H-type vertical lifting multi-rolling wheel chain transmission three-dimensional planting system

Abstract

The application discloses an H-shaped vertical lifting type multi-driving-wheel chain transmission stereoscopic planting system, which comprises a rack, a driving device, a chain transmission assembly, a synchronous transmission shaft and a planting tray. The chain transmission assembly is arranged on both sides of the rack along the vertical direction, and at least two driving sprockets are arranged in each chain transmission assembly along the vertical direction. The synchronous transmission shaft is used for realizing the synchronous operation of the chain transmission assemblies on both sides. The planting tray is hung on the circulating chain and moves vertically and horizontally along the H-shaped approximately rectangular closed loop path. The application adopts the multi-driving-wheel distributed driving, so that the stress of each wheel shaft is uniform, and the abrasion is obviously reduced. The small-diameter driving sprocket is adopted, the chain is not sensitive to the inclination angle, and the chain is effectively prevented from being separated. The chain does not need an additional tensioning mechanism, and is naturally straightened by the self-weight of the planting tray, so that the operation is stable and reliable. The system has the advantages of simple structure, low energy consumption and convenient maintenance, and is suitable for the stereoscopic planting of greenhouses and plant factories.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of three-dimensional agricultural planting equipment technology, specifically to an H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system. Background Technology

[0002] Vertical farming technology is a key technology in modern agriculture, especially in the fields of facility agriculture and plant factories, for improving land utilization and production efficiency. In vertical farming systems, how to achieve efficient, stable, and reliable vertical lifting and circulating movement of planting units is the core issue affecting the overall system performance, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.

[0003] In existing technologies, the most common transmission method for three-dimensional planting racks is the chain drive structure. For example, traditional W-type planting racks use inclined chains, while Z-type planting racks use multiple layers of horizontal chains that reciprocate vertically. Both methods typically rely on a single large drive sprocket for power, resulting in high tension on the transmission chain, poor operational stability, and a tendency for chain derailment. Furthermore, the concentrated power causes uneven stress on the chain and axles, leading to severe wear, high failure rates, and significant energy consumption. In addition, these methods also present problems such as complex structure, high installation precision requirements, and inconvenient maintenance.

[0004] Another approach uses an independent lifting mechanism to move the planting units. For example, Chinese patent document CN202610053941.4 discloses a "vertical planting device for hydroponic leafy vegetables and its planting method," which uses a screw drive mechanism to drive a gripping mechanism. This gripping mechanism grips and moves the hydroponic components fixed to the side plate one by one to achieve the picking and placing of planting units at a specific layer. While this approach avoids some of the problems of chain drives, it has significant limitations: First, its lifting and gripping mechanisms can usually only operate one planting unit at a time, resulting in low efficiency in cyclical operations; second, its movement process involves multiple complex steps such as lifting, horizontal movement, gripping / releasing, and rotation, leading to complex control logic and challenges to system reliability; third, the screw drive mechanism suffers from wear and requires lubrication and maintenance under long-term continuous loads, and its moving speed and efficiency are limited. Finally, the gripping mechanism and the planting unit are separately connected, posing risks to positioning alignment and clamping stability during movement.

[0005] Therefore, developing a three-dimensional planting transmission system that can achieve continuous, stable, and efficient cyclic lifting of multiple planting units, and that is simple, reliable, energy-efficient, and easy to maintain, has significant practical application value. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides an H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain-driven three-dimensional planting system, including a frame, a drive device, a chain drive assembly, a synchronous drive shaft, and a planting tray.

[0007] The frame serves as the supporting skeleton of the entire system, providing a stable mounting foundation for other components. The drive unit is fixedly mounted on the frame, providing the power source for the entire system. At least two parallel and oppositely arranged chain drive assemblies are vertically positioned on opposite sides of the frame. Each chain drive assembly includes a circularly meshing chain and multiple sprockets distributed along the chain path. At least two of these sprockets are drive sprockets, spaced vertically apart. By using multiple drive sprockets, the driving force is distributed across multiple points, avoiding the load concentration problem caused by a traditional single drive sprocket. This results in more even force distribution on each axle, significantly reducing the wear rate of individual axles and extending the equipment's service life. A synchronous drive shaft is rotatably supported on the frame, with both ends coaxially connected to the corresponding drive sprockets on either side of the frame. The synchronous drive shaft is connected to the drive unit, enabling the chain drive assemblies on both sides to operate synchronously. This structure ensures strict synchronization of the chain operation on both sides of the system, guaranteeing the stability of the planting tray's posture during the circulation process. The two ends of the planting tray are respectively attached to the circulating chains of the chain drive components on both sides. Driven by the circulating chains, the tray moves vertically up and down and horizontally around a near rectangular closed loop path, realizing three-dimensional circulating transport of the planting tray and greatly increasing the planting density per unit area.

