Plant care device and method for a plant factory

Abstract

This invention relates to a plant care device and method for plant factories, belonging to the technical field of indoor care devices. It includes: multiple mounting frames, each equipped with a care collection unit; mounting platforms arranged from bottom to top on the mounting frames; a lifting assembly installed between the mounting frames and the mounting platforms for adjusting the height between adjacent mounting platforms; a moving track installed under the mounting platforms; a shuttle trolley moving on the moving track and equipped with a monitoring unit for comparing and screening plants; and a harvesting assembly installed on the shuttle trolley for harvesting plants marked by the care collection units. This invention addresses the technical problems of existing plant factories that still use shuttle trolley tracks between adjacent shelves for transportation, reducing space utilization and increasing production costs, and failing to simultaneously perform plant detection, secondary screening, sampling, and removal operations during the production process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of indoor care devices, and specifically relates to a plant care device and method for plant factories. Background Technology

[0002] Plant factories are a highly specialized and modernized form of facility agriculture that developed after greenhouse cultivation. Unlike greenhouse production, they completely break free from the constraints of natural conditions and climate under field production. They utilize advanced modern equipment and artificially control environmental conditions to ensure a balanced supply of agricultural products year-round. Currently, high-efficiency plant factories are developing rapidly in developed countries, and have initially achieved factory-scale production of vegetables, edible fungi, and valuable flowers and trees.

[0003] Patent CN114747396A discloses a multi-layer three-dimensional cultivation system for a plant factory, including two opposing cultivation racks and several cultivation trays. The cultivation racks have multiple cultivation compartments, and multiple walking grooves are provided on opposite sides of the racks. Each walking groove at the same height is slidably connected to a transport trolley. The transport trolleys are equipped with wheels on both sides, and an electromagnetic suction bar driven by a linear motor is installed at the top of the trolley. Magnetic suction plates are provided on all four sides of the cultivation trays. A mounting frame is located at the front of the cultivation racks, containing two opposing lifting conveyor belts. Multiple support bars are provided on the outer sides of the lifting conveyor belts. A drive motor for driving the lifting conveyor belts is installed inside the mounting frame. Multiple first electric push-pull rods are installed at the front of the mounting frame, and first electromagnet push-pull bars are located at the rear ends of the first electric push-pull rods. This invention allows for batch operations of plants entering and exiting the cultivation racks, shortening waiting time and improving operational efficiency.

[0004] Patent CN100553443C discloses a closed, fully artificial light-controlled plant factory, including an enclosure structure, an air circulation system, a temperature control system, a humidity control system, a CO2 supply system, and a light source supply system. It also includes a control system and an automatic power metering system based on embedded network technology. This system is sealed, heat-insulated, and light-proof, and uses only artificial light. Through the control system, environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, light intensity, wind direction, and wind speed are monitored and controlled in a network, combining air purification with environmental control to provide a clean and optimal growth environment for plant production. This invention has the advantages of low cost and low energy consumption, and can be directly applied to pesticide-free, high-quality, and high-value-added plant genetic resources and low-cost, large-scale rapid propagation and seedling production, achieving standardized and regulated cultivation management and planned production.

[0005] The prior art represented by the aforementioned patents has at least the following problems:

[0006] Existing plant factories also use tracks installed between two adjacent shelves for transporting plants by trolleys, which reduces space utilization, increases production costs, and makes it impossible to simultaneously perform efficient testing, sampling, and removal of plants during the production process. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention provides a plant care device for plant factories, which solves the technical problems of existing plant factories that still use tracks installed between two adjacent shelves for transporting plants by trolleys, which reduces space utilization, thereby increasing production costs, and cannot simultaneously perform efficient detection, sampling and removal of plants during the production process.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution:

[0009] A plant care device for a plant factory includes: multiple mounting frames, multiple sets of mounting platforms, multiple lifting components, a moving track, a shuttle trolley, and a harvesting component. The mounting frames are arranged with the mounting platforms sequentially from bottom to top, with intervals between the mounting platforms. Each mounting platform abuts against the other end of a lifting component, which is used to adjust the height between adjacent layers of mounting platforms. One end of the lifting component is fixedly mounted on the mounting frame. The mounting frames are arranged with the mounting platforms sequentially from bottom to top, with intervals between the mounting platforms. Each mounting platform abuts against the other end of a lifting component, which is used to adjust the height between adjacent layers of mounting platforms. The shuttle trolley moves on the moving track and is equipped with a monitoring unit for monitoring plant growth and comparing and screening data collected by the care and harvesting unit. The harvesting component is mounted on the shuttle trolley for harvesting marked plants.

