A vertical plant cultivation device having a continuous conveying structure

Abstract

The present application relates to a vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure, comprising at least a cultivation tray and a conveying chain for moving the cultivation tray. The cultivation tray is provided with a plurality of cultivation holes for cultivating a plurality of corresponding plants. The connection between the cultivation tray and the conveying chain is provided with a deflection assembly. The device further comprises an adjusting unit for adjusting the growth conditions and the conveying chain parameters of the plants in the conveying structure, and a lighting unit for providing light conditions. The adjusting unit adjusts the deflection degree of the cultivation tray and / or the light parameters of the lighting unit based on the proportion of the growth conditions of each plant on the cultivation tray. The present application provides a deflection assembly, which changes the deflection angle of the cultivation tray, thereby changing the relative position of each plant on the cultivation tray, to achieve targeted illumination. The plants are exposed to combined light of different spectral bands, so that the photomorphogenic response of the plants reaches a relatively optimal level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant cultivation technology, and in particular to a vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of modern agriculture, the trend is shifting from outdoor to indoor plant cultivation. However, both outdoor and indoor cultivation methods suffer from the problem of uncontrollable light requirements for plant growth. That is, they focus on the overall growth state of the plant rather than the growth state of specific parts. In actual cultivation, the goal is to harvest specific parts of the plant, such as leaves or fruits. However, current cultivation techniques monitor and provide light based on the overall upward growth trend of the plant, without considering the plant species, growth stage, plant requirements, and photomorphogenesis response. This results in harvests that do not meet usability standards and may even wither due to competitive growth within the plant itself.

[0003] Chinese patent CN1245586C discloses a plant cultivation device, including: an aluminum rectangular tubular tray for storing plants and cultivation solutions; a conveyor for sequentially and laterally transporting the trays; and a lighting device with several light-emitting diodes mounted on it above the conveyor, the lighting device being arranged to gradually rise from the upstream to the downstream side of the conveyor. A funnel-shaped support for supporting the upper part of the plants is provided on the upper surface of the trays. A planting conveyor and a harvesting conveyor are located upstream and downstream of the conveyor for loading and unloading the trays. A reflective wall is located between the conveyors and the conveyor, and a transfer rod is used to transfer the trays between the conveyor and the planting / harvesting conveyors. This patent separates the growth environments of each plant through a vertically stacked isolation design. Although the patent specifically addresses the lighting device, it still suffers from limitations in simply providing illumination. The lighting device consumes a large amount of energy and still fails to produce the desired plant fruit, resulting in low lighting efficiency.

[0004] Chinese patent CN104798627B discloses an automatic control device for plant growth environment, including a mixing chamber, a growth chamber, and a clean air supply device connected to the mixing chamber. Two circulating fans are installed at the bottom of the mixing chamber; the first fan is used to remove waste gas from the mixing chamber and regulate the temperature and humidity of the air within it, while the second fan is used for airflow circulation between the mixing chamber and the growth chamber. The growth chamber contains multiple cultivation racks, each divided into multiple layers. Each layer has a liquid guide tank and a certain number of LED lights. The liquid guide tank is connected to the water supply, drainage, and nutrient solution supply system. The growth chamber also contains sensors for acquiring growth environment parameters. Data collected by each sensor is transmitted to a controller via the Internet of Things (IoT). The controller adjusts various parameters of the plant growth environment according to the plant's growth environment curves at different stages. The controller is connected to a human-machine interface. This patent significantly shortens the seedling and growth cycle of crops, improves land utilization, and increases output per unit area. However, the patent's drawback is that the lighting control is limited to adjusting the number of LED lights turned on to regulate the light intensity, without adjusting the light quality based on the plant's growth factors and desired goals (fruit or pollen production). This leads to competitive growth in the plants, and the fruit and / or leaves may wither.

[0005] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the inventors 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 actual plant cultivation, due to individual growth differences, the yield rate is relatively low during large-scale mechanized and automated cultivation. This means that it cannot accommodate plants with poor individual growth, leading to a significant increase in cultivation costs. A further problem with existing technologies is that they focus on the overall growth status of the plant rather than the specific growth status of its parts when providing light to plants on cultivation racks. That is, they provide light based on the overall growth of the plant, monitoring and providing light according to the overall upward growth trend. This uses the same growth characteristics and provides the same level of light, without considering the plant species, growth stage, or specific needs, simply providing a uniform growth environment. This results in harvests that do not meet usability standards and may even shrivele.

