An automated hydroponic growing rack with a conveyor belt structure

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of automatic fog culture planting frame with conveyor belt structure, it includes: for carrying the growth unit of cultivated plant, for the plant on growth unit is driven along defined movement locus movement conveying unit, wherein, conveying unit at least includes several supporting parts, movement part and driving part, several planting trays of growth unit are installed or connected to corresponding supporting part, so that the movement part that operates under the power exerted by driving part can drive supporting part along defined movement locus movement, wherein, several planting holes spaced apart on planting tray are movably connected with the planting device that can at least rotate around the axis of planting hole, and planting device can adjust the rotation angle during the movement of planting tray along defined movement locus based on the position and / or environment of growth unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant cultivation technology, and in particular to an automated aeroponic planting rack with a conveyor belt structure. Background Technology

[0002] CN202310715U discloses a combined vertical seedling raising machine, which is composed of a frame, water trough, spraying device, lighting device, and temperature and humidity control device. The machine components are transported into the existing seedling greenhouse for assembly without dismantling it. The machine has combination holes at its four corners to allow for multi-machine assembly to adapt to the height, width, and length of the greenhouse. The machine uses multiple special chain links installed on a vertically circulating chain, with seedling baskets suspended on rollers of these links, forming a multi-layered vertical seedling raising system. It is further enhanced by an upper spraying device, a lower water trough, a central lighting device, and temperature and humidity regulation and control to create an ecological environment suitable for seedling growth, thus achieving vertical seedling raising.

[0003] CN103563679B discloses an automated seedling bed, comprising a steel-structured PC (polycarbonate) sunroom and at least one seedling bed arranged parallel to the length of the PC sunroom within it. It also includes a high-pressure misting cooling device, a shading device, plant growth lights, a heating system, several temperature sensors, several humidity sensors, a light intensity sensor, a pesticide dispensing system, a fertilizer dispensing system, a water supply system, a sprinkler system, a control device, and a host control terminal. This invention employs a "W"-shaped arrangement of seedling trays in a chain-like circulation pattern to ensure and vary light exposure, resulting in uniform light reception and no light blockage, thus providing a balanced growth environment for the seedlings. Furthermore, a series of automated facilities and monitoring systems assist in ensuring optimal conditions for crop seedling cultivation, such as ventilation, light, temperature, and humidity, thereby reducing the labor intensity of operators and improving production efficiency.

[0004] However, existing technologies only focus on the arrangement of seedling trays to achieve the cultivation cycle, without in-depth research on the plant cultivation environment during the cycle. For example, although existing technologies are equipped with plant growth lights and use a "W"-shaped seedling tray arrangement to ensure and change the lighting, an overly dense arrangement will still cause some shading, while an overly sparse arrangement will reduce productivity. The spraying device also cannot be adaptively adjusted based on the type and / or growth status of the cultivated plants, thus preventing the entire cultivation device from maximizing cultivation efficiency.

[0005] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an automated aeroponic planting rack with a conveyor belt structure to at least solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0007] This invention discloses an automated aeroponic planting rack with a conveyor belt structure, comprising: a growth unit for carrying the cultivated plants, and a conveyor unit for driving the plants on the growth unit to move along a defined movement trajectory. The conveyor unit includes at least several support parts, a moving part, and a driving part. Several planting trays of the growth unit are installed or connected to corresponding support parts, such that the moving part, which operates under the power applied by the driving part, can drive the support parts to move along the defined movement trajectory. Several planting holes spaced apart on the planting trays are movably connected to planting devices that can rotate at least around the axis of the planting holes. The planting devices can adjust the rotation angle based on the position of the growth unit and / or the environment during the movement of the planting trays along the defined movement trajectory.

[0008] Preferably, by rotating the planter, not only is the amount of nutrient solution received by the plant roots increased, but the lighting effect of the lighting unit is also improved, so as to improve the plant growth efficiency from both ends of the plant at the same time, thereby realizing the high-quality and high-efficiency cultivation of the plant by the growth unit.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the planter is capable of opening mesh in at least a portion of the sidewall based on the dominant and subdominant growth directions of the roots of the cultivated plant, wherein the dominant and subdominant growth directions of the roots are at least influenced by the cultivated plant variety.

