Abstract: In combination with a carton stacked pallet, a collar is disclosed for indexing to an interstitial layer of cartons on the pallet for stabilizing the palletized stack of cartons above and below the collar both during and after palletization. The collar preferably consists of a continuous piece of corrugated board having a length corresponding to the circumference of the four sides of the palletized load to be enclosed. The corrugated board of the collar is folded and fitted to each of the four sides of the palletized cartons. A gusset member protrudes normally inward from each of the four collar sides for entrapment between the interstitial layers of the of cartons of the palletized load of cartons. At the palletizing site, the band is unfolded into a rectangular carton surrounding configuration with the folded gussets disposed to the inside.

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is disclosed. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: An improved transfer mechanism for extracting and transporting plants from a high density incubating tray to a singulated constant velocity conveyed path in which each plant is gripped by planting fingers is set forth. The planter is moved across a field at relatively constant velocity and has the planting fingers conventionally depositing the plant upright and stationary with respect to the passing ground where they are covered by conventional furrowing and packing apparatus. The conveying planting fingers are serially mounted on an endless conveyor and hence pass the vicinity of the incubating tray from which extraction and transfer of the plants must occur at a relatively constant velocity. A tray extraction mechanism is provided which includes a tray conveyor, plant extractor plugs and a tray extraction reciprocation apparatus. The tray extraction reciprocation apparatus functions to oscillate the tray conveyor and plant extractors parallel to the path of the planting fingers.

Abstract: A planting finger assembly having paired planting fingers is disclosed for use with a planter of the type wherein plants are removed from a nursery tray, preferably by the stem, and transported to a secondary growing location preferably in a field for harvest. Each planting finger assembly has a pair of planting finger shafts mounted in parallel. The finger shafts each terminate in radially extending wedged shaped gripping fingers for holding and releasing the plant. The two fingers on each plant finger assembly rotate on the finger shafts towards and away from one another responsive to oppositely disposed spiral cams and a joined pair of cam followers. Opposite rotation of the fingers moves the fingers from an opened position for receiving or discharging a plant to a closed position for gripping and transporting the plant.

Abstract: A tape dispenser for an agricultural/industrial environment having wind and dirt dispenses tape adhesive side upwardly exposed. Centrally of the dispenser there is placed a roll of tape conventionally wound in a spiral. The roll of tape has an outwardly exposed adhesive release surface and an inwardly exposed adhesive coated surface and is wound in a first direction. In the dispenser, the tape is threaded from the first direction of its spiral wound path to a reversed path around the roll in a second and opposite direction. Typically, the reversed path is defined over the surfaces of four rollers with the adhesive release side inwardly exposed to the rollers and the adhesive coated side outwardly exposed. The roll and reverse path are encased within a housing to prevent the outwardly exposed adhesive from adhering either to ambient dust or nearby objects. The tape passes free from the housing along a dispensing path to a convention severing tape knife.