[0008] Furthermore, in the chain drive assembly, there are no fewer than two drive sprockets, distributed vertically along the vertical section of the circulating chain. The pitch circle diameter of each drive sprocket is smaller than that of any of the driven sprockets it meshes with. The drive and driven sprockets are connected to their respective axles via bearings or keys. This design, using small-diameter drive sprockets with large-diameter driven sprockets, ensures a tighter meshing between the drive sprocket and the chain, making it less sensitive to chain tilt angles. Even with slight frame misalignment or chain slack, the drive sprockets maintain good meshing, effectively preventing chain skipping or derailment. The vertical distribution of multiple drive sprockets further evenly distributes the driving force across different sections of the chain, eliminating stress concentration at a single drive point.

[0009] Furthermore, the driving sprocket and its corresponding driven sprocket, located on the same side of the frame, are mounted on independent axles. The driving sprockets on the same side rotate synchronously via a synchronous drive shaft or intermediate transmission component, distributing the driving force vertically to the circulating chain. This separate axle mounting structure ensures that the rotation of each sprocket does not interfere with the others, reducing frictional losses in the transmission chain and improving transmission efficiency.

[0010] Furthermore, the drive unit includes a power source and a reduction transmission mechanism. The output end of the power source is connected to a synchronous transmission shaft or one of the drive sprockets via the reduction transmission mechanism. The power source is one of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, or a pneumatic motor. Through proper matching of the reduction transmission mechanism, the running speed of the planting tray can be precisely controlled to adapt to the light requirements and growth rhythms of different crops.

[0011] Furthermore, the circulating chain is arranged in an H-shaped, approximately rectangular closed loop, with a left vertical section, a right vertical section, and upper and lower horizontal rotating sections. The planting tray is attached to the links or extended pins of the circulating chains on both sides, allowing the planting tray to hang naturally in the vertical section under its own weight without the need for an additional tensioning mechanism to maintain the engagement between the chain and the sprocket. The H-shaped vertical arrangement makes full use of gravity; the self-weight of the planting tray causes the chain to naturally taut in the vertical section, eliminating the need for additional tension as required by existing technologies. This fundamentally eliminates the additional load and wear risk caused by tension, making the system operate more smoothly and reliably.

[0012] Furthermore, the tooth count and outer diameter of the smaller diameter drive sprocket are designed to make it insensitive to chain tilt angles when meshing with the chain. The clearance between the drive sprocket and the circulating chain ensures that even with slight frame misalignment, the drive sprocket maintains effective engagement with the circulating chain without chain skipping or derailment. The smaller diameter sprocket has a larger wrap angle, resulting in less bending deformation of the chain as it wraps around it. Even with some chain slack or minor errors in frame installation, a stable meshing relationship can be maintained, significantly improving the system's fault tolerance and operational reliability.

[0013] Furthermore, the frame includes uprights and crossbeams. The uprights are vertically aligned, and the crossbeams connect two uprights. The axle of the chain drive assembly is adjustablely mounted on the uprights or crossbeams via bearing seats to adjust the parallelism of the circulating chain. This adjustable mounting method allows for fine-tuning of the chain's trajectory during installation and commissioning, ensuring that the chains on both sides maintain good parallelism at all times, further guaranteeing the horizontal orientation and operational stability of the planting tray.

[0014] Furthermore, the drive sprockets of the chain drive assemblies on both sides are paired and set at the same height. Each pair of drive sprockets is connected through a synchronous drive shaft or by a coupling, ensuring that the linear speed of the chains on both sides is consistent, and the planting tray maintains a horizontal posture during the cyclic operation. Strict synchronous transmission ensures that the planting tray remains horizontal throughout its rising, falling, and horizontal rotation processes, effectively preventing plant tipping or nutrient solution spillage caused by tray tilting.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. The structure of multiple drive sprockets arranged at intervals along the vertical direction realizes the multi-point distributed input of driving force, and the force on each axle is uniform. This eliminates the load concentration and stress accumulation caused by the traditional single drive sprocket, significantly reduces the wear rate of individual axles, and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0016] The design employs a small-diameter drive sprocket and a large-diameter driven sprocket, resulting in a tighter meshing between the small sprocket and the chain. It is less sensitive to the chain's tilt angle and can maintain a good meshing state even if the frame is slightly misaligned or the chain is loose, effectively preventing chain skipping and derailment accidents and improving the system's operational reliability.