[0010] Preferably, different mesh settings can be used to create various sizes of planting devices suitable for different plant varieties. The different positions of the mesh on the planting device can cause differences in the root growth trends of the seedlings. For plants such as southern wheat, which have a dominant vertical growth direction, the mesh on the side wall of the planting device can be positioned closer to the planting tray to compensate for its weaker growth direction. Conversely, for plants such as northern wheat, which have a dominant horizontal growth direction, the mesh on the side wall of the planting device can be positioned further away from the planting tray to compensate for its weaker growth direction. By using these settings, the root growth trends of the seedlings can be controlled.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the transverse cross-section of the hollow tubular planter is an open arc shape to form an opening on the side wall of the planter, wherein the rotation of the planter relative to the planting tray can adjust the orientation of the opening in a way that is conducive to plant growth.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the conveying unit is installed on the frame structure of the main unit constituting the growth space. Based on the movement trajectory defined by the conveying unit, the growth space can be divided into at least a first region and a second region. In the first region, at least a light source unit for providing a light environment is provided, and in the second region, at least an atomizing unit for providing a misting environment is provided.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the control signal generated by the control unit of the automated aeroponic planting rack can adjust the conveying unit, the light source unit, the atomizing unit and / or the growth unit, wherein the control unit's regulation method of the planter in the growth unit is determined at least after the regulation of the conveying unit, the light source unit and / or the atomizing unit is completed.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the atomizing unit determines the configuration position of one or more spray heads based on the size of the second area and the variety of plants. The spray heads atomize the liquid distributed by the first pipeline and spray it onto the second area. The operating parameters of the spray heads are controlled by the control unit.

[0015] Preferably, the control unit can adjust the spray angle of the atomized particles based on parameters such as rotation angle and elevation angle, according to the relative spatial position of each spray head in the second region. The rotation angle can be the angle at which the spray head rotates in the lateral direction, and the elevation angle can be the angle at which the spray head tilts in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, factors such as the spray velocity of the atomized particles, the particle size, the atomization working time, and the atomization interval can also be determined based on the plant variety and its current growth stage.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the first pipeline is connected to the liquid storage section of the atomizing unit through a sealed second pipeline, and the liquid in the liquid storage tank is transported to the spray head under the pressure of the delivery pump. The liquid storage section draws out the remaining liquid at the bottom of the second area through a third pipeline.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the light source unit may be provided with an adjustable reflector on one or both sides of the lamp body, wherein a heat dissipation component for dissipating heat generated by the lamp body is disposed between the lamp body and the main unit.

[0018] Preferably, this configuration allows for flexible adjustment of the illumination range of the light source unit based on the light requirements of the plant, while the heat dissipation component quickly removes the heat generated by the lamp body to avoid damage to the plant, especially to plants that have moved to the vicinity of the lamp body (e.g., to the second sprocket).

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the support part is connected to the conveyor belt of the moving part and moves with the conveyor belt. The movement trajectory of the conveyor belt is limited by the transmission assembly. The first transmission assembly is connected to the drive part, and the second transmission assembly is arranged such that its height above the ground is greater than that of the third transmission assembly.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the conveyor belt passes through a first region when moving between the second and third transmission components, and passes through a second region when moving between the third and first transmission components, wherein a plurality of sprockets in the second and third transmission components can be assigned a corresponding position sequence based on their position in a first direction. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a simplified structural diagram of an automated aeroponic planting rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of the support and growth unit in region A;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the light source unit in region B;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the growth unit in the second region according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] List of reference numerals

[0026] 100: Main body unit; 200: Conveying unit; 210: Supporting part; 220: Moving part; 221: First transmission assembly; 222: Second transmission assembly; 223: Third transmission assembly; 224: Conveyor belt; 300: Growth unit; 310: Planting tray; 311: Planting hole; 312: Planter; 400: Light source unit; 410: Lamp body; 420: Heat sink; 430: Reflector; 500: Atomizing unit; 510: Spray head; 520: First pipeline; 521: Second pipeline; 522: Third pipeline; 530: Liquid storage part. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1This is a simplified structural diagram of an automated aeroponic planting rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the support portion 210 and the growth unit 300 in the central region A; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of light source unit 400 in region B; Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the growth unit 300 in the second region according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein, Figure 4 The bottom view includes the projection of the spray head 510 onto the growth unit 300 and the range of its spray coverage.