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention provides a vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure, comprising at least a cultivation tray and a conveyor chain for moving the cultivation. The cultivation tray has a plurality of cultivation holes arranged on it. Each cultivation hole is used to cultivate a plurality of corresponding plants. A deflection component is provided at the connection between the cultivation tray and the conveyor chain. The cultivation tray deflects around the deflection axis in the hinge element, with the conveyor chain as the axis, based on the angle change of the deflection angle controlled by the adjustment unit of the deflection component. The device also includes an illumination unit for providing at least two types of light. The adjustment unit determines the growth stage of the plants based on the overall growth trend of the plants on the cultivation tray, and determines the irradiation ratio of different lights from the illumination unit based on the characteristics of the plant growth stage. Simultaneously, the adjustment unit adjusts the deflection component based on the light requirements of local plants in the cultivation tray, in a manner that minimizes the irradiation deviation angle between the local plant canopy and the auxiliary light source. Through the above configuration, the angle of deflection of the cultivation tray around the conveyor chain as the axis is controllable. The purpose is to control the deflection angle of the cultivation tray so that the plants placed on the cultivation tray can be deflected accordingly.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the lighting unit is arrayed with light-emitting elements for emitting different light beams, including at least a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element corresponds to each cultivation hole distributed on the cultivation tray to provide constant illumination. The second light-emitting element is disposed in the gaps between the first light-emitting elements to correspond to the position of each cultivation hole after the cultivation tray is deflected and provides combined illumination. When a particular plant requires supplemental light (i.e., combined light), the deflection of the cultivation tray 2 causes the plant to align with the second light-emitting element of the lighting unit, without requiring the lighting unit 10 to adjust the light quality.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the deflection assembly includes a deflection base. The deflection base is directly connected to a conveyor chain and carries the culture tray to move under the drive of the conveyor chain. The deflection base is connected to the center of the culture tray via a hinge element, allowing the culture tray to deflect about the conveyor chain axis around a deflection axis in the hinge element.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustment unit monitors the plant based on a visual sensor or laser sensor installed in the cultivation device to obtain characteristics of the plant's growth stage. These characteristics include at least the plant growth stage, the leaf light-receiving area, and the leaf coverage area. Specifically, when the plant's growth stage or state changes from a first growth stage to a second growth stage, the adjustment unit regulates the deflection of the cultivation tray based on the plant's growth status and also regulates the beam of the second light-emitting element of the illumination unit. In response to the change in plant growth stage, the adjustment unit controls the deflection of the cultivation tray and controls the second light-emitting element to provide first-morphological light that participates in the plant's photomorphogenesis response. The illumination unit provides different spectral bands of combined light to achieve an optimal level of photomorphogenesis response in the plant.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the constant light emitted by the first light-emitting element is red and / or blue light that meets the needs of plant growth. The combined light emitted by the second light-emitting element is a combination of red, far-red, blue, and / or violet light of different intensities that promote photomorphogenesis in plants.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustment unit adjusts the combined light ratio of the second light-emitting element of the illumination unit based on a comparison of the current plant growth stage, leaf light-receiving area, and leaf coverage area obtained after image processing with the parameters previously monitored. Specifically, when the plant's growth stage or state meets expectations and it enters the reproductive stage, the adjustment unit can control the first and second light-emitting elements of the illumination unit to provide the plant with the required second-morphological light. For example, when significant leaf shrinkage is detected, the proportion of far-red light is increased to enhance the plant's leaf growth and recovery speed. Compared to existing technologies that provide the same illumination through a single vertical panel, this invention focuses on the overall growth state of the plant by providing multiple composite illuminations, with the second light-emitting element 12 serving as an auxiliary light source to promote the growth of the desired harvested parts of the plant.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, when the plants on the cultivation tray exhibit changes in their growth patterns due to a discrete distribution, the adjustment unit adjusts the degree of deflection of the cultivation tray and / or the lighting parameters of the lighting unit, at least based on the proportion of plants whose growth patterns have changed. When the cultivation tray is tilted due to a square arrangement of cultivation holes, their relative positions are still difficult to determine, meaning the spacing between the cultivation holes is shortened, and light cannot directly reach the cultivation holes that require illumination. The hexagonal design makes the relative positions of the cultivation holes in each row and column clearer, allowing the second light-emitting element of the lighting unit to be aligned with the cultivation hole positions. The equidistant spacing design also provides plants with equal growth space, maximizing space utilization.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the conveyor chain includes a vertical conveyor chain and a horizontal conveyor chain. The vertical conveyor chain is used to raise the cultivation trays of the plants to achieve vertically stacked cultivation. The horizontal conveyor chain is used to turn the cultivation trays of the plants. The horizontal conveyor chain located at the highest and lowest points of the conveyor structure is at least designated as a first turning zone and a second turning zone. This invention achieves several advantages over traditional field cultivation in agriculture through an automated system for cultivating plants. For example, it offers weather independence, and the climate conditions within the greenhouse can be optimally adapted to any plant requiring cultivation, thereby enabling continuous plant growth. The specially designed hydroponic device reduces the amount of water required for plant cultivation compared to outdoor cultivation, and the use of pesticides can be avoided when growing plants in an indoor space.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the plant is fixed in place as it moves along the conveyor chain, with its roots protruding into an aeroponic space located on the lower surface of the cultivation tray. The plant's leaves and / or fruits protrude into a light-emitting space located on the upper surface of the cultivation tray. The aeroponic space is equipped with atomizing nozzles to provide the plant with the necessary nutrients. The plant is fixed to the cultivation tray and undergoes continuous or intermittent movement during its growth stage. Due to the design of the conveyor path, the conveyor chain alternately moves the plant to a first turning zone and then to a second turning zone. While the plant is in the second turning zone, its roots are immersed in the vertical area of ​​the conveyor chain for hydroponics and nutrient supply. After a brief movement along the horizontal conveyor chain, the plant moves again to the vertical conveyor chain and undergoes aeroponic treatment.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the lighting unit is further configured such that, as the plant moves along the conveyor path, the plant is fully or partially illuminated by the lighting unit and partially unilluminated. Specifically, the plant is illuminated when it moves vertically downwards along the conveyor path between the first and second turning zones; and is shaded when it moves vertically upwards along the conveyor path between the first and second turning zones. The plant is illuminated selectively, particularly in a manner suitable to its type and / or consistent with its growth stage. With this configuration, the plant is illuminated only in specific areas along the conveyor path. This specific area is preferably a vertical conveyor chain, especially a vertical conveyor chain during vertical plant movement, to mimic the day-night rhythm of the natural environment.

