Patent US4780988A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4780988A
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Method of producing rod-shaped incipient plant carrying devices
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1985-08-19
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Granted: 1988-11-01
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Expires: 2005-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Rod-shaped incipient plant carrying devices which contain or can contain seeds or plant cuttings are formed from a web of paper and a filler of synthetic fibers and/or particles of synthetic foam which are first accumulated into a relatively thin but wide layer which is thereupon converted into a narrow stream. The stream is condensed and simultaneously draped into the web to form therewith a continuous rod which is severed by a cutoff to yield a file of discrete carring devices of unit length or multiple unit length. Particles of fertilizer can be admixed to the fibers and/or foam particles of the stream, and spaced-apart portions of the stream can receive seeds in such distribution that the seed in the finished carrying device is equidistant from both end faces of the filler. A bonding agent can be sprayed onto the layer to ensure adherence of neighboring fibers and/or foam particles to one another. The filler can consist of mineral fibers, cellulosic fibers, wood fibers, a mixture of such fibers, phenol-formaldehyde foam, urea formaldehyde foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, a mixture of such foams or a mixture of foam and fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes Mielke
- 👤 Gunter Bottcher
- 👤 Paul Evert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C1/00; A01C1/04; A01C1/042; A01G; A01G24/00; A01G24/10; A01G24/18; A01G24/20; A01G24/22; A01G24/30; A01G24/40; A01G24/42; A01G24/48; A01G24/50; A01G24/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of producing substantially cylindrical incipient plant carrying devices of finite length, comprising the steps of establishing a source of particulate material which contains a synthetic foam continuously withdrawing particulate material from he source and accumulating the withdrawn particulate material into a relatively thin layer; advancing the layer along a first path; conveying a continuous web of wrapping material along a second path substantially transversely of the first path; delivering successive increments at the leading end of the layer into the second path so that such increments together constitute an elongated narrow stream; draping the web around the stream so as to convert the web and the stream into a rod wherein the particulate material constitutes a filler and the web constitutes a tubular wrapper surrounding the filler; and severing the rod at predetermined intervals so that the rod yields a succession of discrete carrying devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of producing substantially cylindrical incipient plant carrying devices of finite length, comprising the steps of establishing a source of particulate material which contains a synthetic foam continuously withdrawing particulate material from he source and accumulating the withdrawn particulate material into a relatively thin layer; advancing the layer along a first path; conveying a continuous web of wrapping material along a second path substantially transversely of the first path; delivering successive increments at the leading end of the layer into the second path so that such increments together constitute an elongated narrow stream; draping the web around the stream so as to convert the web and the stream into a rod wherein the particulate material constitutes a filler and the web constitutes a tubular wrapper surrounding the filler; and severing the rod at predetermined intervals so that the rod yields a succession of discrete carrying devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material in the source includes mineral fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the source contains rock wool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the source contains glass fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the source contains cellulosic fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said synthetic foam is selected from the group consisting of phenolformaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, polystyrene and polyurethane foams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material in the source contains diphenylmethane diisocyanate/polyether polyol foam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material in the source contains a mixture of fibers and particles of synthetic foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing step includes accumulating a relatively large first supply of at least partially interlaced particulate material, removing particulate material from the first supply, and gathering the removed particulate material into a relatively small second supply, said withdrawing step including drawing particulate material from the second supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said establishing step further includes loosening the particulate material in the course of and/or prior to said removing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of densifying the particulate material which constitutes the second supply to a preselected value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring the quantity of particulate material in the second supply, said removing step including drawing particulate material from the first supply when the monitored quantity of particulate material in the second supply is depleted to a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said monitoring step includes subjecting the particulate material of the second supply to the densifying action of at least one mobile tamping device which performs working strokes whose length is a function of the quantity of particulate material in the second supply, and monitoring the length of working strokes of the tamping device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said drawing step includes withdrawing a stratum of particulate material from the second supply with the carding of an endless conveyor and said accumulating step includes expelling the withdrawn stratum of particulate material from the carding by a rapidly rotating picker roller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of equalising the stratum of particulate material on the carding of the endless conveyor prior to said expelling step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said accumulating step includes propelling the withdrawn particulate material onto a conveyor which defines the first path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of contacting at least some particles of the particulate material with a bonding agent