[0029] This invention discloses an automated aeroponic growing rack with a conveyor belt structure. The conveyor belt structure allows plants to move along a defined trajectory within a defined growth space, achieving automated plant cultivation based on the movement of plants between different areas within the growth space. Preferably, the automated aeroponic growing rack may include at least a main unit 100 constituting the frame structure, enabling the main unit 100 to define the plant's growth space, allowing the plant to grow within the main unit 100. A conveyor unit 200 constituting the conveyor belt structure may be mounted on the main unit 100, defining one or more movement trajectories within the growth space defined by the main unit 100. This allows a growth unit 300, which carries the plant, to be mounted or connected to the conveyor unit 200 and move along the defined movement trajectory within the growth space defined by the main unit 100, following the movement of the conveyor unit 200.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the growth unit 300 may be configured with planting trays 310 of different specifications based on the different types of plants it carries. A plurality of planting holes 311 for accommodating plants are spaced apart on the planting trays 310, which are generally planar in structure. The size of the holes 311 and / or the spacing between the holes 311 may be limited by the plant variety. For example, different plant varieties require different amounts of space during their growth. Therefore, when determining the size and / or position of the planting holes 311, the planting tray 310 can at least ensure that the plants have sufficient space during their growth. That is, the size of any one planting hole 311 and / or the spacing between any two adjacent planting holes 311 are set in a manner that ensures that the plants grown in the planting holes 311 are not disturbed during their growth. This allows planting trays 310 of different specifications to be formed.

[0031] Preferably, a generally hollow tubular planting device 312 can be arranged at each planting hole 311 of the planting tray 310 along the main growth direction of the plant roots, wherein the structural dimensions of the planting device 312 at the junction with the planting tray 310 correspond to the planting hole 311. Preferably, one end of the planting device 312 is connected to the planting hole 311 of the planting tray 310, and the other end is suspended along the main growth direction of the plant roots, and can partially or completely cover the roots of the plant cultivated in the planting hole 311 in a circumferential manner, so that the mesh at any height inside the tube of the planting device 312 can support the plant, and at the same time control the growth trend of the plant roots. The planting device 312 can be installed on the planting hole 311 of the planting tray 310 by a movable connection, so that the planting device 312 can rotate at least around the axis of the planting hole 311.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the transmission unit 200 that defines the movement trajectory includes at least a plurality of support portions 210, a movement portion 220, and a drive portion. The plurality of planting trays 310 of the growth unit 300 can be installed or connected to the corresponding support portions 210. The plurality of support portions 210 are fixedly or detachably connected to different positions of the movement portion 220, so that when the drive portion drives the movement portion 220 to move along the defined movement trajectory, the plants on the planting trays 310 can also be forced to move within the growth space.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the conveying unit 200 can be defined by different movement trajectories based on the frame structure of the main unit 100, wherein the moving part 220 and the driving part of the conveying unit 200 can be disposed on the frame structure of the main unit 100. Preferably, the mounting surface of the main unit 100 is referred to as the ground in this invention, but this does not mean that the frame structure of the main unit 100 can only be mounted on the ground. It can also be mounted on any platform that can support the automated aeroponic planting rack. The ground will be briefly referred to below. Preferably, the first transmission component 221 and the driving part in the moving part 220 can be disposed at the transport end of the main unit 100, so that the driving part can drive the first transmission component 221 to move at the transport end.

[0034] Preferably, the first transmission assembly 221 may include a pair of first sprockets connected by a shaft. The two first sprockets are disposed on opposite sides of the transport end of the main body unit 100 via bearings, so that the drive unit can simultaneously drive the two first sprockets to rotate based on the shaft. The two first sprockets can be respectively connected to two conveyor belts 224 of the moving unit 220, so that when the first sprockets rotate under the power applied by the drive unit, the two conveyor belts 224 can move synchronously along a directional path, and their movement patterns are the same. Preferably, the conveyor belts 224 may be chain-like, belt-like, or any shape that can be movably connected to the sprockets and move directionally without slippage as the sprockets rotate. Preferably, the two ends of the support portion 210 can be respectively disposed on the two conveyor belts 224 or respectively connected to the conveyor belts 224. The middle portion of the support portion 210 located between the two conveyor belts 224 can be generally hollow in the middle and have a fixing frame around it, so that the planting tray 310 matching the structure of its middle portion can be placed on the support portion 210 and can move synchronously with the moving part 220 along a defined moving trajectory. The installation positions of the two ends of the support portion 210 on the two conveyor belts 224 are determined at least based on the length of the middle portion of the support portion 210. Preferably, the support portion 210 can be disposed parallel to the ground or in a manner conducive to plant growth on the planting tray 310. The manner conducive to plant growth on the planting tray 310 may be, for example, to allow the plant to receive more light and / or nutrient solution.

