Method of Manufacturing a Plant Receptacle as well as a Plant Receptacle

Abstract

Method of manufacturing a plant receptacle wherein the following steps are performed: a) a PLA thread is co-extruded with a flexible aliphatic polyester, said flexible aliphatic polyester comprising 10 wt % to 30 wt % bamboo material, such that the flexible aliphatic polyester covers the PLA thread, thereby creating a weldable biodegradable thread; b) using said weldable biodegradable thread in a woven or non-woven process, making a permeable sheet material; continuously forming said sheet material into a continuous receptacle, by bringing the side edges of said sheet material into contact and welding said side edges together; d) cutting said continuous receptacle in predetermined lengths thereby creating separate plant receptacles.

1 . A method of manufacturing a plant receptacle wherein the following steps are performed:
 a) a PLA thread is covered with a flexible aliphatic polyester, said flexible aliphatic polyester comprising 10 wt % to 90 wt % organic material, such that the flexible aliphatic polyester covers the PLA thread, thereby creating a weldable biodegradable thread;   b) using said weldable biodegradable thread in a woven or non-woven process, making a permeable sheet material;   c) continuously forming said sheet material into a continuous receptacle, by bringing the side edges of said sheet material into contact and welding said side edges together;   d) cutting said continuous receptacle in predetermined lengths thereby creating separate plant receptacles or wherein said continuous receptacle is perforated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the continuous receptacle at predetermined intervals, thereby allowing separate plant receptacles to be detached from the continuous receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . A method of manufacturing a plant receptacle wherein the following steps are performed:
 a) A mix of fibres containing a first type of fibre in an amount from 25% to 75% of a monofilament PLA based fibre and a second type of fibre in an amount from 25% to 75% of a fibre made from a PLA thread covered with a flexible aliphatic polyester, said flexible aliphatic polyester comprising 10 wt % to 90 wt % organic material, such that the flexible aliphatic polyester covers the PLA thread, thereby creating a weldable biodegradable thread, said first and second types of fibres adding up to 100% of the mix;   b) using said mix of fibres in a woven or non-woven process, making a permeable sheet material;   c) continuously forming said sheet material into a continuous receptacle, by bringing the side edges of said sheet material into contact and welding said side edges together;   d) cutting said continuous receptacle in predetermined lengths thereby creating separate plant receptacles or wherein said continuous receptacle is perforated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the continuous receptacle at predetermined intervals, thereby allowing separate plant receptacles to be detached from the continuous receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of manufacturing a plant receptacle according to  claim 1  wherein between steps c) and d) a further method step c1) is introduced wherein the formed continuous receptacle is filled with a growth medium either during or after forming of the plant receptacle, thereby creating a pre-filled plant receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of manufacturing a plant receptacle according to  claim 3  wherein before step c1) or d) a pair of welding cams creates a weld across the cylinder substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the sheet material is formed and welded around a conical former, thereby creating conical plant receptacles. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the PLA thread is co-extruded with said flexible aliphatic polyester, said flexible aliphatic polyester comprising 10 wt % to 90 wt % organic material. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible aliphatic polyester comprising 10 wt % to 90 wt % organic material constitutes 15% to 90% of the entire threads volume. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the organic material is selected between or is a mixture of bamboo, soya, coconut, flax, and/or banana, where the organic material is added to the aliphatic polyester in liquid, pulverized or granular form. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the PLA thread constitutes 75% by weight of the weldable biodegradable thread, and where the flexible aliphatic polyester constitutes 25% by weight of the weldable biodegradable thread, where the aliphatic polyester comprises approx. 10% PLA by weight and 10-90% organic material by weight.