prior to said draping step so that at least some of the neighboring particles of particulate material adhere to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the bonding agent is a hardenable adhesive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the bonding agent is applied in a liquid state and said contacting step includes spraying the bonding agent onto the particulate material in atomized condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said contacting step includes spraying the bonding agent in a liquid state onto the layer of particulate material in said first path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second path is elongated and said delivering step includes admitting successive increments at the leading end of the layer into an elongated channel which extends in the longitudinal direction of the second path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of transporting the particulate material in the channel toward the second path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said transporting step includes depositing the particulate material onto an endless belt conveyor and moving the conveyor in a direction to advance the particulate material thereon into the second path.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the channel has a deepmost part and said transporting step includes employing an endless belt conveyor which overlies at least the deepmost part of the channel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said depositing step includes showering the particles of particulate material onto the conveyor in the channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of imparting to the conveyor in the channel the shape of an elongated trough and said depositing step includes showering the particles of particulate material into such trough.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of establishing a pressure differential between opposite sides of the conveyor to thereby urge the particulate material against one side of the conveyor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the conveyor is permeable to air and said step of establishing a pressure differential includes reducing the pressure at the other side of the conveyor to below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering step includes conveying the stream lengthwise along a third path which is aligned with the second path and extends between the first and second paths.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of transferring successive increments of the stream from the third path onto the web in the second path.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said transferring step comprises contacting the stream with a conveyor and moving the conveyor in a direction from the third toward the second path.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the web in the second path contacts one side of the stream prior to the draping step and said transferring step includes employing an endless belt conveyor which contacts another side of the stream opposite the one side of such stream.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 31, wherein the transferring step further comprises establishing a pressure differential at the opposite sides of the conveyor so that the particulate material of the stream is pneumatically urged against the conveyor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the transferring step includes employing an endless belt conveyor one side of which contacts the stream and which is permeable to air, said step of establishing a pressure differential including reducing the pressure at the other side of the conveyor to below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said conveying step includes moving the web lengthwise through the medium of a conveyor and said delivering step includes showering the particulate material of the layer onto the web on the conveyor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of equalizing the stream prior to said draping step.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of depositing seeds onto the stream prior to said draping step.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of establishing and maintaining a source of supply of seeds, said seed depositing step including withdrawing seeds from the source of supply and singularizing the seeds intermediate the source of supply and the locus of deposition of seeds onto the stream.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said singularizing step takes place simultaneously with said seed withdrawing step.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of advancing the stream in a predetermined direction at least prior to said draping step, said seed depositing step including imparting to the seeds a component of movement in said direction prior to actual deposition of seeds on the stream.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 40, wherein said seed depositing step further comprises imparting to the seeds a second component of movement at right angles to said direction.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 37, wherein said seed depositing step includes depositing on the stream at least one seed for each carrying device of finite length and at such intervals that each seed is disposed at a predetermined distance from the ends of the respective carrying device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of contacting at least some particles of the particulate material with fertilizer prior to said draping step.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 43, wherein said contacting step includes supplying to the particulate material a solid fertilizer in the form of small particles.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 44, wherein the particles of fertilizer are granulae.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the web consists of a material which readily decomposes in soil.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 46, wherein the web includes or consists of paper.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of transporting successive carrying devices axially and thereupon deflecting successive carrying devices into a path wherein the carrying devices advance at least substantially at right angles to their respective axes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of storing groups of carrying devices in containers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 48, wherein said severing step includes converting the rod into a single file of coaxial carrying devices of n times unit length wherein n is a whole number including one.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-01 | 1992-05-02 | 1992-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-01 | 1996-05-02 | 1996-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-01 | 2000-05-02 | 2000-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |