System for vegetable garden and plant nursery culture

Abstract

A system for vegetable garden and plant nursery cultivation comprising a cabinet (1), in which a plurality of shelves (21-26) are provided for cultivating the plants (3) placed thereon, the shelves (21-26) being arranged one above the other along a vertical axis to define a space suitable for cultivating the plants (3), interposed between the upper surface of the shelf and the lower surface of the shelf positioned above it, and including light source generating means, liquid delivery means, and forced air suction / supply means, characterized by operating means for moving the shelves (21-26) along the vertical axis, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the operating means, the light source generating means, the liquid delivery means, and the forced air suction / supply means.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for vegetable garden and plant nursery cultivation comprising a cabinet provided with a number of shelves for cultivating plants thereon. Summary of the Invention

[0002] The shelves are arranged one above the other along a vertical axis to define a space interposed between an upper surface of a shelf and a lower surface of the shelf above it as a space for cultivating plants.

[0003] Also included are light source generating means, liquid delivery means, and forced air flow aspirating / supply means.

[0004] The invention particularly relates to all systems currently implemented in agricultural greenhouses, vegetable gardens and cultivation fields for the cultivation of plants of any kind.

[0005] Indeed, agricultural greenhouses have the main objective of maximizing production, even where environmental conditions are unfavourable.

[0006] Each environmental parameter within the greenhouse should correspond to the optimum conditions for the growth and cultivation of the selected crops according to the delicate microclimate balance.

[0007] For this purpose, greenhouses are commonly provided with heating or cooling systems, preferably automatic, to prevent temperatures falling below or above those required for the growth of the species being cultivated.

[0008] Similarly, greenhouses are often equipped with dehumidification / humidification systems that prevent non-optimum humidity if detected to ensure healthy growth of crops and prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, or pathogens.

[0009] Given the required essential structure of a greenhouse, the heating / removal of heat required by the greenhouse does not only depend on the type of production therein, but also on the dimensions of the capacity and the heat leakage of the structure itself.

[0010] For this reason, state-of-the-art agricultural greenhouses have low energy efficiency.

[0011] As a result, the costs of maintaining an optimal environment within a greenhouse are often high, with negative indirect effects on the production costs of the cultivated goods.

[0012] Currently, to address the energy consumption issues of greenhouses, which are known to be at the forefront of technology, and to obtain "home grown" cultures, greenhouses are being evolved to be placed within a closed environment.

[0013] Such a greenhouse may be constructed in a similar manner as described above, for example comprising a cabinet having shelves on which plants may be cultivated.

[0014] Within the cabinet, the cultivated plants are provided with water, light, and conditions, temperature, and humidity controlled to create an optimal environment for allowing the plants to grow.

[0015] Such greenhouses indeed allow to limit energy losses, but they present additional problems.

[0016] Indeed, such greenhouses are typically intended for indoor use and therefore must be reduced in dimensions, resulting in limited plant production.

[0017] Indeed, the production of plants, which must have sufficient space to ensure the correct growth of the plants themselves in height, conflicts with the presence of shelves.

[0018] Greenhouses, known as state of the art, are therefore difficult to adapt to different types of plants to be cultivated and do not allow to obtain efficient crops from a production point of view, for example the quality of the produce.

[0019] Thus, there is an unmet need in the state of the art to provide a vegetable garden and plant nursery culture system that overcomes the disadvantages discussed above.

[0020] The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a system as described above including means for movement of the shelves along a vertical axis.

[0021] There is also included a control unit configured to control the operation of said operating means, said light source generating means, said liquid delivery means, and said forced air flow suction / supply means.

[0022] Such a configuration results in a reconfigurable system that can move shelves based on the state of plant growth.

[0023] As will be described below, the volume enclosed between one shelf and another shelf defines the specifics of each shelf and the different climatic environments.

[0024] It is therefore clear how to move such shelves during the plant growth process in order to optimize the internal space of the cabinet with respect to the number of cultures, allowing a diversification of the growth conditions on each shelf.

[0025] The objective of the system of the present invention is to allow the reproduction of the optimal environmental characteristics of the cultivated plants and flowers in any season.

[0026] In fact, said measures allow creating an optimal natural environment and minimizing the energy consumption used as a function of the growth phase of the cultivated plants.

[0027] Advantageously, the system comprises sensors suitable for detecting light and / or temperature and / or humidity in the spaces interposed between the shelves.

[0028] Thus, a fully automated system can set the type of plant associated with each shelf and the control unit moves the shelves to recreate the microclimates required for plant growth in various environments.