[0017] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention:

[0018] This invention incorporates a deflection component that alters the relative positions of plants on a cultivation tray by changing its deflection angle, thereby achieving targeted lighting. This allows plants to receive a combination of light bands across different spectral bands, optimizing their photomorphogenesis response. Based on plant growth factors and desired outcomes (fruit or pollen production), this invention regulates light quality, resulting in final product yields significantly superior to those from outdoor cultivation and other indoor cultivation methods. Targeted light quality regulation of harvested plant parts effectively prevents plant stunting and competitive growth within the plant itself. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the cultivation disc and deflection assembly of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the lighting unit of the present invention.

[0022] List of reference numerals

[0023] 1: Conveyor chain; 2: Incubation tray; 3: Vertical conveyor chain; 4: Horizontal conveyor chain; 5: Incubation hole; 6: Deflection base; 7: Hinge element; 8: Limiting element; 9: Driving element; 10: Illumination unit; 11: First light-emitting element; 12: Second light-emitting element; 13: Aeroponics space; 14: Illumination space. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] This application relates to a vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure, the conveying structure comprising at least two or more spatial layers for cultivating plants. These spatial layers are arranged on top of each other in a horizontal plane. The spatial layers are vertical. Each spatial layer includes a conveyor chain 1. The conveyor chain 1 includes a vertical conveyor chain 3 and a horizontal conveyor chain 4. The vertical conveyor chain 3 is used to raise the plant cultivation trays 2 to achieve vertically stacked cultivation of the plants. The horizontal conveyor chain 4 is used to rotate the plant cultivation trays 2. The device also includes an adjustment unit. The adjustment unit is used to adjust the required growth conditions for the plants and the parameters of the conveyor chain within the conveying structure. The spatial layers are configured to provide at least one of climate control, nutrient control, water control, growth monitoring, and light control for cultivating plants in each spatial layer. Preferably, the cultivation trays 2 are fixed to the conveyor chain 1. The cultivation trays 2 have a plurality of cultivation holes 5 for cultivating a plurality of plants. The plants are placed in the cultivation holes 5. The plants are fixed as they move along the conveyor chain 1, and the roots of the plants protrude into the aeroponic space 13 located on the lower surface of the cultivation trays 2. Preferably, the leaves and / or fruits of the plant protrude into the light space 14 located on the upper surface of the cultivation tray 2. The aeroponic space 13 is equipped with aeroponic nozzles to provide the nutrients required by the plant. Preferably, the plant is fixed on the cultivation tray 2 during its growth stage and undergoes continuous or intermittent movement. Preferably, the moving speed of the conveyor chain 1 controls the moving distance of the plant, and the adjustment unit thereby determines the current growth stage of the plant. This invention achieves a more efficient, flexible, and economical plant cultivation device, effectively reducing the cultivation costs of various plants and the construction costs of facilities. Preferably, the cultivation tray 2 is provided with a carrier material for fixing the plant. The carrier material also serves to temporarily store water and / or nutrients.

