the hanger to ro~ate from the phantom line position
shown in Fig. 6 to a solid line position thereat. Each succeeding
plant is suspended in the same manner. Conversly when plants are
unloaded from the hange~s each hanger pivots to the phantom line
position shown in Fig. 6.
As each hanger suspenclin~ a plant therefrom reaches the
watering station its arcuate portion 40 oontacts the solenoid
valve actuator arm 78. This action causes the solenoid va1ve to
open and sprayiny to co~nence, whereupon the plant is watered.
The watering action occurs without stoppaye of the conveyor. It
is of course to be understood by those skilled in the art~ that if
desired the conveyor can be automatically stopped when the sol~n
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~ ` ~ ~
oid valve actuator arm is trippecl in order to provide greater
watering time.
Alternatively, each solenoid valve may be constructed to
include a built-in delay so that when the valve is opened it
remains open for a predeteL-mined period of time~ irrespective of
the position of the actuator arm. In such a case watering the
plant can continue even slightly after the actuator arm moves out
of contact with the arcuat:e portion 40 of the hanger 38.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the
apparatus of the instant invention applies two distinct advantages
namely the automatic watering of plants suspended from hangers on
the conveyor while also ensuring that each plant is exposed
uniformly to light in the greenhouse by ~irtue of its movement
thèrethrough. With uniorm light exposure and e~fective preclse
watering the plants are more certaln to mature essenti~lly at the
same time, thereby enhancing the abilit~ of the commercial grower
to fullfill commitments for delivery of mature plant~ as of a
specified date.
Another form of the hanger 38 (identified as 38a~ is
shown in Figs. 7, B and 9. In this form of the hanger, the
arcuate recess 54 is replaced with a locking clip lO2, ~hich îs
slidably received on base 104 that extends from arcuate portion
41)a~ As shown in Fig. 8 r the base lU4 is integrally molded to
arcuate portion 40a and more particularly connects with legs 105
extending from arcuate portion 40a (Fig. 9). As further shown in
Fig. ~, the legs 105 are spaced from outer fingers 106 that also
extend ~rom arcuate portion 40a. A recess 108 existing hetween
each pair of legs lOS and Figs 106 serves to receivecl ledges lO~
extending upwardly from the lock anc~ clip 102.
Also integrally molded to the legs 1~5 is a lug 110
having an arcuate recess 112 that is compar~ble to arcuate recess
54 and open mouth 56 of hanger means 38a as shown in FiCJ. 69
However, the recess 112 is generally semi-circular and orientated
in a ccmpletely downward sense or is open in a downward direction
as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, when the locking clip 102 is slid into
place, the complimentary recess 114 of the locking clip is
associated with recess 112 of the lug 110 to form a generally
circular opening through ~hich the cable 26 passes. In this way,
the hanger means 38a is positively, but releasably locked or held
onto the cable 26. It is preferred that this lockin~ of hanger
means 38a on cabl~ 26 be a generally loose attachment or holcling
so that the hanger can readily pivot with respect to tha cable.
Also, where desired, ring-like stops at 58 (Fig.
5) can also be provided ~cr use with hanger 38a, although in many
cases the stops 58 will not be needed. This is because the lock
and clip lD2 can be so dimensioned with respect to the lug 110
that a relatively tiyht interfitting between the lock and clip 102
and the lut~ 110 iS achieved. This tends t~ prevent lateral
movement or sliding of the hanc~er means on the cable.
The lock and clip 102, basically comprises an outer wall
116, which terminates in shoulders 118 that are further define~ by
the led~es 108.
In view o~ the foregoing construction and wth reference
to Fig. 8, it can be seen that the lock arld clip 10~ can be easily
slid upon the lu~ 110 so that the ledges lOB are received between
legs 105 and outerfin~ers 106 of the base 104. A1so, the shou1der
120 in the base 104 serves to receive and hold a complimelltary
inner shoulder 122 on the lock and clip 102. Thus the use o~ the
-- 15 --
L3
locking clip form of the invention overcomeg variations in cable
dia~eter or changes in cable diameter oc~urring with changes ln
temperatursO
It must be pointed out at this juncture while the invan-
tion has been discussed in terms of commercial growing of house-
plants, it is of course to be recogni~ed that this sub~ect
invention has application to ~rowing of any type of vegetation
which can be suspended from the hanger means of the system.
Without ~urther elaboration the foregoing will so fully
illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or
future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various
conditions of serviceO
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