Crop rearing facility

Abstract

Crop propagation system with a paternoster-like movement of planting containers, characterized in that planting containers with a round or almost square bottom are guided on both sides by a central chain.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] “Urban farming” is a very popular concept among future planners, but despite high yields, it has so far only been economically viable for special applications because the investment and operational costs are high.

[0002] The object of the invention is to create a system that is economical due to the highest yield per area and low labor expenditure. STATE OF THE ART

[0003] The cultivation of fast-growing crops in elongated tubs, which are moved around the greenhouse like a paternoster, was already practiced in the Netherlands in the 1950s.

[0004] However, the reason was less to increase yield per area, but rather to improve work ergonomics, as it is now possible to plant and harvest plants without bending down and even while sitting.

[0005] However, the known system has the disadvantage that the elongated tubs must be guided synchronously on two distant chains.

[0006] However, this often leads to tension, which is reflected in squeaking, high power requirements for the drives and the correspondingly high wear and tear and rising energy costs.

[0007] In addition, the trays can be illuminated from a distance without touching the lighting fixtures. However, it is known that plant growth can be enhanced by all-round illumination from various angles, such as from below or the side.

[0008] Patent document DE 15 07 018 A discloses a greenhouse with means for circulating the material to be cultivated, in particular plants, on an endless track, characterized in that the trays or baskets holding the plants or plant boxes are hinged to a rotating wheel.

[0009] Document AT 298 869 B discloses a greenhouse with a roof structure resting on supports and endless conveyor belts guided over pulleys for supporting plants, which are guided through at least one climate-controlled zone of the greenhouse during their ripening process. The supports of the greenhouse roof support self-contained, substantially vertical conveyor belts with two or more upper pulleys. Both the upper and lower pulleys are attached to the supports. TASK

[0010] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a breeding facility designed in such a way that the highest yields can be achieved in the smallest space. SOLUTION

[0011] The inventive step to achieve the goal is to construct the system in such a modular way that different rows of plants can be moved in an interlocking arrangement.

[0012] This is done in conjunction with lighting that illuminates plants from different sides, especially from half-down and from all directions.

[0013] This can be achieved with plant containers that are moved on a structure such as a paternoster and can be regularly watered and fertilized by spraying. EXECUTION

[0014] For this purpose, a paternoster is constructed in such a way that only one chain is used, which is balanced on both sides with containers, thus having less drive resistance and less adjustment and service requirements, because resistance resulting from tension in the usual two-chain systems is eliminated.

[0015] A further step is to focus the lighting on the narrow segment where plants are actually located, illuminating them from as many sides as possible. This is not a problem with artificial light, but natural light can be concentrated onto it by installing glass surfaces and mirrors.

[0016] This arrangement allows for a significant increase in installation density and yield per unit area, particularly for use in greenhouses. DESCRIPTION BASED ON THE DRAWING Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of a vertical crop cultivation system (1) with a drive chain (2) and movably arranged plant pots (4), as well as the base (7) and the support mast (8). A gear wheel is located at the distal (5) and proximal (6) ends of the support mast (8), which is mounted on a base (7). Next to the system are a rod-shaped lighting system (9) and an irrigation system (10). Fig. 2 shows the vertical crop cultivation system (1) in frontal view with the central drive chain (2) and the plant pots (4) movably arranged on crossbeams (3). Fig. 3 shows a variant in which the lighting is provided by LEDs (11, 12). Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of LEDs (11, 12) on a rectangular (13) plant container. Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of the LEDs (11, 12) on a round (14) plant container.

Claims

[1] Crop cultivation facility with a paternoster-like movement of plant containers, characterized by that plant pots with round or almost square bases are guided on both sides by a central chain. [2] Field crop cultivation facility according to claim 1, characterized by that two planters are suspended from a crossbeam which is guided through the bearing of each chain link. [3] Field crop cultivation facility according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the exposure of the plant in natural light is achieved by concentrating with mirrors on the stripes that the surfaces of the planters pass through. [4] Field crop cultivation facility according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the plants are illuminated by fluorescent tubes arranged vertically one above the other, parallel to the movement of the plant pots. [5] Field crop cultivation facility according to claims 1 and 2, characterized bythat the plants are illuminated with LEDs with incident light from above and from below-laterally under the foliage. [6] Field crop cultivation facility according to claim 5, characterized by that the lighting is provided by a ring of light-emitting diodes around the upper edge of the planters, radiating upwards at an angle to the middle and as a grid on the bottom of the planters as incident light on what lies below.

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