[0035] Preferably, in addition to being movably connected to the first transmission assembly 221, the conveyor belt 224 can also be movably connected to the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223, so as to change the moving direction of the conveyor belt 224 through the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223, thereby defining a moving trajectory that is conducive to the growth of plants on the planting tray 310. The second transmission assembly 222 may have a greater ground clearance than the third transmission assembly 223. Preferably, the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223 may be similar to the first transmission assembly 221, with a pair of sprockets connected by shafts on opposite sides of the transport end of the main unit 100 via bearings, which are two second sprockets and two third sprockets respectively.

[0036] Preferably, the conveyor belt 224 can move back and forth between the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223. This back-and-forth motion is not a reciprocating motion, but rather an oscillating forward motion between multiple second sprockets in the second transmission assembly 222 and multiple third sprockets in the third transmission assembly 223. The forward direction can be designated as the first direction, and the overall motion trend of the conveyor belt 224 when moving back and forth between the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223 is along the first direction. Preferably, the multiple second sprockets in the second transmission assembly 222 and the multiple third sprockets in the third transmission assembly 223 are arranged alternately at intervals along the first direction. Further, the multiple second sprockets and multiple third sprockets can be assigned a corresponding position sequence based on their position in the first direction, and the position sequence can be larger as the sprockets extend in the first direction. The conveyor belt 224 can sequentially connect multiple second sprockets and multiple third sprockets based on the position sequence to define the movement trajectory in the first region. Preferably, in the first region of the growth space, the frame structure of the main unit 100 may be configured with a plurality of light source units 400 for providing illumination to the first region, wherein the light source units 400 may have a greater height from the ground than the transmission components, so as to achieve at least global illumination of the first region.

[0037] Preferably, based on the above-described motion unit 220, a plurality of support portions 210 on the conveyor belt 224 between any two adjacent second and third sprockets can be arranged in a stepped manner. By adjusting the installation position of the support portions 210, the plants on the planting trays 310 supported by the support portions 210 can receive the light provided by the light source unit 400 in an unobstructed manner.

[0038] Preferably, the light source unit 400 may be provided with a heat sink 420 between the lamp body 410 and the main unit 100, so that the heat generated by the lamp body 410 is carried away by the heat sink 420, thereby reducing the amount of heat dissipated to the first area. Preferably, the light source unit 400 may be provided with a reflector 430 on one or both sides of the lamp body 410. The reflector 430 can be set with a preset included angle α by a rotating member, wherein the included angle α is adjustable. Preferably, when the reflector 430 is rotated to the position corresponding to the preset included angle α, the corresponding reflector 430 can be maintained in the rotated position by a self-locking rotating shaft structure or a fixing member inserted from the outside. This arrangement allows the illumination range of the light source unit 400 to be flexibly adjusted according to the light requirements of the plants, while the heat sink 420 quickly removes the heat generated by the lamp body 410, so as to avoid damage to the plants, especially to the plants that move to the vicinity of the lamp body 410 (e.g., to the second sprocket).

[0039] Preferably, among all the sprockets in the second transmission assembly 222 and the third transmission assembly 223, the third sprocket has the highest position sequence. That is, when the transmission belt moves to the third sprocket with the highest position sequence, it will no longer be guided to the second sprocket, but will instead be guided along the second direction to the first sprocket of the first transmission assembly 221, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. Preferably, the third sprocket with the highest position sequence can be arranged with a lower ground clearance than other third sprockets to facilitate the smooth guidance of the conveyor belt 224 along the second direction to the first sprocket. Preferably, the fourth transmission assembly can have a plurality of fourth sprockets spaced along the second direction on the main body unit 100, engaging with the two conveyor belts 224, to achieve smooth guidance of the conveyor belts 224.

[0040] Preferably, at least one pair of conveyor belt tensioning components may be installed on the main unit 100 to adjust the tension of the conveyor belt 224 by changing the ground height of the transmission components.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the growth space defined by the main unit 100, in addition to the first region, may also include a second region where the third sprocket with the highest rank moves to the location of the first sprocket. Within the second region, the automated aeroponic planting rack may be equipped with an atomizing unit 500 for providing an aeroponic environment for the plants. Preferably, the atomizing unit 500 can at least atomize the nutrient solution required for plant growth and spray it onto the second region, so that the plants on the planting tray 310 can absorb and utilize the nutrient solution when the conveyor belt 224 passes through the second region.