[0027] Preferably, the cultivation tray 2 moves along the conveyor path driven by the vertical conveyor chain 3. The cultivation tray 2 moves smoothly driven by the horizontal conveyor chain 4. Preferably, the horizontal conveyor chain 4, located at the highest and lowest points of the conveyor structure, is at least designated as a first turning zone and a second turning zone. The cultivation tray 2 is used to prevent plants from falling and to isolate the leaves and roots of the plants to prevent plant diseases. Preferably, the roots of the plants are located below the conveyor chain, i.e., in the aeroponic space 13. The leaves of the plants are located above the conveyor chain 1, i.e., in the light space 14. The roots and leaves of the plants are located in the vertically lower and vertically upper regions of the conveyor chain 1, respectively, to be spatially separated from each other, so that when the plants move along the vertical conveyor chain 1 to the vertical conveyor chain 3, the plant roots are located in the aeroponic space 13 to undergo the aeroponic humidification and nutrient supply process. Due to the design of the conveyor path, the conveyor chain 1 alternately moves the plants to the first turning zone and then to the second turning zone. While the plants are in the second turning zone, the roots of the plants are immersed in the vertically lower region of the conveyor chain 1 for hydroponics and to provide nutrients. After a brief movement along the horizontal conveyor chain 4, the plant moves again to the vertical conveyor chain 3 and undergoes aeroponics. Preferably, two vertical conveyor chains 3 and two horizontal conveyor chains 4 constitute a conveyor module. Preferably, at least one horizontal conveyor chain 4 is spaced between two vertical conveyor chains 3. The conveyor speed is set to allow the plant to circulate through the conveyor module. A complete conveyor structure consists of the number of conveyor modules required to achieve the complete growth stage of the plant. The modular design allows the overall system of humidity-automated plant cultivation to adapt to any needs of plant growth, i.e., adapt to the plant species and / or growth stage. The conveyor structure is extended by arranging the conveyor modules to meet the complete growth cycle of the plant. Each conveyor module is adapted to the nutritional, lighting, growth space, and growth stage requirements of that type of plant. Assembling several conveyor modules to form an integrated conveyor structure allows it to adapt to various plant growth patterns as the duration of plant movement increases.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the system includes an illumination unit 10. The illumination unit 10 is configured such that, as the plant moves along the conveyor path, the plant is fully or partially illuminated by the light from the illumination unit 10 and partially unilluminated. Preferably, the plant is illuminated when it moves vertically downwards along the conveyor path in a first turning zone and a second turning zone. Preferably, the plant is shaded when it moves vertically upwards along the conveyor path between the first and second turning zones. When the plant is shaded, the illumination unit 10 cannot illuminate it. In this manner, the type, intensity, and duration of light from the illumination unit 10 can be selectively provided to the appropriate plant. Preferably, the illumination unit 10 is controlled and adjusted by a control unit. The illumination unit 10 can be arranged laterally above the vertical conveyor chain 1 or vertically opposite it to the vertical conveyor chain 3. Preferably, the plant moves continuously or intermittently along the illumination unit 10 during its growth stage to receive sufficient light. Preferably, the plant is illuminated selectively, particularly in a manner suitable for the plant type and / or consistent with the plant's growth stage. With the above setup, the plant is illuminated only in a specific area along the delivery path. This specific area is preferably the vertical delivery chain 3, especially the vertical delivery chain 3 when the plant moves vertically, to mimic the day-night rhythm of the natural environment.

[0029] Existing indoor agriculture technologies suffer from increased energy demands. This invention achieves several advantages over traditional field cultivation through an automated system for plant cultivation. For example, it offers weather independence; the greenhouse climate can be optimally adapted to any plant requiring cultivation, thus enabling continuous plant growth. The specially designed hydroponic system reduces the amount of water required for plant growth compared to outdoor cultivation, and indoor cultivation eliminates the need for pesticides.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, as the plant moves along the vertical conveyor chain 3, the plant roots receive nutrients at the aeroponic nozzles. The plant at least partially passes through the second turning zone, allowing the plant roots to obtain nutrients hydroponically. A horizontal conveyor chain 4 located between the vertical conveyor chain 3 allows the plant to continuously obtain water and nutrients. With the vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure designed as described above, it is preferable to continuously aeroponic the plant roots on the lower surface of the conveyor chain 1, while hydroponically cultivating the plant when it is in the second turning zone. Preferably, the plant is aeroponic continuously or intermittently without affecting the growth of the plant leaves. This method helps prevent leaf diseases. The temperature and humidity of the aeroponic space 13 on the lower surface of the conveyor chain 1, especially the temperature and humidity of the vertical conveyor chain 3, are monitored by temperature and humidity sensors and controlled by a control unit to prevent excessively high temperatures and / or humidity in this area.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the end of conveyor chain 1 is connected to the beginning of conveyor chain 1 to form a loop structure, or the end of conveyor chain 1 is connected to a harvesting unit to harvest plants that have grown to a harvestable stage from conveyor chain 1. When the end of conveyor chain 1 is connected to the beginning of conveyor chain 1 to form a loop structure, the plants circulate back to the beginning of conveyor chain 1 for the next growth cycle. When a harvesting unit is provided at the end of conveyor chain 1, after the plants in conveyor chain 1 are harvested, the end of conveyor chain 1 is connected to the beginning of conveyor chain 1 to form a loop structure. Preferably, a cleaning unit is provided on the path connecting the end of conveyor chain 1 to the beginning of conveyor chain 1 to ensure the necessary sterilization of conveyor chain 1. This cleaning unit can utilize steam sterilization. Thus, the beginning of conveyor chain 1 is always in a completely clean and sterilized state.