[0029] According to a more preferred embodiment, the operating means comprises one or more slides which slide along a track provided in the wall of the cabinet and which are integral with the shelf.

[0030] The further modifications described below are intended to optimize the objective structural characteristics of the system of the invention, providing an optimal compromise between system performance and its dimensions.

[0031] A unique aspect of the objective of the system of the present invention is to optimize the use of the culture space within the cabinet and obtain a maximum number of plants cultured on the shelf.

[0032] According to the improvement, each shelf consists of a tank element having a double bottom, which presents a lower wall with a number of holes suitable for the introduction / suction of air.

[0033] The double bottom also has nozzles adapted to deliver liquid to the area below the shelf.

[0034] Each shelf is therefore responsible for the culture environment of the shelf below, providing the necessary water, temperature and light to such shelf.

[0035] Alternatively, or in combination with what is stated, liquid delivery nozzles can be included at the bottom of the tank element for spraying the shelf itself and the non-shelf cultures below it.

[0036] Regardless of the configuration of the delivery nozzle, the control unit will in fact have processor means onto which software containing information relating to different plants is loaded.

[0037] The control unit is able to coordinate the operation of the various means belonging to the system in order to provide the necessary humidity, temperature and volume based on the culture of each shelf and during the entire growth process.

[0038] As will be described later, the presence of a double bottom allows to accommodate various pipes / connections allowing the introduction / suction of air and / or the delivery of liquids and / or the emission of light.

[0039] Alternatively or in combination with the above, the suction of exhaust air may be included through a number of holes in the bottom of the tank element to create a differential air flow from the upper shelf to the shelf below.

[0040] In practice, according to a more preferred embodiment, the forced air flow suction / supply means comprises pump means connected to one or more intake / suction pipes, the pipes being partly housed within the double bottom and communicating with holes suitable for said intake / suction of air.

[0041] Preferably, the system includes separate air intake and intake circuits.

[0042] For this purpose, at least one inlet pipe and at least one suction pipe are included and connected to corresponding inlet and suction holes.

[0043] In one embodiment the light source generating means comprises a cable connecting the electrical generating unit to one or more light devices.

[0044] The connecting cables are partially housed inside the double bottom, while the lower wall of the double bottom contains an insert seat for one or more of the optical devices mentioned above.

[0045] Finally, it is an object of the system of the invention that the liquid delivery means comprise a delivery pipe connected to a nozzle, in case of top-down delivery, the delivery pipe being partially housed within said double bottom, in which case the nozzle is preferably included at the position of insertion of the light device.

[0046] When delivered at the culture level, such nozzles are included in the soil layer of the shelf.

[0047] As a prediction, one of the objectives of the system objects of the present application is the optimization of the culture volume with respect to the total number of cultures.

[0048] During the process of plant evolution, the plant itself requires more than one layer of soil and generally starts with a minimal layer of soil during the initial phase in order to increase the amount of soil during growth.

[0049] However, an automated system such as the Greenhouse Object of this patent must already prepare in advance from the initial phase the amount of soil required for all plant processes.

[0050] In terms of optimizing space, it is particularly disadvantageous to use shelves with such an amount of soil.

[0051] For this reason, it is advantageous in the system object of the invention that each tank element comprises at least one layer of lyophilic soil contained within a container of water-soluble polymeric material.

[0052] Because of such a configuration, the thickness and bulk of the soil is limited and increases only as the shelf or tank element dries, the container dissolves and the soil increases in volume.

[0053] Finally, the system object of the present invention comprises a modular tank element, ie one that can increase in dimension based on the amount of soil contained in the tank.

[0054] Several possible configurations are described below, but preferably, the tank elements of each shelf have one or more extendable walls.

[0055] According to a further embodiment, each compartment belonging to a system object of the invention is provided with a door that adapts as a function of the size of the compartment.

[0056] A compartment is intended as the space that identifies between two adjacent shelves, ie, the area where cultures are contained and grown.

[0057] Given the shelf movement, a door may be made through the enclosure, for example by means of a folding curtain that extends and contacts as desired as a function of the compartment height.

[0058] As will become apparent from the depiction of some of the configurations, such an arrangement allows creating a front enclosure for each compartment that facilitates the maintenance of a certain microclimate.

[0059] Additionally, a blackout door can be included for cultures that require a dark environment, such as fungal cultures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0060] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1a-1e show some reference diagrams of the form of system objects of the present invention.

[0061] Figures 2a to 2d show two views of possible configurations of a shelf belonging to a system object of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The figures attached to this application show only some possible configurations of the system of vegetable garden and nursery culture of plant objects of the invention for a better understanding of its advantages and the described features.

[0063] Such a configuration therefore illustrates, but is not limiting, the inventive concept of the present invention, namely, obtaining a system that allows cultivating plants while optimizing the required capacity and limiting energy consumption.

[0064] With particular reference to FIG. 1 a , the system comprises a cabinet 1 divided into two compartments 10 and 20 .

[0065] Compartment 20 houses and cultivates the plants, while compartment 10 comprises auxiliary means for the optimization of such cultivation.

[0066] Compartment 20 includes shelves 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 disposed one above the other along the vertical axis of the cabinet to define a space interposed between an upper surface of a shelf and a lower surface of an overlying shelf.

[0067] The plants placed on each shelf 21-26 thus grow within the interposed spaces between the shelves, as shown in FIG. 1c.

[0068] The cabinet 1 further comprises light source generating means, liquid delivery means and forced air flow suction / supply means.

[0069] As will be explained below, such means are separated in each shelf 21-26 so that the spaces defined by each overlapping shelf 21-26 have different climatic conditions.

[0070] Between shelves 21 and 22 there is an area of ​​certain humidity and temperature, as well as the area between shelf 21 and the upper edge wall of compartment 20, and also between the remaining shelves 22-26.

[0071] The operation of the light source generating means, the liquid delivery means and the forced air flow suction / supply means are coordinated by a control unit located within compartment 10.

[0072] The control unit further controls the operation of the movement means of the shelves 21-26 along the vertical axis.

[0073] Therefore, the shelves 21 to 26 can move away from / toward each other along the direction indicated by the arrow A.

[0074] The operating means are obtained by means known in the state of the art.

[0075] For example, an activation motor is provided within compartment 10 that drives a slide / rail system that moves shelves 21-26.

[0076] Each shelf has one or more slides that slide on internal rails provided on the walls of the compartment 20 .

[0077] Instead, an endless screw is provided, ie the shelves 21-26 slide on four columns 200, one per corner, as shown in FIG. 1d.

[0078] Regardless of the form of the movement means, the shelves 21-26 move along a vertical axis to increase / decrease the volume between each shelf and facilitate plant growth.

[0079] For example, a possible configuration is shown in FIGS. 1b and 1c in which shelf 23 is adjacent to shelf 22 and shelf 25 is adjacent to shelf 24.

[0080] The movement of the shelves can be user-configured or automated.

[0081] In fact, it may involve the user setting the type of plants they wish to cultivate and arranging the shelves 21-26 to optimize the volume the system occupies inside.

[0082] In order to optimize this occupied volume, and to insert as many shelves 21 to 26 as possible, it is preferable not only to vary with the type of plant, but also to diversify the initial phases of each plant.

[0083] FIG. 1c shows such a situation, where shelves 21, 22 and 26 have plants 3 in the final culture phase which require a higher height, and shelf 23 has plants 3 in the initial culture phase which require a lower height.

[0084] It should be appreciated that shelves 21-26 are fully removable to increase or decrease the number of shelves within a compartment.

[0085] Referring particularly to FIG. 1b, preferably the shelf is made up of two parts, namely the tank element and the support frame, with relative movement between them.

[0086] The shelf 24 in FIG. 1 b illustrates such a configuration, where the tank element 241 moves horizontally relative to the support frame 242 .

[0087] In particular, the support frame 242 and the tank element 241 move simultaneously during vertical movement of the shelf 24 , while the tank element 241 moves in the direction indicated by arrow B relative to the support frame 242 .

[0088] The plants to be cultivated are placed in the tank element 241 so that the movement in the direction of the arrow B facilitates the user who has to place the plants.

[0089] Each shelf is responsible for regulating the climatic conditions for the plants cultivated on the shelf below, where light intensity, forced air flow, and liquid delivery are performed at the underside of each shelf 21-26.

[0090] Depending on the configuration possible, liquid delivery is performed shelf by shelf, so that no delivery occurs on the lower shelves.

[0091] Depending on such arrangement, shelf 25 may have liquid delivery means that sprays shelf 25 itself, while shelf 26, ie, is responsible for lighting and air recirculation of the shelf below.

[0092] Such a configuration may also be applied to other shelves.

[0093] As shown in Figures 1d and 1e, each shelf has three connections 40, 41 and 5, allowing the airflow, liquid and electrical currents generated within the compartment 10 to be transferred to the shelf by special means as will be described later.

[0094] Advantageously, compartment 10 has a door 100 that flips over to cover the front of compartment 10 to isolate all the cultures on shelves 21-26.

[0095] Alternatively or in combination with such a door 100, a door can be included for each shelf 21-26 to completely separate each sub-compartment, i.e. each area bounded by two adjacent shelves.

[0096] The door can be opened manually or automatically.

[0097] The doors are also made from light-opaque materials to recreate a dark growing environment.

[0098] The door 10 is also made of transparent material to allow control of the culture progress without the need to open the door 100 .

[0099] This allows the individual doors to be opened from time to time to monitor the progress of the culture which requires a dark environment to allow the culture to be controlled.

[0100] Alternatively or in combination, each compartment has a camera to remotely monitor the growth phase of each crop without the need for direct access to the compartment. This also allows to have doors 10 made of opaque material, useful in some cases to reduce light coming from outside, for example when the device is installed in an unlit area.

[0101] Figures 2a-2d show four views of possible configurations of shelves 21-26.

[0102] The shelves 21-26 are made in the same manner, however for simplicity only one shelf is shown, eg, Figures 2a and 2c show the underside of shelf 21 and Figures 2b and 2d show the top side.

[0103] As mentioned above, each shelf includes a tank element and a support frame.

[0104] The support frame comprises a double bottom 210 which has spaces for receiving the connections 40, 41 and 5.

[0105] The light source generating means, the liquid delivery means and the forced air flow suction / supply means are partly housed inside such a double bottom 210 .

[0106] Such configurations will now be described with particular reference to each means.

[0107] In particular, the forced air flow suction / delivery means comprises two separate circuits, an induction circuit and a suction circuit, which connect to the pump means.

[0108] The pump means is preferably located within the compartment 10, since from such compartment it communicates with each shelf via an inlet pipe 40 and a suction pipe 41 respectively.

[0109] Pipes 40 and 41 are partially housed within the double bottom 210, the part of the pipes that is not housed having such a height to allow the tracks of each shelf along the full height of the cabinet 1.

[0110] The same applies to the connection part 5 described below.

[0111] The bottom of each shelf has holes 400 and 410 which are connected to an inlet pipe 40 and a suction pipe 41 respectively.

[0112] As a result, air introduced to the underlying shelf exits through holes 40 while air from the underlying shelf is drawn through holes 41 .

[0113] By adjusting the air temperature and speed along with the intake / suction, the temperature and humidity of the plants in the area below the shelf can be regulated.

[0114] Additionally, the lower wall of shelf 21 has an insert sheet 51 for housing one or more light devices, such as a section of LED light.

[0115] In this case the light source generating means therefore comprises a connection cable 5 of a power generating unit which connects to this LED section.

[0116] The power source may simply plug into a power outlet and / or may comprise a battery.

[0117] Regardless of the power supply, the connection cable 5 is partially housed inside the double bottom 210 and is connected to an LED section housed in an insert seat 51 .

[0118] As an alternative to the liquid delivery means, a delivery pipe may be included which is connected to one or more nozzles.

[0119] The delivery pipe preferably includes pumping means for transferring the liquid contained in the tank inserted in the compartment 10 to the various shelves and for pumping the liquid in the delivery pipe.

[0120] The liquid may be delivered in droplets, droplets or mist form depending on the needs of the plant being cultivated.

[0121] The liquid delivery pattern will be based largely on the location of the nozzles as described above, such nozzles can spray onto the lower shelf or shelves on which they are installed.

[0122] According to the variant shown in the figure, the distribution pipe is included in the connecting cable 5 in order to reduce the number of cables passing between the compartments 10 and 20 .

[0123] Instead, a delivery nozzle is included with the insert seat 51 of the LED compartment.

[0124] 1a and 2a in particular, the lower wall of shelf 21 draws / supplies air through holes 40 and 41 and generates light and liquid through insert sheet 51 into the tank element of shelf 22, and similarly for the other shelves.

[0125] With respect to the tank element of the shelf 21 , the holes 41 , 41 and the insert seat 51 are included in the upper wall of the compartment 20 .

[0126] It is clear how the above described operations can be automated, with a control unit located within compartment 10 communicating with a number of sensors that monitor the height of each shelf, humidity, temperature and light of the plants cultured therein.

[0127] The control unit collects all this information together with information related to the type of plant being cultivated and manages the operation of the entire cabinet 1, moving the shelves 21-26 according to the growth phase of the plant.

[0128] Finally, Figures 2a-2d show the unusual morphology of the shelves.

[0129] In fact, the tank elements of the shelf 21 have side walls 211-214 which are extendable in height, so that they can go from a retracted state, as in FIG. 2b, to an extended state, as in FIG. 2d.

[0130] It is evident that the extension of the side walls allows to increase the space in each tank element for placing the soil required for the cultivation of plants.

[0131] Typically, in an early growth phase, little soil is required and the side walls 211-214 are in a contracted state, while in subsequent growth phases the side walls 211-214 are in a pulled state.

[0132] Advantageously, the soil is provided in a lyophilic form contained within one or more containers of water-soluble polymeric material.

[0133] More preferably, the soil has three layers and is contained in three different containers.

[0134] In the upper layer, the soil comprises soil with the seeds of the plants to be cultivated, while the successive layers simply comprise soil.

[0135] During the first step, the top layer is wetted by the nozzles on the upper shelf, dissolving the polymeric material and hydrating the new liquid soil, which increases its volume.

[0136] At the same time, the seed germinates and the first plant grows.

[0137] If additional soil is required, additional water is applied to dissolve the container of the second layer of soil.

[0138] The increased height of the side walls 211-214 preferably results in an increased soil capacity to properly hold the soil.

[0139] Finally, the transition from the retracted state to the extended state is performed in an "active" manner, i.e., involving the movement of the walls from one side to the other, which may include any manner known in the state of the art.

[0140] Alternatively, or in combination, this transition can occur in a "passive" manner, ie, an increase in the volume of the soil can push against the walls to move them from a contracted state to an extended state.

[0141] For example, a wall may be provided with adjacent surfaces which are compressed by an increased volume of soil to transition the wall from one side to the other.

[0142] Because the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, several preferred forms have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

[0143] However, there is no intention to limit the scope of the invention to the exact form illustrated, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents that are within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0144] The use of "for example," "such as," and "or" denotes non-exclusive, open-ended substitutions, unless stated otherwise.

[0145] The use of "including" means "including" and, unless expressly stated, is not limiting.

Claims

1. A system for vegetable gardens and nursery cultivation of plants, comprising a cabinet (1), in which a number of shelves (21-26) are provided for the cultivation of said plants (3) placed thereon, said shelves (21-26) are arranged one above the other along a vertical axis in order to define a space interposed between an upper surface of a shelf and a lower surface of the shelf located above it as a space suitable for cultivating said plants (3); a light source generating means, a liquid delivery means, and a forced air flow suction / supply means; characterised by actuation means for moving said shelves (21-26) along said vertical axis, a control unit configured to control operation of said operating means, said light source generating means, said liquid delivery means, and said forced air flow suction / supply means; wherein the height of the cultivated plants on each shelf, the brightness and / or the temperature and / or the humidity in the space interposed between the shelves are provided with sensors, wherein said operating means comprises one or more slides which slide along a track provided in a wall of said cabinet and which are integral with said shelves (21-26); A system for vegetable gardens and plant bed cultivation, characterized in that each shelf consists of a tank element (241) having a double bottom (210) with a lower wall having a plurality of holes (400, 410) suitable for introducing / suctioning air and a nozzle suitable for applying liquid to the area below said wall.

2. System for vegetable gardens and plant bed cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that said forced air flow suction / supply means comprise pump means connected to one or more intake / suction pipes (40, 41) partially housed within said double bottom (210) and communicating with holes (400, 410) suitable for said intake / suction of air.

3. 3. The system for vegetable garden and plant bed cultivation according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one inlet pipe (40) and at least one suction pipe (41), the inlet pipe and the suction pipe connecting with the corresponding inlet hole (400) and suction hole (410), respectively.

4. wherein the light source generating means comprises a connecting cable (5) connecting the electricity generating unit to one or more light devices; 2. The system for vegetable gardens and plant bed cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting cables (5) are partially housed inside the double bottom (210), the lower wall being provided with an insert seat (51) for the one or more light devices.

5. 2. The system for vegetable gardens and plant bed cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid delivery means comprises a delivery pipe connected to the nozzle, the nozzle being partially housed within the double bottom, the nozzle being arranged in an inserted position.

6. 2. The system for vegetable garden and plant bed cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that said tank element comprises at least one layer of lyophilic soil contained within a container of water-soluble polymeric material.

7. 2. The system for vegetable garden and plant bed cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank element comprises one or more extendable walls.

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