[0042] Preferably, the second area can be at least partially sealed to improve the utilization rate of the atomized nutrient solution and prevent the atomized nutrient solution from escaping and causing waste. The second area has at least an entrance and an exit of sufficient size so that the plants on the planting tray 310 can enter and exit with minimal obstruction, thereby avoiding the impact of friction and collision between the plant roots, stems, leaves and other parts and the obstruction on the plant's growth.

[0043] Preferably, the second region may have a certain height above the ground to accommodate the atomizing unit 500 that can perform spraying operations, so that the atomizing unit 500 that performs spraying operations in the second region can provide a misting environment for the roots of the seedlings suspended in the second region.

[0044] Preferably, the atomizing unit 500 performing the spraying operation in the second area may include one or more spray heads 510. The number of spray heads 510 can be determined according to factors such as the size of the second area and the variety of plants to adapt to different aeroponic scenarios. Preferably, multiple spray heads 510 can be evenly distributed in the second area to make the aeroponic environment relatively stable. The placement of the spray heads 510 ensures that all seedlings cultivated in the planting tray 310 can receive the atomized nutrient solution through their roots. The nutrient solution can be fertilizer, pesticide, and / or water. Preferably, when the atomizing unit 500 is equipped with multiple spray heads 510, the atomizing unit 500 can transmit the introduced nutrient solution to each spray head 510 through the first pipe 520 to meet the spraying needs of each spray head 510. The first pipe 520 can be sealed to the second pipe 521 through a fixing plug to introduce the nutrient solution.

[0045] Preferably, the second pipeline 521 can communicate with a liquid storage unit 530 located outside the second area. The liquid storage unit 530 may include a storage tank and a delivery pump, so that the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank can be delivered to the atomizing unit 500 via the second pipeline 521 using power provided by the delivery pump. Preferably, the working nutrient solution stored in the storage tank may include a first nutrient solution and / or a second nutrient solution, wherein the first nutrient solution is an externally supplemented nutrient solution; and the second nutrient solution is a recycled nutrient solution. Further, when the atomizing unit 500 performs a spraying operation in the second area, some atomized particles can be adsorbed onto the plant roots and absorbed, while the remaining atomized particles fall to the bottom of the second area due to gravity. The nutrient solution can be collected and introduced into the storage tank via the third pipeline 522. As the second nutrient solution circulates continuously, the initially added nutrient solution is constantly consumed. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the first nutrient solution to the storage tank in a timely manner so that the formula and composition of the first and second nutrient solutions mixed in the storage tank can meet the needs of plant growth. Preferably, the storage unit 530 may be equipped with a separation component to remove large suspended particles, especially large suspended particles in the second nutrient solution, thereby avoiding clogging of the spray head 510, extending the service life of the atomizing unit 500 and reducing maintenance costs. Preferably, the storage unit 530 may be equipped with a disinfection component to disinfect the nutrient solution, especially the second nutrient solution. The disinfection component can complete the disinfection work without generating other impurities, without unnecessary chemical reactions, and without significantly changing the temperature of the nutrient solution. Preferably, the storage unit 530 may also be equipped with a detector for acquiring the components and content of the nutrient solution, so as to determine its impact on the components and content of the working nutrient solution based on the components and content of the second nutrient solution to be returned, thereby facilitating the control of the amount of first nutrient solution added.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the planter 312 may also be provided with mesh in at least a portion of the side wall. Based on different mesh arrangement methods, various sizes of planters 312 can be formed to adapt to different varieties of plants. The different positions of the mesh on the planter 312 can cause differences in the root growth trend of the seedling plants.

[0047] For example, when the mesh is opened on a portion of the side wall of the planter 312 near the planting tray 310, some roots of the seedlings can extend from the gaps in the mesh with a greater tendency to grow laterally than longitudinally. When the mesh is opened on a portion of the side wall of the planter 312 away from the planting tray 310, some roots of the seedlings can extend from the gaps in the mesh with a greater tendency to grow longitudinally than laterally. This method can effectively control the growth trend of the roots of the seedlings, so as to avoid the roots of the seedlings growing too much laterally and causing the roots of adjacent seedlings to become entangled, or to avoid the roots of the seedlings growing too much longitudinally and causing the roots of the seedlings to block the spray path of the atomizing unit 500. The horizontal growth of the seedling roots refers to the roots developing roughly in a direction parallel to the planting tray 310; the vertical growth of the seedling roots refers to the roots developing roughly in a direction perpendicular to the planting tray 310. Here, "roughly" means that the roots have a greater tendency to develop in this direction, rather than developing only in this direction. That is, the roots of the seedlings can simultaneously complete horizontal and vertical growth in the aeroponic environment, and the growth trend of the roots of the seedlings can be controlled based on the mesh setting and / or the spraying mode of the atomizing unit 500.