[0010] Furthermore, each group of mounting platforms has multiple mounting platforms. By using a lifting assembly to change any one of the mounting platforms from a first predetermined height to a second predetermined height, the shuttle trolley can pass through the moving track under the mounting platform to change its working position.

[0011] Furthermore, the shuttle trolley changes its working position on the moving track, enabling the monitoring unit to further compare and screen the plants marked by the care collection unit, and the harvesting component to collect plant samples and transport them out of the mounting frame.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes: a support block and a positioning block. The support block is connected to the mounting frame, and one end of the lifting assembly is mounted on the support block; the mounting frame has a sliding groove, the positioning block is engaged in the sliding groove, and the other end of the lifting assembly abuts against the positioning block mounted in the sliding groove. The lifting assembly drives the positioning block to move in the sliding groove, and the mounting platform abuts against the positioning block.

[0013] Furthermore, the harvesting component includes a clamp. The clamp is mounted on the shuttle trolley and is used to engage and secure the plant, thereby fixing the relative position between the plant and the shuttle trolley.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a gantry frame. The gantry frame is slidably installed between the plurality of mounting frames, and the gantry frame is disposed at one end of the moving track for transporting the shuttle trolley to change height between the plurality of mounting platforms.

[0015] A care method includes the following steps:

[0016] S1. The plants on the mounting frame are observed and marked through the care and data collection unit;

[0017] S2. The gantry crane transports the shuttle trolley to the layer where the marked plant is located. The lifting assembly raises the mounting platform from a first preset height to a second preset height, changing the height between the two mounting platforms, so as to drive the shuttle trolley to move from the gantry crane to the moving track.

[0018] S3. The shuttle trolley moves along the track to drive the monitoring unit to perform secondary data comparison and verification on the marked plants. The shuttle trolley also drives the monitoring elements to record the monitoring situation, which facilitates the staff to compare the plants in real time.

[0019] S4. Based on the comparison and verification results, the plants to be sampled are fixed on the shuttle trolley using the clamps. The shuttle trolley moves to the gantry via the moving track. The gantry then moves the shuttle trolley carrying the plants from the mounting platform to the mounting frame.

[0020] This embodiment provides a plant care device and method for a plant factory. The lifting assembly adjusts the height of each layer of the mounting platform in each group of mounting platforms. By installing the predetermined track below the mounting platform, the gap between the mounting frames is reduced, thereby improving space utilization. When the shuttle trolley is in standby mode, the mounting platform is at a first preset height. When the shuttle trolley further compares and screens the plants marked by the care collection unit, it is transported to the shelf of the marked plant via a gantry frame. The shuttle trolley is then driven to the plant to be tested via a moving track. Through a secondary comparison of the data collected by the care collection unit and the data from the monitoring unit, as well as the sampling of the plant, the plant is further screened, improving the accuracy of the care device and facilitating operator intervention and observation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a plant care device for a plant factory provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 A front view of a plant care device for a plant factory provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a plant care device for a plant factory after the gantry frame has been removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view at point A1;

[0026] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section B1.

[0027] In the diagram: 10-mounting frame; 11-care and data collection unit; 20-mounting platform; 12-lifting assembly; 13-moving track; 30-shuttle trolley; 31-collection assembly; 14-support block; 15-positioning block; 16-slide groove; 32-claw; 33-monitoring unit; 40-gantry frame. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0030] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0031] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to welding, bolting, or riveting; they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0032] Example:

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a plant care device for a plant factory, including: multiple mounting frames 10, multiple sets of mounting platforms 20, multiple lifting components 12, a moving track 13, a shuttle trolley 30, and a harvesting component 31. A care acquisition unit 11 is installed on the mounting frame 10 to acquire and mark images of the plants on the mounting frame 10; one end of the lifting component 12 is fixedly installed on the mounting frame 10; the mounting frame 10 has mounting platforms 20 arranged sequentially from bottom to top, with intervals between the mounting platforms 20, and the other end of the mounting platform 20 abuts against the lifting component 12, which is used to adjust the height between adjacent mounting platforms 20; the moving track 13 is installed under the mounting platforms 20; the shuttle trolley 30 moves on the moving track 13, and a monitoring unit 33 is installed on the shuttle trolley 30 to monitor the growth of the plants and compare and screen the data collected by the care acquisition unit 11; the harvesting component 31 is installed on the shuttle trolley 30 for harvesting the marked plants.

[0034] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the mounting frame 10 includes columns and crossbeams. There are at least two mounting frames 10, and these multiple mounting frames 10 together form a mounting frame 10 for plant care in a plant factory. The mounting frames 10 abut against each other to reduce the gaps caused by the track used for the shuttle trolley 30, thereby improving the efficiency of the device. There are at least two sets of mounting platforms 20, and each set of mounting platforms 20 has at least three platforms 20. From bottom to top, the lowest mounting platform 20 is fixedly mounted on the mounting frame 10, and the other mounting platforms 20 are connected to the lifting assembly 12. The lifting assembly 12 can be a telescopic cylinder, and a pressure sensor is installed on the input side of each mounting platform 20. The pressure sensor is communicatively connected to the lifting assembly 12. When the shuttle trolley 30 docks with a certain mounting platform 20, the pressure sensor drives the lifting assembly 12 to raise the upper mounting platform 20 of the target mounting platform 20, so that there is a sufficient working height for the shuttle trolley 30 to work between the upper mounting platform 20 and the target mounting platform 20. The moving track 13 is installed below the mounting platform 20, and the shuttle trolley 30 is equipped with multiple drive wheels. By driving the shuttle trolley 30 to move on the moving track 13, the monitoring unit acquires data on the plant growth status in different spaces as the shuttle trolley 30 moves to different positions on the mounting platform 20. The data obtained by the monitoring unit is recorded by a communication unit set up in the mounting frame 10 or the plant factory, and is initially compared with the data of the care and collection unit 11. The plant growth status is further distinguished and compared, and the comparison data is further uploaded to the staff through the communication unit to facilitate the determination of whether to further intervene in the growth and sampling work.

[0035] Furthermore, in some implementations of this embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, each set of mounting platforms 20 has multiple mounting platforms 20. The lifting assembly 12 changes the height of any mounting platform 20 from a first predetermined height to a second predetermined height, so that the shuttle trolley 30 moves on the moving track 13 under the mounting platform 20 to change its working position.

[0036] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5As shown, specifically among the various groups of mounting platforms 20, each group of mounting platforms 20 constitutes a maintenance unit. Within each maintenance unit, the bottom mounting platform 20 does not have a moving track 13 installed at its bottom, but a separate moving track 13 is provided at the top of the maintenance unit. When the shuttle trolley 30 needs to drive into the top mounting platform 20 for maintenance operations, it directly drives into the moving track 13 at the top of the maintenance unit, reducing the high cost and high power consumption of installing the lifting components 12 layer by layer. The mounting platforms 20 that can be lifted have a first preset height and a second preset height. Under normal maintenance conditions, each mounting platform 20 is located at the first preset height. When the shuttle trolley 30 needs to work, the corresponding mounting platform 20 is raised to the second preset height under the drive of the lifting components 12, allowing the shuttle trolley 30 to move. This reduces the gap between the mounting frames 10, allowing them to be arranged closely, thus saving space and improving space utilization. Furthermore, the maintenance process between each maintenance unit is relatively independent, preventing malfunctions caused by overly dense arrangement of the trolleys.

[0037] Furthermore, in some implementations of this embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the shuttle trolley 30 changes its working position on the moving track 13, enabling the monitoring unit to further compare and screen the plants marked by the protection collection unit 11, and collects plant samples through the harvesting component 31 and transports them out of the mounting frame 10.