[0032] Preferably, the cultivation tray is made of plastic, preferably polyvinyl chloride, and is plate-shaped, such that the plants on it are arranged with their roots in the aeroponic space 13 formed by the conveyor chain 1. The leaves and / or fruits protrude from the conveyor chain 1 into the light space 14. The aeroponic space 13 is also equipped with aeroponic nozzles to provide nutrients to the plant roots. Preferably, the conveyor chain 1 is driven by a motor. The motor is connected to the conveyor chain 1 by means of a transmission device. Preferably, the lighting unit 10 is located in the area above the conveyor chain 1 or in a short parallel area to the inclined conveyor chain. The motor and the lighting unit 10 are connected to a control unit. This control unit adapts the lighting of the plants and the speed at which the plants move along the conveyor chain 1 to the growth requirements of the plants. This device is installed in an indoor system with a variable climate and is used for plant cultivation.

[0033] Example 2

[0034] This embodiment is a further supplement to the above embodiments, and the full details will not be repeated here.

[0035] In this invention, the angle between the extension line of the lighting unit 10 and the extension line of the vertical conveyor chain 3 affects the actual light-receiving area of ​​the plant. The actual light-receiving area of ​​the plant is the light-receiving area of ​​the plant's leaves. However, the light-receiving area of ​​the plant's leaves is affected by the leaf coverage area. The leaf coverage area gradually increases during plant growth. The leaf coverage area is a time-related variable. The leaf coverage area refers to the area of ​​leaves covered under the canopy during plant growth. The ratio of the light-receiving area to the leaf coverage area is the proportion of leaves of that type of plant. In this invention, the lighting unit 10 emits a cone-shaped illumination area with its light-emitting point as the apex. This illumination area is related to time, the speed of the conveyor chain, the location of the cultivation tray 2, and the light-receiving area of ​​the leaves. Considering that the amount of light received by the plant cannot be accurately determined solely by the amount of light from the lighting unit 10, this invention proposes to use the leaf light-receiving area as a reference parameter during plant growth, adjusting the tilt and light level of the lighting unit 10 and / or cultivation tray 2 according to the leaf distribution characteristics of different types and growth stages of plants. Based on the design structure of the lighting unit 10 and / or the cultivation tray 2 of the present invention, the leaf distribution characteristics of the plant are corresponding.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of cultivation holes 5 are arranged on the cultivation tray 2. The plurality of cultivation holes 5 can cultivate a plurality of corresponding plants. A deflection assembly is provided at the connection between the cultivation tray 2 and the conveyor chain. This deflection assembly includes a deflection base 6. The deflection base 6 is directly connected to the conveyor chain and carries the cultivation tray 2 to move accordingly under the drive of the conveyor chain. The deflection base 6 is connected to the center of the cultivation tray 2 via a hinge element 7, allowing the cultivation tray 2 to deflect around a deflection axis in the hinge element 7 with the conveyor chain as the axis. A limiting member 8 and a driving member 9 are also provided between the deflection base 6 and the deflection axis. The limiting member 8 is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the cultivation tray 2 with the conveyor chain as the axis for limiting and supporting. The limiting member 8 can prevent the plants from tipping over due to excessive deflection of the cultivation tray 2. The limiting member 8 is an elastic element, preventing excessive deflection of the cultivation tray 2 through rebound force. The driving member 9 is located at the hinge element 7 to ensure a high-precision deflection angle of the cultivation tray 2. Preferably, the drive component 9 can be composed of a motor and used to control the deflection degree of the hinge element 7. The deflection of the cultivation tray 2 is achieved by driving the motor. Preferably, the drive component 9 can also be composed of a hydraulic cylinder, a bearing, a rotary pin, and a connecting pin. The output shaft of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the bearing, and the bearing is hinged to the connecting pin. Driving the hydraulic cylinder drives the cultivation tray 2 to achieve deflection. Preferably, the deflection assembly is provided with a communication module that communicates with the adjustment unit, so that the adjustment unit can control the drive component 9 to control the deflection angle of the cultivation tray 2.

[0037] The above setup allows for controllable deflection of the cultivation tray 2 around the conveyor chain axis. The purpose is to control the deflection angle of the cultivation tray 2, enabling the plants placed on it to deflect accordingly. In actual plant cultivation, due to individual growth differences, the yield rate is relatively low during large-scale mechanized automated cultivation. This means that it's impossible to accommodate plants with poor individual growth, leading to a significant increase in cultivation costs. A crucial process in plant growth is the effect of light, including photosynthesis and signaling. Photosynthesis is a high-energy reaction where plants obtain the necessary substances and energy for growth. Signaling, also known as photomorphogenesis, is a low-energy reaction. Photomorphogenesis is essentially the process of light-regulated plant growth, development, and differentiation. During photomorphogenesis, it is particularly important to control several plant parameters, including spectral quality (light quality), illuminance (light intensity), light frequency (number of light exposures per unit time), duration, and the spatial symmetry and asymmetry of light.