[0048] Preferably, the root development trends of different plant varieties in aeroponic environments exhibit certain growth advantages and relatively disadvantages. For example, for wheat cultivated in aeroponic environments, the vertical development trend of roots in southern wheat is relatively better, while the horizontal development trend of roots in northern wheat is relatively better. That is, for southern wheat, the "vertical" direction is its growth advantage, while for northern wheat, the "horizontal" direction is its growth advantage. Here, southern wheat can refer to varieties from the wheat-growing areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and northern wheat can refer to varieties from the wheat-growing areas of the Yellow River and Huai River.

[0049] Furthermore, for plants such as southern wheat that have a dominant vertical growth direction, the mesh on the side wall of the planter 312 can be opened in a part of the area closer to the planting tray 310 to compensate for its disadvantageous growth direction; conversely, for plants such as northern wheat that have a dominant horizontal growth direction, the mesh on the side wall of the planter 312 can be opened in a part of the area further away from the planting tray 310 to compensate for its disadvantageous growth direction. According to the above setting, the growth trend of the roots of the seedling plants can be controlled.

[0050] Preferably, when the spray head 510 atomizes the nutrient solution and sprays it onto the second area, the roots of the plants in the planter 312 can receive the nutrient solution from the mesh and / or the openings on the side wall of the planter 312. The side wall of the planter 312 can have a circumferentially incompletely closed structure, that is, the transverse cross-section of the planter 312 can have an unclosed arc shape.

[0051] Furthermore, when the above-mentioned planting devices 312 with openings are provided on the planting tray 310, the planting devices 312 at different positions can have different installation directions. The installation direction of the planting device 312 is limited by the opening position of the corresponding planting hole 311, the installation position of the spray head 510, and the spraying direction. Preferably, the planting device 312 with an opening can be set with its opening facing the spray head 510, and it can be ensured that the opening of the planting device 312 is opposite to the spraying direction of the spray head 510. "Opposite" means that when the atomized particles sprayed by the spray head 510 move along the predetermined spraying direction, they can pass through the opening of the corresponding planting device 312 to contact the roots of the plant cultivated in the planting device 312. That is, the opening direction of the planting device 312 can be approximately perpendicular to the diffusion direction of the atomized particles, or there is at least one component vector in the diffusion direction of the atomized particles that is perpendicular to the opening direction of the planting device 312.

[0052] Preferably, for the planting device 312 with an opening, the mesh openings on its sidewalls are preferably located near the opening, so that the roots of the seedlings can receive relatively more nutrient solution in the vicinity of the opening. This also restricts root growth towards the spray nozzle 510 based on the inherent hydrotropic nature of plant roots, thus preventing root entanglement among multiple plants located in adjacent planting holes 311. Furthermore, the mesh openings on the sidewalls of the planting device 312 can also be arranged with non-uniform spacing, wherein the mesh openings in areas farther from the opening can be denser than those closer to the opening. This allows the plant's roots to subtly develop in the desired direction through the mesh size and opening direction without excessively interfering with the root development trend of the seedlings.

[0053] According to a preferred embodiment, the automated aeroponic planting rack may be configured with a control unit for outputting control signals to regulate one or more of the transmission unit 200, atomization unit 500, light source unit 400, and growth unit 300.

[0054] Preferably, the transmission unit 200 can adjust the output power of the drive unit based on the control signal output by the control unit, thereby changing the speed of the transmission belt in the motion unit 220 so that the duration and proportion of the plants on each growth unit 300 in the first and second regions are adapted to their growth requirements.

[0055] Preferably, the atomizing unit 500 can adjust the operating parameters of the spray head 510 based on the control signal output by the control unit. The operating parameters of the spray head 510 may include at least the setting position of each spray head 510 in the second region, meaning the setting position of the spray head 510 is adjustable. Further, the operating parameters of the spray head 510 may also include the atomized particle ejection angle, atomized particle ejection speed, atomized particle size, atomization working time, and atomization interval time, etc. These parameters can be adaptively adjusted as secondary factors under the influence of the primary factor of setting position.

