Abstract: Apparatus for transplant propagation comprising a unitary lower tray-forming member and a separate unitary upper tray-forming member carried on lower tray-forming member and cooperatively forming a regular array of transplant plug cells for containing a transplant medium for growing of seedlings. In one embodiment, the upper tray-forming member is removable from the lower tray-forming member and carriers transplant plugs out of the array of cells. In another embodiment, the upper tray-forming member is removable from the lower tray-forming member and leaves the transplant plugs in place on the lower tray-forming member to be carried thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus for the gripping of plants located in a container is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a pushing element, which pushes the ball of the plant upwardly from underneath, until the ball is released for a substantial part above the container. Then the ball is gripped by a number of gripping arms, movable in a horizontal direction, which transports the ball including the plant to its destination. To be able to push the ball upwards the container comprises at location of each of the cavities for the balls a guiding channel for the pushing element. This channel has a cross-section of a star-like configuration, the number of points thereof coinciding with the number of points of the pushing element.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the planting out of the plants wherein the plants to be planted out are fitted into pieces of substrate. Said pieces of substrate are located in compartments formed between blocks fitted onto strips. Usually these strips are located adjacent and each second strip is shifted lengthwise over the length of a block, being equal to the length of a compartment so that a chess-board-pattern develops in plan view. For the planting out, the strips are separated and subsequently supplied to a pushing element which pushes the pieces of substrate including the plants in a transverse direction out of the strip and into bigger containers. To use only a single directional movement the strips are inclined relative to the bigger containers. To compensate for this inclination the pieces of substrate are slightly rotated during the movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for the gripping of plants located in a container is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a pushing element, which pushes the ball of the plant upwardly from underneath, until the ball is released for a substantial part above the container. Then the ball is gripped by a number of gripping arms, movable in a horizontal direction, which transports the ball including the plant to its destination. To be able to push the ball upwards the continer comprises at location of each of the cavities for the balls a guiding channel for the pushing element. This channel has a cross-section of a star-like configuration, the number of points thereof coinciding with the number of points of the pushing element.

Abstract: An apparatus or greenhouse is shown, which comprises both a treatment area and growing areas. Normally the plants are kept in the growing areas. When the plants have to be treated they are conveyed to the treatment area, in which area treatment equipment (like sprinklers, elements for applying pesticides) is fitted. Also transport means for supplying and removing plants extend only into the treatment area.According to a preferred embodiment the treatment area is longitudinal and the growing area's are located on both sides of said treatment area. The conveying means are tables moveable along paths extending perpendicular to the length of the treatment area. Two tables are moveable along each paths, an upper table resting on an outer pair of rails and a lower table resting on an inner pair of rails. The containers with the plants therein are placed on the tables.

Abstract: A potting and repotting machine forming part of an apparatus for filling pots, in particular for filling flower pots and the like with potting soil, is provided with an elongated bin which is open at the top and accommodates an endless chain conveyor fitted with carriers extending transversely to the transport direction, the potting and repotting machine being provided with at least one continuous pot guideway extending longitudinally of the bin and having variable width and depth, the carriers of the endless chain conveyor being designed as pushing members extending in the upper part of the chain above the bottom level of the guideway or guideways, so that the conveyor can be easily adapted to different pot sizes and pot configurations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dosed sowing of seed comprising periodically immersing a first hollow suction tube in a supply of seeds, retaining a limited number of seeds at the tube end by creating underpressure inside said tube, bringing the suction tube above a substantially horizontal strip, on which the seeds retained at the tube end are dropped by removal of the vacuum, after which the strip with the seeds lying thereon is moved relative to a narrowing channel in such a manner that in the narrowest part of the channel there comes to lie each time only one seed, which seed is taken up by a second suction tube and transferred to a nutrient substrate, while the rest of the seeds lying on the strip are returned to the supply.