[0038] For the aforementioned parameters, the control target is primarily the lighting unit 10. However, plant photoreceptors include protochlorophyll esters, phytochromes, and one or more blue light receptors. This means that for light quality, the lighting unit 10 needs to provide different spectral bands of combined light to achieve a more optimal level of photomorphogenesis in the plant. The reason for using "more optimal" rather than "optimal" is that the plant's photomorphogenesis is determined by multiple light parameters, and lighting is difficult to tailor to a specific plant, making it difficult to simultaneously achieve optimal levels. For the lighting unit 10, light intensity, light frequency, duration, and the spatial symmetry and asymmetry of light can all be adaptively adjusted under the control of the regulating unit, without requiring complex changes. However, for light quality, the lighting unit 10 struggles to adjust the combined light in a short time and cannot make corresponding adjustments for a single plant. For example, the blue light emitted by the lighting unit 10 can increase the stomatal conductance of plants, photosynthetic electron transport, promote Rubisco carboxylation, and reduce carbohydrate accumulation in leaves, thereby increasing the photosynthetic rate. However, not all plants require blue light irradiation. When illuminating plants in a cultivation device, light quality should be adjusted based on plant growth factors and desired goals (fruit or pollen production) rather than simply providing sufficient light. Furthermore, the lighting unit 10 cannot simultaneously meet the light quality requirements of each plant in the cultivation tray 2. That is, when the lighting unit 10 emits constant light, it is difficult to change this constant light into a combination of light suitable for the plant's photomorphogenesis response. To address this, the present invention provides a deflection component. By changing the deflection angle of the cultivation tray 2, the relative positions of the plants on the cultivation tray 2 are correspondingly changed to achieve targeted illumination.

[0039] The problem with existing technology lies in its focus on the overall growth status of plants on cultivation racks, rather than the growth status of specific parts of the plant. That is, it provides light based on the overall growth of the plant, monitoring and distributing light according to the overall upward growth trend. This approach uses the same growth characteristics and provides the same level of light, without considering the plant species, growth stage, or individual needs, simply providing a uniform growing environment. This results in harvests that do not meet usability standards and may even shrivele.

[0040] Preferably, the lighting unit 10 has an array of light-emitting elements for emitting different light beams. The light-emitting elements include at least a first light-emitting element 11 and a second light-emitting element 12. The first light-emitting element 11 provides a constant light source to enable the plant to perform photosynthesis. Preferably, the first light-emitting element 11 corresponds to each cultivation hole 5 distributed on the cultivation tray 2 to provide constant illumination. Preferably, the second light-emitting element 12 is disposed in the gaps between the first light-emitting elements 11 to correspond to the position of each cultivation hole 5 after the cultivation tray 2 is deflected. When a specific plant requires supplemental light (i.e., combined light), the plant is aligned with the second light-emitting element 12 of the lighting unit 10 by deflecting the cultivation tray 2, without the lighting unit 10 needing to adjust the light quality. Preferably, the adjustment unit monitors the plant based on a visual sensor or laser sensor installed in the cultivation device to obtain plant growth information. The visual sensor obtains image information of the plant and, based on image processing technology, acquires parameters such as plant growth stage, leaf light-receiving area, and leaf coverage area in real time through the image. Preferably, for crops with several complex backgrounds, a parametric model for the crop under such background can be established using the data obtained from image processing. The establishment of the new model can effectively improve the monitoring accuracy of the reference parameters, and when the reference parameters are obtained again in the same context, the new model can be directly called, saving a lot of computation time.

[0041] Preferably, plants in the first growth stage are illuminated only by the first light-emitting element 11. The cultivation tray 2 does not deflect. When the plant is in the first growth stage, the illumination unit 10 provides a constant light mode. When the plant's growth stage or state changes from the first growth stage to the second growth stage, the adjustment unit can regulate the deflection of the cultivation tray 2 based on the transition characteristics and regulate the beam of the second light-emitting element 12 of the illumination unit 10. For example, when the plant's leaf coverage area is high (e.g., exceeding 30%), it has transitioned to the second growth stage. In response to the change in plant growth stage, the adjustment unit controls the deflection of the cultivation tray 2 and controls the second light-emitting element 12 to provide first-morphological light that participates in the plant's photomorphogenesis response. Preferably, the constant light emitted by the first light-emitting element 11 can be red and / or blue light that meets the plant's growth requirements. Preferably, the combined light emitted by the second light-emitting element 12 can be a combination of red, far-red, blue, and / or violet light of different intensities that promote the plant's photomorphogenesis response. Preferably, the combined light ratio is red light: far-red light: blue light: violet light = 2:1:2:1. Preferably, the parameters such as the current plant growth stage, leaf light-receiving area, and leaf coverage area obtained after image processing can be compared with the parameters previously monitored to determine if the plant's photomorphogenesis response is correctly expressed. Preferably, the adjustment unit adjusts the combined light ratio of the second light-emitting element 12 of the illumination unit 10 based on the comparison results between the parameters such as the current plant growth stage, leaf light-receiving area, and leaf coverage area obtained after image processing and the parameters previously monitored. For example, when significant leaf shrinkage is detected, the far-red light ratio is increased to increase the plant leaf growth rate and recovery rate.