[0056] Preferably, when the location of the spray head 510 is determined, the control unit can adjust the spray angle of the atomized particles based on parameters such as rotation angle and elevation angle, according to the relative spatial position of each spray head 510 in the second region. The rotation angle can be the angle at which the spray head 510 rotates in the lateral direction, and the elevation angle can be the angle at which the spray head 510 tilts in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, factors such as the spray velocity of the atomized particles, the particle size, the atomization working time, and the atomization interval can also be determined based on the plant variety and its current growth stage.

[0057] Preferably, the open-ended planter 312, which rotates on the planting tray 310 in response to a control signal from the control unit, can adjust the orientation of its opening. Preferably, the planter 312 has mesh openings designed to restrict the root growth tendency of the plant, so that the plant in the planter 312 grows with its roots not attached to the planting tray 310 and suspended in the air. This avoids the problem of roots attached to the planting tray 310 hindering the rotation of the planter 312, and also allows the plant roots to have a larger contact area with the atomized nutrient solution, thereby promoting plant growth.

[0058] Preferably, the command to drive the planter 312 to rotate is at least issued by the control unit based on the adjusted setting position of the spray head 510. That is, the control unit can drive the planter 312 to face the spray head 510 with its opening approximately at the distance from it, based on the adjusted setting position of the spray head 510 and the opening orientation of each planter 312. The specific opening orientation of the planter 312 needs to be determined according to the current plant growth status, so that when the planter 312 lacks nutrient solution, the opening can be set directly towards the spray head 510 to ensure contact between the nutrient solution and the roots of the seedlings; and when the planter 312 has excess nutrient solution, the opening can be set at least partially to the side of the spray head 510 to avoid root rot caused by excessive nutrient solution.

[0059] Furthermore, the command to drive the planter 312 to rotate is at least adjusted by the control unit based on the relative position of the planter 312 and the lamp body 410 closest to the light source unit 400. It can also simultaneously adjust the light intensity, light quality, and / or light period of the lamp body 410 in the light source unit 400, and can also adjust the included angle α of the reflector 430 in the light source unit 400, so that the angle at which the plant in the planter 312 is illuminated changes after rotation. This avoids the situation where some parts of the plant cannot receive light due to leaf shading, which would affect the normal growth of the whole plant. That is, by rotating the planter 312, not only is the amount of nutrient solution received by the plant roots increased, but the lighting effect of the lighting unit is also improved, so as to improve the plant growth efficiency from both ends of the plant at the same time, thereby realizing the high-quality and high-efficiency cultivation of plants by the growth unit 300.

[0060] Preferably, by adjusting the structural parameters of the spray head 510 and the planter 312, the sprayed nutrient solution can be utilized more efficiently. For example, for the spray head 510 near the side wall of the second region, the control unit can adjust its structural parameters to reduce the amount of nutrient solution sprayed towards the side wall, so as to avoid excessive atomized particles condensing into large droplets on the side wall and sliding directly to the bottom of the second region, thereby allowing the planter 312 with its opening facing the spray head 510 to receive more atomized particles. For the spray head 510 located in the relatively center of the second region, the control unit can adjust its structural parameters to cover all its corresponding planters 312, so as to ensure the reasonable distribution of nutrient solution.

[0061] Furthermore, the control unit can assign different spray heads 510 to a portion of the planters 312 based on the location of each spray head 510. Some planters 312 can be associated with one or more spray heads 510. Preferably, when any planter 312 is associated with multiple spray heads 510, the control unit can determine the spray ratio of each spray head 510 based on model simulation results. Then, based on parameters such as relative spatial distance and the approximate orientation of the planter 312's opening, the spray ratio is calibrated and adjusted to generate control signals instructing the atomizing unit 500 and the planters 312 to adjust. This ensures that the atomized environment created by the atomizing unit 500 in the second area meets the growth requirements of the plants in each planter 312.

[0062] For example, for a planter 312 with X spray heads 510, the spray ratio of the X spray heads 510 to the plants in the planter 312 can be initially assigned a value by the control unit, such as 1 / X or other automatic values ​​based on big data or manual values ​​based on manual input. Based on this, the control unit can adjust the spray ratio of spray heads 510 that are relatively close in space, whose spray direction is roughly opposite to the opening of the planter 312, and / or whose spray path is not significantly obstructed, to a larger proportion. Conversely, the spray ratio of some spray heads 510 that are further away from the planter 312 should be reduced. While adjusting the spray ratio, the spray ratio can be increased during the setting and calibration of other planters 312 to balance the working efficiency of each spray head 510. This allows the atomizing unit 500 to operate in a way that maximizes the benefits. If the responsibility ratio of any spray head 510 is continuously increased or decreased, these are abnormal configurations. The control unit can make large-scale adjustments to the structural parameters of the spray head 510 and / or planter 312 to avoid overutilization or underutilization of a single spray head 510, thereby ensuring that the seedlings in each planter 312 are adequately cared for.

[0063] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; terms such as "preferredly," "according to a preferred embodiment," or "optionally" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferredly" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. An automated aeroponic planting frame, comprising: a growth unit for carrying plants to be cultivated, a conveying unit for moving the plants on the growth unit along a defined movement track, wherein the conveying unit comprises at least a plurality of supporting parts, moving parts and driving parts, characterized in that a plurality of planting trays of the growth unit are mounted or connected to the corresponding supporting parts, so that the moving parts driven by the driving parts can move the supporting parts along the defined movement track, wherein a plurality of planting holes spaced apart on the planting tray are movably connected with a planting device capable of rotating at least around the axis of the planting hole, the lateral cross section of the planting device in the form of a hollow tubular structure is in the form of an open arc shape to form an opening on the side wall of the planting device, the planting device can open the mesh on the side wall in the form of a non-uniform gap based on the root growth advantage direction and the root growth disadvantage direction of the plants to be cultivated, and the planting device can adjust the rotation angle in a way that is conducive to the growth trend of the plants based on the position and / or environment of the growth unit during the movement of the planting tray along the defined movement track; for the planting device provided with the opening, the mesh on the side wall of the planting device is opened in the area close to the opening, so that the roots of the seedling plants can receive relatively more nutrient solution in the area near the opening, and based on the inherent characteristics of the plant roots growing towards water, the roots are limited to develop in the direction towards the spray head, thereby avoiding the roots of multiple plants located in adjacent planting holes from being entangled.

2. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 1, wherein, The root growth advantage direction and the root growth disadvantage direction of the plants are at least affected by the variety of the plants to be cultivated.

3. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 1, wherein, The conveying unit is mounted on the frame structure of the main unit constituting the growth space, and the growth space can be divided into at least a first area and a second area based on the movement track defined by the conveying unit, wherein at least a light source unit for providing a light environment is arranged in the first area, and at least an atomization unit for providing an aeroponic environment is arranged in the second area.

4. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 3, wherein, The control signals generated by the control unit arranged in the automated aeroponic planting frame can adjust the conveying unit, the light source unit, the atomization unit and / or the growth unit, wherein the control mode of the planting device of the growth unit is at least determined after the control of the conveying unit, the light source unit and / or the atomization unit is completed.

5. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 4, wherein, The atomization unit determines the arrangement position of one or more spray heads according to the size of the second area and the variety of the plants, and the spray heads atomize the liquid distributed by the first pipeline and spray it to the second area, wherein the working parameters of the spray heads are controlled by the control unit.

6. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 5, wherein, The first pipeline communicates with the liquid storage part of the atomization unit through the sealingly connected second pipeline, and the liquid in the liquid storage tank is transported to the spray heads under the pressure of the delivery pump, wherein the liquid storage part leads out the remaining liquid at the bottom of the second area through the third pipeline.

7. The automated hydroponic growing rack of claim 3, wherein, The light source unit is provided with an adjustable-angle reflector on one side or both sides of the lamp body, wherein a heat dissipation member for carrying away the heat generated by the lamp body is arranged between the lamp body and the main unit.

8. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 1, wherein, The supporting part is connected to a conveying belt of the moving part and moves along with the conveying belt, and a moving track of the conveying belt is limited by a transmission assembly, wherein a first transmission assembly is connected to a driving part, and a second transmission assembly is arranged in a manner that a ground clearance is greater than that of a third transmission assembly.

9. The automated aeroponic growing rack of claim 8, wherein, The conveying belt passes through a first area when moving between the second transmission assembly and the third transmission assembly, and passes through a second area when moving between the third transmission assembly and the first transmission assembly, wherein a plurality of sprockets in the second transmission assembly and the third transmission assembly can be given a corresponding bit sequence based on their positions in a first direction.

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