Abstract: A molded plant tray is provided in the form of a unitary molded plastic member formed of relatively light foamed plastic and having downwardly extending tapered plant cells for receiving planting medium in which individual seedlings are grown. The plant tray is provided with integral drive member receiving groove means in the form of U-shaped grooves along bottom portions of intermediate walls that define the plant cells. An alignment groove can also be provided perpendicular to the drive member receiving groove means and bisecting the length of the drive member receiving groove means for accurate positioning of the plant tray relative to drive members. In a second embodiment a relatively hard plastic insert is molded, manufactured or adhesively secured to create a dual body tray in the molded plastic member and defines the plant cells.

Abstract: A plurality of plant flats are supported on a movable plant flat support rack positioned adjacent an irrigation trough for movement between an upper position and a lower position; idler rollers on the support rack engage inclined tracks on opposite sides of the irrigation trough so that horizontal movement of the support rack results in vertical movement of the support between an upper position in which the flats are above the upper surface of the trough liquid and a lower position in which the bottom of the flats is immersed in the liquid in the trough. A portable dive assembly is connected to the plant flat for support effecting horizontal movement of the rolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic transplanter. More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism for transferring seedlings or plants from plant trays or flats in which they have been grown or propagated onto a conveyor for delivering to means for effecting transplanting into a field.

Abstract: A transplanter for transferring seedlings from plant trays to a planting position includes a special plant tray having a series of longitudinal indexing grooves and a transverse alignment groove for engagement with indexing rods and support rings that are joined together to form an indexing drum. The indexing drum is mounted adjacent a loading frame for guiding the plant trays into position for ejection of the plant seedlings and includes an integrally internally mounted plug ejector subassembly which moves relative to the indexing drum at each of a number of successive indexing positions of the drum for ejection of seedlings from the plant tray. The indexing grooves and transverse alignment groove on the plant tray provide datum surfaces for ensuring accurate positioning of the plug ejector subassembly relative to the seedlings in the plant tray.

Abstract: A novel greenhouse curtain system has a plurality of movable curtains oriented vertically one above the other to form a flexible wall. Each curtain is supported by a fixed upper edge, and the vertical position of the lower extent of each curtain may be adjusted by means of a traveling spindle used to furl or unfurl the curtain. The traveling spindle rises and descends as the curtain is furled (raised) or unfurled (lowered), and is rotated by a tensioned cable wrapped in opposite directions around two drums aligned concentrically one on end of the roller bar. The cable is anchored on one end below one of the drums, and is wrapped in opposite manner respectively around both drums and passes vertically to a pulley, and then to a driving means such as a winch. The dimensions of the drums are such that the curtain remains in stable position as long as there is no movement of the cable to or from the driving means.