[0042] Preferably, when the plant's growth stage or state meets expectations and it enters the reproductive period, the adjustment unit can control the first light-emitting element 11 and the second light-emitting element 12 of the lighting unit 10 to provide the second form of light required by the plant. For example, when the harvested part of the cultivated plant is the leaf, the first light-emitting element 11 and the second light-emitting element 12 can synchronously emit red light and / or blue light with the same intensity and spectrum. At this time, the second light-emitting element 12 does not need to make real-time changes, so the lighting unit 10 can adjust the combined light emitted by the second light-emitting element 12 for a longer period of time. Compared with the prior art that provides the same illumination through a single vertical panel, the present invention focuses on the overall growth state of the plant by providing multiple composite illuminations, with the second light-emitting element 12 serving as an auxiliary light source to promote the growth of the desired harvested part of the plant.

[0043] Preferably, the second light-emitting element 12 is configured as a light-emitting element capable of adjusting the emission angle. By adjusting the emission angle and the deflection of the cultivation tray 2, more precise personalized combination light cultivation can be performed for individual plants.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the cultivation tray 2 is provided with cultivation holes 5 arranged at equal intervals. Preferably, the cultivation holes 5 on the cultivation tray 2 are arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern. Existing technology typically uses a simple square arrangement for planting the cultivation holes 5, but this square arrangement has the drawback of excessively high planting density and uneven reproductive space for each plant, resulting in wasted space and even situations where plants crowd each other to grow without using up all the space. Furthermore, the square arrangement makes it difficult to achieve precise and efficient individual lighting for specific plants. Especially for the second light-emitting element 12 provided in this invention, the square arrangement of the cultivation holes 5 makes it difficult to determine their relative positions when the cultivation tray 2 is tilted, thus shortening the spacing between the cultivation holes 5 and preventing light from directly reaching the cultivation holes 5 that require illumination. The regular hexagonal design makes the positions of the cultivation holes 5 in each row and column clearer, allowing the second light-emitting element 12 of the lighting unit 10 to be aligned with the cultivation hole 5. The equal spacing also ensures that plants have equal growth space, maximizing space utilization. Preferably, the adjustment unit adjusts the deflection degree of the cultivation tray 2 and / or the illumination parameters of the illumination unit 10 based at least on the proportion of the growth of each plant on the cultivation tray 2. When a single plant undergoes a change in growth as described above, the deflection of the cultivation tray 2 will deflect all plants on the same line along the conveyor chain axis, and some plants do not require the auxiliary light source. In this case, the individual plant can be illuminated by adjusting the emission angle of the second light-emitting element 12. When the leftmost or rightmost plant of the regular hexagon undergoes a change in growth as described above, the deflection of the cultivation tray 2 allows it to be aligned with the second light-emitting element 12. The activation and deactivation of the second light-emitting element 12 follow the deflection of the cultivation tray 2, and the second light-emitting element 12 can be independently controlled for illumination. Preferably, when the plants undergo a change in growth as described above in a discrete distribution, the adjustment unit adjusts the deflection degree of the cultivation tray 2 and / or the illumination parameters of the illumination unit 10 based at least on the proportion of the plants that have changed. Preferably, the adjustment unit adjusts the deflection component based on the light requirements of plants at specific locations within the cultivation tray 2, in a manner that minimizes the irradiation deviation angle between the local plant canopy and the auxiliary light source. It should be noted that the irradiation deviation angle refers to the angle between the plant canopy and the direction of light propagation emitted by the lighting unit. That is, the angle formed between the emitted light and the plant canopy (which can be approximately equal to the location of the cultivation hole). Alternatively, it can be understood as whether the light emitted by the lighting unit directly hits the plant canopy (or approximately the cultivation hole); the smaller the irradiation deviation angle, the closer the light is to the plant canopy (or approximately the cultivation hole).

[0045] For example, when more than 50% of the plants in the hexagonally arranged cultivation holes 5 exhibit the aforementioned changes in growth, the adjustment unit deflects the cultivation tray 2 so that the canopy of the plants on the tray is close to the second light-emitting element of the lighting unit 10, and adjusts the light quality ratio of the second light-emitting element 12. It should be noted that although the cultivation holes 5 along the conveyor chain axis of the cultivation tray 2 cannot be deflected, because the cultivation tray 2 and the plants have spatial hierarchy, after the cultivation tray is deflected, although the cultivation holes 5 do not deflect, the canopy of the plants does deflect, which can also achieve the effect of changing the position of the plants.

[0046] Throughout the text, the features referred to by “preferred” are only optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete the relevant preferred features at any time.

[0047] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary, and those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention. 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 not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vertical plant cultivation device with a continuous conveying structure, comprising at least a cultivation tray and a conveying chain for moving the cultivation tray, the cultivation tray being provided with a plurality of cultivation holes arranged thereon for cultivating a plurality of corresponding plants, characterized in that, a deflection assembly is arranged at the connection between the cultivation tray and the conveying chain, the cultivation tray is controlled by an adjusting unit to perform a deflection movement around a deflection shaft in the hinge element as the axis of the conveying chain based on the angle change of the deflection angle of the deflection assembly, wherein the device further comprises a lighting unit for providing at least two kinds of light, the adjusting unit determines the irradiation proportion of different light of the lighting unit based on the characteristics of the plant growth stage, and adjusts the combined light proportion of the second light emitting element of the lighting unit based on the comparison result of the current plant growth stage parameters, leaf light receiving area parameters and leaf coverage area parameters obtained after image processing with the parameters monitored last time, while the adjusting unit adjusts the deflection assembly in a way that makes the local plant canopy and the irradiation deviation angle of the auxiliary light source smaller based on the light demand of the local position plants in the cultivation tray; the irradiation deviation angle refers to the angle between the plant canopy and the propagation direction of the light emitted by the lighting unit; the lighting unit is arranged in an array for emitting different light beams, and the light emitting element at least comprises a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element, wherein, the first light emitting element corresponds to each cultivation hole arranged in a regular hexagon on the cultivation tray to provide constant light, the second light emitting element is arranged in the gap of the first light emitting element to correspond to each cultivation hole position after the deflection of the cultivation tray in a way of adjusting the exit angle and provide combined light of different light intensity of red light, far-red light, blue light and / or purple light to promote plant photomorphogenesis reaction, so as to realize the irradiation of individual plants; the adjusting unit monitors the plants based on the visual sensor or laser sensor arranged in the cultivation device to obtain the characteristics of the plant growth stage, and the characteristics of the plant growth stage at least include the plant growth stage, the leaf light receiving area and the leaf coverage area, wherein, when the growth stage or state of the plant changes from the first growth period to the second growth period, the adjusting unit controls the deflection of the cultivation tray based on the plant growth condition, and controls the light beam of the second light emitting element of the lighting unit, wherein, the adjusting unit controls the cultivation tray to deflect in response to the change of the plant growth period, and controls the second light emitting element to provide the first form light involved in the plant photomorphogenesis reaction; the adjusting unit adjusts the combined light proportion of the second light emitting element of the lighting unit based on the comparison result of the current plant growth stage, leaf light receiving area and leaf coverage area obtained after image processing with the parameters monitored last time, wherein, when the growth stage or state of the plant meets the expectation and enters the reproductive period, the adjusting unit can control the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element of the lighting unit to provide the second form light required by the plant. the constant light emitted by the first light emitting element is red light and / or blue light meeting the plant growth demand, 2. The vertical plant growing apparatus having a continuous conveying structure according to claim 1, wherein the combined light emitted by the second light emitting element is a combination of different light intensity of red light, far-red light, blue light and / or purple light to promote plant photomorphogenesis reaction. ​ 3. The vertical plant growing apparatus having a continuous conveying structure according to claim 2, wherein When the plants on the cultivation tray present a change in the growth condition in a discrete distribution, the adjustment unit adjusts the deflection degree of the cultivation tray and / or the illumination parameter of the illumination unit at least by the proportion of the changed plants.

4. The vertical plant growing apparatus having a continuous conveying structure according to claim 1, wherein The conveying chain comprises vertical conveying chains for lifting the cultivation trays of plants to obtain vertical stacking cultivation of plants and horizontal conveying chains for diverting the cultivation trays of plants, wherein, The horizontal conveying chains at the highest and lowest points of the conveying structure are provided with at least a first diverting area and a second diverting area.

5. The vertical plant growing apparatus having a continuous conveying structure according to claim 1, wherein The plants are fixed during movement along the conveying chain and the roots of the plants protrude into a hydroponic space located below the lower surface of the cultivation tray, The leaves and / or fruits of the plants protrude into an illumination space located above the upper surface of the cultivation tray, The hydroponic space is provided with hydroponic nozzles to provide the plants with the required nutrients, wherein, The plants are fixed on the cultivation tray during their growth stage and are subjected to continuous or intermittent movement.

6. The vertical plant growing apparatus having a continuous conveying structure according to claim 4, wherein The illumination unit is further configured to illuminate the plants completely or partially with light from the illumination unit when the plants move along the conveying path, wherein, The plants are illuminated when they move along the conveying path in a vertical downward direction between the first diverting area and the second diverting area; The plants are shielded when they move along the conveying path in a vertical upward direction between the first diverting area and the second diverting area.

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