[0017] The planting tray adopts an H-shaped vertical arrangement of closed-loop circulation path. The planting tray hangs naturally in the vertical section by its own weight, without the need for an additional tensioning mechanism. This fundamentally eliminates the additional load and wear caused by tension, making the system run more smoothly and stably. At the same time, it simplifies the structure and reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty.

[0018] By using a synchronous drive shaft to achieve strict synchronization of the chain drive components on both sides, the planting tray is guaranteed to remain horizontal throughout its entire stroke, effectively preventing plants from tipping over and nutrient solution from spilling, thus improving planting quality and production efficiency.

[0019] The overall structure is simple and compact, easy to install and debug, and requires little motor power, which can significantly save energy consumption and has good economic benefits and promotional value. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the frame and the chain drive assembly in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the frame three-dimensional structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a top view of the frame and synchronous drive shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the diagram: 100-Frame; 110-Column; 120-Crossbeam; 200-Drive unit; 210-Power source; 220-Reduction transmission mechanism; 300-Chain drive assembly; 310-Circulating chain; 320-Sprocket; 321-Drive sprocket; 322-Driven sprocket; 400-Synchronous drive shaft; 500-Planting tray. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides an H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system, including a frame 100, a drive device 200, a chain drive assembly 300, a synchronous drive shaft 400, and a planting tray 500.

[0027] In this embodiment, specifically: the frame 100 includes four uprights 110 and multiple crossbeams 120. The uprights 110 are arranged vertically, and the crossbeams 120 are welded or bolted to adjacent uprights 110 to form a stable rectangular frame structure. The height of the frame 100 is determined according to the actual space of the greenhouse or plant factory, and is usually between 2 meters and 5 meters.

[0028] The drive unit 200 is fixedly mounted on the top or middle crossbeam 120 of the frame 100. In this embodiment, specifically: the drive unit 200 includes a power source 210 and a reduction transmission mechanism 220. The power source 210 is a speed-regulating motor, and the reduction transmission mechanism 220 is a worm gear reducer or a planetary gear reducer. The output shaft of the power source 210 is connected to the input end of the reduction transmission mechanism 220, and the output end of the reduction transmission mechanism 220 is connected to the synchronous transmission shaft 400.

[0029] There are two sets of chain drive assemblies 300, arranged vertically on the left and right sides of the frame 100, respectively. Each set of chain drive assemblies 300 includes a circulating chain 310 and multiple sprockets 320. In this embodiment, specifically: the circulating chain 310 is a roller chain or sleeve chain, forming an approximately rectangular H-shaped closed loop along the side of the frame 100, with a left vertical section, a right vertical section, and upper and lower horizontal rotating sections. The multiple sprockets 320 include two driving sprockets 321 and four driven sprockets 322. The two driving sprockets 321 are spaced apart vertically, located at the upper and lower parts of the vertical section of the circulating chain 310, respectively. The pitch circle diameter of the driving sprockets 321 is 60 mm to 80 mm, and the pitch circle diameter of the driven sprockets 322 is 120 mm to 160 mm. The driving sprockets 321 and driven sprockets 322 are respectively mounted on their respective axles via bearings.

[0030] The synchronous drive shaft 400 is a long steel shaft, rotatably supported on the bearing seat of the frame 100. Both ends of the synchronous drive shaft 400 are coaxially and fixedly connected to the corresponding drive sprockets 321 on the left and right sides, respectively. Specifically, in this embodiment, keyways are machined at both ends of the synchronous drive shaft 400, which are connected to the hubs of the drive sprockets 321 via flat keys to achieve torque transmission. The output end of the reduction transmission mechanism 220 is connected to the middle of the synchronous drive shaft 400 via a coupling, driving the synchronous drive shaft 400 to rotate, thereby causing the drive sprockets 321 on both sides to rotate synchronously.