[0038] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the monitoring unit includes at least image information. By changing the position of the monitoring unit through the shuttle trolley 30, image data of the plant from different angles can be obtained. By comparing the growth of other plants at the same time, the abnormal plants marked by the care collection unit 11 can be checked a second time. It also facilitates the observation of plants by staff among the densely distributed installation racks 10. The harvesting component 31 further samples and transports the plants. While improving the space utilization of the installation racks 10, the secondary recording verification and transportation sampling through the shuttle trolley 30 improves the overall reliability of the device for plant care and facilitates timely processing and further analysis of abnormal plants.

[0039] Furthermore, in some implementations of this embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, it also includes: support block 14 and positioning block 15. The support blocks 14 are all mounted on the mounting frame 10, and one end of the lifting component 12 is mounted on the support block 14; the mounting frame 10 has a sliding groove 16, the positioning block 15 is engaged in the sliding groove 16, and the other end of the lifting component 12 abuts against the positioning block 15 mounted in the sliding groove 16. The lifting component 12 drives the positioning block 15 to move in the sliding groove 16, and the mounting platform 20 is abutting against the positioning block 15.

[0040] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the support block 14 is located below the slide groove 16 and is fixed to the periphery of the column of the mounting frame 10, specifically by welding. Two support blocks 14 form a group, and the two groups of support blocks 14 are respectively fixed to the columns on both sides of the mounting frame 10 to support the lifting assembly 12. The positioning block 15 is slidably installed in the slide groove 16, and the positioning block 15 abuts against the inner wall of the slide groove 16 and the lower surface of the mounting platform 20. Through the positioning block 15 and the support block, the force applied by the mounting platform 20 to the mounting frame 10 is distributed. The first preset height is the height of the positioning block 15 at the lowest point of the slide groove 16, and the second preset height is the height of the positioning block 15 at the highest point of the slide groove 16.

[0041] Furthermore, in some implementations of this embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the harvesting assembly 31 includes a clamp 32. The clamp 32 is mounted on the shuttle trolley 30 and is used to clamp and fix the plant to fix the relative position between the plant and the shuttle trolley 30.

[0042] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the claws 32 are distributed below the shuttle trolley 30. The claws 32 are slidably installed below the shuttle trolley 30. Specifically, multiple claws 32 can be driven by a telescopic cylinder or similar driving component to fix the plant, and then move out of the mounting frame 10 following the movement of the shuttle trolley 30.

[0043] Furthermore, in some implementations of this embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, it also includes a gantry 40. The gantry 40 is slidably mounted between multiple mounting frames 10 for transporting the shuttle trolley 30 between multiple mounting platforms 20 to change height.

[0044] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, by setting up a gantry 40 on one side of the entrance of multiple mounting frames 10, the shuttle trolley 30 is transported to the corresponding maintenance unit. By installing a walking mechanism on the gantry 40, the working area of ​​the gantry 40 is changed, the transportation efficiency of the gantry 40 to the shuttle trolley 30 on the mounting frame 10 is improved, and the space required for setting up the lifting rail and moving rail 13 of the shuttle trolley 30 is reduced, thereby improving the space utilization rate of the device.

[0045] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a care method, including the following steps:

[0046] S1. The plants on the mounting frame 10 are initially observed and marked through the care and collection unit 11;

[0047] S2. The gantry 40 transports the shuttle trolley 30 to the layer where the marked plant is located. The lifting assembly 12 raises the installation platform 20 that needs to be raised from the first preset height to the second preset height, thereby changing the height between the two installation platforms 20, and then driving the shuttle trolley 30 to move from the gantry 40 to the moving track 13.

[0048] S3. The shuttle trolley 30 moves along the moving track 13 to drive the monitoring unit to perform secondary data comparison and verification on the marked plants. The shuttle trolley 30 also moves the monitoring element to change the recording and monitoring position, obtain monitoring information from different spatial angles, and then compares and screens the data recorded by the protection and collection unit 11. This facilitates further comparison and processing of the plants by the staff, with a maximum of three verification and inspection checks.

[0049] S4. Based on the comparison and verification results, the plants that need to be sampled are fixed on the shuttle trolley 30 using the claw 32. The shuttle trolley 30 moves to the gantry 40 via the moving track 13 to sample and remove the marked plants for more comprehensive testing by the staff.

[0050] In summary, when using a plant care device and method for a plant factory, the height of the mounting platform 20 is adjusted by the lifting component 12, and the moving track 13 is set below the mounting platform 20 to provide moving space for the shuttle trolley 30. The shuttle trolley 30 is transported using the gantry frame 40, which reduces the space used by the device for laying tracks, improves the space utilization of the device, and thus improves the production efficiency of the device. By setting the monitoring unit on the shuttle trolley 30, the plants are verified a second time, and the reliability of data comparison is improved by changing the position of the shuttle trolley 30. At the same time, the claws 32 installed on the shuttle trolley 30 can sample the plants on the mounting platform 20, which facilitates the staff to further record and process the plant data and facilitates the staff to intervene in abnormal plants in a timely manner.

[0051] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope described in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A plant care device for a plant factory, characterized in that, include: Multiple mounting frames (10), each mounting frame (10) is equipped with a care acquisition unit (11) for image acquisition and labeling of plants on the mounting frame (10); Multiple lifting components (12), one end of which is fixedly mounted on the mounting frame (10); Multiple sets of mounting platforms (20) are arranged sequentially from bottom to top on the mounting frame (10). There is a gap between the multiple sets of mounting platforms (20). The mounting platform (20) abuts against the other end of the lifting assembly (12). The lifting assembly (12) is used to adjust the height between two adjacent layers of the mounting platforms (20). The movable track (13) is installed under the mounting platform (20); When the shuttle (30) moves upward on the moving track (13), a monitoring unit is installed on the shuttle (30) to monitor the growth of the plant and compare and screen the data collected by the care collection unit (11). Harvesting assembly (31), mounted on the shuttle (30), is used to harvest marked plants; Each group of mounting platforms (20) has multiple mounting platforms (20). By using a lifting component (12), any group of mounting platforms (20) can be changed from a first predetermined height to a second predetermined height, so that the shuttle trolley (30) can pass through the moving track (13) under the mounting platform (20) to change the working position of the shuttle trolley (30). ； The shuttle (30) changes its working position on the moving track (13), so that the monitoring unit can further compare and screen the plants marked by the care collection unit (11), and collect plant samples through the harvesting component (31) and transport them outside the mounting frame (10). A gantry (40) is slidably installed between multiple mounting frames (10) and the gantry (40) is located at one end of the moving track (13). The gantry (40) is used for transporting the shuttle (30) between multiple mounting platforms (20) to change the height of the shuttle (30).

2. The plant care device for a plant factory according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A support block (14) is connected to the mounting frame (10), and one end of the lifting assembly (12) is mounted on the support block (14); The positioning block (15) is provided with a sliding groove (16) on the mounting bracket (10). The positioning block (15) is engaged in the sliding groove (16). The other end of the lifting assembly (12) abuts against the positioning block (15) installed in the sliding groove (16). The lifting assembly (12) drives the positioning block (15) to move in the sliding groove (16). The mounting platform (20) is abutted against the positioning block (15).

3. A plant care device for a plant factory according to claim 2, characterized in that, The harvesting assembly (31) includes: The claw (32) is installed on the shuttle (30) and is used to clamp and fix the plant. It is located at the relative position between the fixed plant and the shuttle (30).

4. A care method, based on the plant care device for a plant factory as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. The plants on the mounting frame (10) are observed and marked through the care collection unit (11); S2. The gantry (40) transports the layer where the marked plant is located by the shuttle (30). The lifting assembly (12) raises the mounting platform (20) from a first preset height to a second preset height, changing the height between the two mounting platforms (20) to drive the shuttle (30) to move from the gantry (40) to the moving track (13). S3. The shuttle (30) drives the monitoring unit to perform secondary data comparison and verification on the marked plants through the moving track (13), and the shuttle (30) drives the monitoring element to move to record the monitoring situation, so that the staff can compare the plants in real time. S4. Based on the comparison and verification, the plants to be sampled are fixed on the shuttle trolley (30) by the claw (32). The shuttle trolley (30) moves to the gantry (40) via the moving track (13). The shuttle trolley (30) carrying the plants is moved from the mounting platform (20) to the mounting frame (10) via the gantry (40).

Images