[0031] The planting tray 500 has a rectangular disc structure and can be made of plastic or stainless steel. Its two ends are hooked onto links of the left and right circulating chains 310 via hooks or pins. In this embodiment, specifically: an extended pin is installed on a certain link of the circulating chain 310, and the hook holes at both ends of the planting tray 500 are fitted onto the extended pin, allowing the planting tray 500 to move along an H-shaped closed-loop path driven by the circulating chain 310.

[0032] In this embodiment, specifically: the driving sprocket 321 and the driven sprocket 322, located on the same side of the frame 100, are respectively mounted on independent axles and do not interfere with each other. The two driving sprockets 321 on the same side achieve synchronous rotation through the synchronous transmission shaft 400, so that the driving force is evenly distributed and transmitted to the upper and lower sections of the circulating chain 310 in the vertical direction.

[0033] In this embodiment, specifically: the power source 210 of the drive device 200 adopts a three-phase asynchronous motor with a rated power of 0.75 kW to 1.5 kW, and stepless speed regulation is achieved through a frequency converter to adapt to the conveying speed requirements of different crops. The reduction transmission mechanism 220 adopts a worm gear reducer with a reduction ratio of 30:1 to 50:1, so that the running speed of the planting tray 500 is controlled between 0.5 meters and 2 meters per minute.

[0034] In this embodiment, specifically: the circulating chain 310 is arranged in an H-shaped, approximately rectangular closed loop, having a left vertical section, a right vertical section, and upper and lower horizontal rotating sections. The planting tray 500 is attached to the extended pins of the circulating chains 310 on both sides. When the vertical section is running, the planting tray 500 hangs naturally by its own weight, keeping the circulating chain 310 in a moderately taut state in the vertical section, without the need for an additional tensioning mechanism.

[0035] In this embodiment, specifically, the drive sprocket 321 has 11 to 22 teeth and an outer diameter of 60 to 80 millimeters, classifying it as a small-diameter sprocket. When the small-diameter drive sprocket 321 meshes with the circulating chain 310, the chain wrap angle is relatively large, making it less sensitive to changes in the chain's tilt angle. Even when the frame 100 experiences a slight misalignment due to uneven ground or installation errors, the drive sprocket 321 can still maintain effective meshing with the circulating chain 310, preventing chain skipping or derailment.

[0036] In this embodiment, specifically: the uprights 110 of the frame 100 are made of square steel pipes or I-beams, and the crossbeams 120 are made of channel steel or angle steel. The axle of the chain drive assembly 300 is mounted on the uprights 110 or crossbeams 120 via bearing seats. An elongated hole or adjusting shim is provided between the bearing seats and the uprights 110 or crossbeams 120 for fine-tuning the position of the axle, thereby adjusting the parallelism of the circulating chain 310.

[0037] In this embodiment, specifically: the drive sprockets 321 of the left and right chain drive assemblies 300 are arranged in pairs, with each pair of drive sprockets 321 located at the same height. Each pair of drive sprockets 321 is connected through a synchronous drive shaft 400, with both ends of the synchronous drive shaft 400 connected and fixed to the drive sprockets 321 on the left and right sides respectively by keys. Since the synchronous drive shaft 400 is a rigid integral structure, the drive sprockets 321 on the left and right sides rotate at exactly the same speed, ensuring that the linear speed of the circulating chain 310 on the left and right sides is consistent, thereby ensuring that the planting tray 500 maintains a horizontal posture throughout the entire circulation process.

[0038] In this embodiment, specifically: the synchronous drive shaft 400 can adopt a segmented structure, which is formed by connecting multiple short shafts through a coupling, in order to adapt to a wider frame span, and at the same time facilitate processing and installation.

[0039] In this embodiment, specifically: the system also includes a control system, which includes a PLC or microcontroller, sensors, and a frequency converter. Sensors are installed at key locations on the frame 100 to detect the operating status of the circulating chain 310 and the position of the planting tray 500. The control system automatically controls the start, stop, and speed adjustment of the drive device 200 according to a preset program, realizing the automated operation of the planting system.

[0040] In operation, according to this embodiment of the invention: the drive device 200 is activated, and the power source 210 drives the synchronous transmission shaft 400 to rotate through the reduction transmission mechanism 220. The synchronous transmission shaft 400 drives the drive sprockets 321 on both sides to rotate synchronously. The drive sprockets 321 drive the circulating chain 310 to move along an H-shaped closed-loop path through meshing. Driven by the circulating chain 310, the planting tray 500 is lifted upward along the left vertical section, reaches the top, transitions to the right side via the upper horizontal rotary section, then descends downward along the right vertical section, and finally returns to the left side via the lower horizontal rotary section, completing a complete cycle. During the vertical section operation, the planting tray 500 hangs naturally under its own weight, keeping the circulating chain 310 at a moderate tension. Multiple drive sprockets 321 evenly distribute the driving force, and the force on each axle is balanced. The small-diameter drive sprockets 321 are tightly meshed with the circulating chain 310, so even if there is a slight misalignment in the frame, the chain will not derail. The entire system operates smoothly and reliably, realizing the three-dimensional circulating transport of planting trays, effectively improving the utilization rate of planting space and production efficiency.

[0041] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain-driven three-dimensional planting system, characterized in that, include: Rack (100); A drive unit (200) is fixedly mounted on the frame (100); At least two parallel and oppositely arranged chain drive assemblies (300) are arranged vertically on opposite sides of the frame (100). Each chain drive assembly (300) includes a circular chain (310) that is engaged around the chain and a plurality of sprockets (320) that are distributed along the path of the circular chain (310). At least two of the plurality of sprockets (320) are driving sprockets (321) and are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. A synchronous drive shaft (400) is rotatably supported on the frame (100), and its two ends are coaxially connected to the drive sprockets (321) located at corresponding positions on both sides of the frame (100). The synchronous drive shaft (400) is connected to the drive device (200) so that the chain drive assemblies (300) on both sides operate synchronously. The planting tray (500) has its two ends attached to the circulating chain (310) of the chain drive assembly (300) on both sides, and moves vertically up and down and horizontally around the circulating chain (310) along an approximately rectangular closed loop path.

2. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the chain drive assembly (300), there are no fewer than two driving sprockets (321), which are distributed along the vertical section of the circulating chain (310). The pitch circle diameter of each driving sprocket (321) is smaller than the pitch circle diameter of any one of the driven sprockets (322) that it cooperates with. The driving sprockets (321) and the driven sprockets (322) are respectively connected to the corresponding axles by bearings or keys.

3. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The driving sprocket (321) and the corresponding driven sprocket (322) located on the same side of the frame (100) are respectively mounted on independent axles. The driving sprockets (321) on the same side rotate synchronously through the synchronous transmission shaft (400) or intermediate transmission component, so that the driving force is distributed and transmitted to the circulating chain (310) in the vertical direction.

4. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive device (200) includes a power source (210) and a reduction transmission mechanism (220). The output end of the power source (210) is connected to the synchronous transmission shaft (400) or one of the drive sprockets (321) through the reduction transmission mechanism (220). The power source (210) is one of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motor.

5. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circulating chain (310) is arranged in an H-shaped, approximately rectangular closed loop, with a left vertical section, a right vertical section, and upper and lower horizontal rotating sections. The planting tray (500) is attached to the links or extended pins of the circulating chain (310) on both sides, so that the planting tray (500) hangs naturally in the vertical section by its own weight without the need for an additional tensioning mechanism to maintain the meshing of the chain and sprocket.

6. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The number of teeth and outer diameter of the small-diameter drive sprocket (321) in the sprocket (320) are set so that it is not sensitive to the chain tilt angle when meshing with the chain. The fit clearance between the drive sprocket (321) and the circulating chain (310) satisfies the following: when the frame (100) is slightly tilted, the drive sprocket (321) still maintains effective meshing with the circulating chain (310) without chain skipping or chain derailment.

7. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain drive three-dimensional planting system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The frame (100) includes a column (110) and a crossbeam (120). The column (110) is arranged in a vertical direction, and the crossbeam (120) is connected between two columns (110). The axle of the chain drive assembly (300) is mounted on the column (110) or the crossbeam (120) in an adjustable position via a bearing seat to adjust the parallelism of the running of the circulating chain (310).

8. The H-type vertical lifting multi-wheel chain-driven three-dimensional planting system as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The drive sprockets (321) of the chain drive assemblies (300) on both sides are paired and set at the same height. Each pair of drive sprockets (321) is connected through a synchronous drive shaft (400) or connected by a coupling, so that the linear speed of the chains on both sides is consistent, and the planting tray (500) maintains a horizontal posture during the cycle operation.

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