Setup with vertical cultivation towers suspended from a horizontal suspension rail, movable by means of a travel rail with travel fingers.

Abstract

Installation comprising vertical cultivation towers (2) for growing plants suspended from a horizontal suspension rail (1), which cultivation towers are connected to the suspension rail by a movable suspension device (3). Furthermore, provision is made for a displacement rail (4) which can be moved in two directions (5) by a reciprocating displacement system (6). The displacement rail is equipped with one-way displacement fingers (7) which can be moved horizontally in one driving direction of the displacement rail, passing the suspension devices of the cultivation towers without moving them, while in the other driving direction of the displacement rail the displacement fingers engage the suspension devices and take them along and move them. The displacement fingers are preferably arranged at least partially at an average increasing distance. Preferably further retain-

Description

Short designation: Installation with a horizontal top- hanging rail suspended vertical grow box rens, movable by means of a displacement rail with displacement fin 5 gers DESCRIPTION 10 The invention relates to an apparatus, comprising- the vertical suspended from a horizontal suspension rail breeding towers, each comprising a frame with a stacked one above the other series of growing cavities for plants to be grown, which growing- are connected to the suspension rail by means of a 15 movable suspension element over or along the suspension rail. It is common knowledge that crops are grown by ge- to make use of vertical cultivation towers with cultivation cavities, which are suspended from horizontal suspension rails, and in such a way- 20 such that their mutual distance can be changed. Wan- down new breeding towers (i.e. breeding towers with new, seedlings to be grown further) at the beginning of a hanging- if rail is added, the small plants included therein will they are still small. After some time, the plants will grow larger. have turned 25 and will be at the beginning of the suspension rail new young plants are being supplied again. The earlier added seedlings, which have grown somewhat larger by now, will must be shifted to allow for the installation of the new, to make small plants possible. With that shifting, will 30 account must be taken of the fact that the older the plants have grown a bit bigger by now, so that, will- so that larger plants can sufficiently further develop wrap, increase the distance between the growing towers will have to be taken than the mutual distance that was sufficient when the plants were still very small. Thus is it necessary to, as soon as one or more breeding towers with new (small) plants at the beginning of the hanging rail 5 are supplied, all the other breeding towers must be raised a bit. sliding, whereby the distance between the breeding towers with the older plants larger must be chosen than the (previous) grow towers with the younger plants. 10 The present invention is intended to provide in an installation equipped with propulsion systems with which the vertical grow towers can be properly be postponed. 15 To that end, the invention provides for an in- direction, comprising mounted on a horizontal suspension rail hanging vertical cultivation towers, each comprising a frame with a series of breeding cavities stacked on top of each other for growing plants ten, which breeding towers are connected to the suspension rail 20 moved by means of over or along the suspension rail uterine suspension organ; where provision is furthermore made for a (i.e. at least one) displaced parallel to the suspension rail rail that can be used in two directions lengthwise 25 den moved by means of an alternating back and forth moving again towards activatable movement system, for example a cylinder drive, which displacement- The rail is equipped with a series of one-way displacement fingers movable in the vertical plane 30 (for example, laterally sliding in the vertical direction) or hinged, rotating and / or ve- in the vertical plane are executed) and in such a way in relation to the suspension The organs of the breeding towers have been designed and executed that they are in one driving direction of the displacement rail can be moved in a horizontal direction whereby the displacement fingers the suspension organs of the breeding towers pass without moving it, while the displacement 5 singsvingers in the other drive direction of the displacement- grasp the suspension organs on the singsrail and take them along and move. In order to ensure that the breeding towers are further spread out 10 candles come to hang as the plants in them get older and so being larger, are the displacement fingers, over the length of the travel rail viewed, preferably at, on average, increasing distance applied. 15 Preferably, furthermore, drip irrigation systems are installed applied along the suspension rail at locations corresponding to the locations of the cultivation towers, preferably at, on average taken, increasing distance, causing all drippers to always - after every shift of the breeding towers underneath in- 20 flow of the displacement fingers - in the immediate vicinity are located of a grow tower, whereby the plants in all breeding towers from the neighboring ones, after all at locations that correspond to the locations of the cultivation towers, drip- boots can be provided with water. The invention will now be discussed in more detail on the basis of of the figure description below. shows part of an implementation example Figure 1 30 of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an example of an execution of a series. drip irrigation systems, which have been installed along the suspension rail; 5 Figure 3 shows in cross-section a breeding tower from the execution example of Figure 1, suspended on the suspension rail and including accompanying wa- dripper; 10 Figure 4 shows an example of the execution of a mecha- nic transmission between drive segments for moving the breeding towers over the suspension rail. 15 Figure 1 shows part of an example of the execution of the device according to the invention, designed comprising a horizontal suspension rail 1 suspended vertical grow box margin 2, each comprising (not explicitly shown in Figure 1) a frame with a series of breeding cavities stacked on top of each other for on 20 growing plants, which grow towers 2 with the hanging rail 1 be connected by means of an over or along the suspension rail movable suspension element 3, comprising one of ge- trolley equipped with piping wheels and a hanging hook or eye. Furthermore, provision is made for a unit parallel to suspension rail 1 extending displacement rail 4 which in longitudinal direction in can be moved in two directions (see arrows 5) by by means of an alternating back-and-forth direction 30 activatable movement system 6, for example a CI- cylinder drive. The displacement rail 4 is equipped with a series of one-way displacement fingers 7 that in the vertical plane be movable; in the execution of figure 1 rotating / hinged in a vertical plane around a rotation axis 7a. The displacement fingers 7 are in such a way- relationship to (the form and design of) the suspension elements 3 of the breeding towers 2 designed and executed such that they in 5 the one drive direction of the displacement rail 4 in hori- can be moved in a zonal direction (i.e. rotated) where the displacement fingers 7 the suspension organs 3 of the pass breeding towers 2 without moving them, with other- to perform a "free stroke" or a "return stroke" 10 run, while the displacement fingers 3 in the other on- driving direction of the displacement rail 4 on the suspension organ seize nen 3 - because they fall down and / or for example under the influence of a (not shown) spring be pressed down - take these suspension organs 3 with you 15 and move. The displacement fingers are preferably designed as rotatable parts where the moment (center of gravity) is located located under the axis of rotation. As a result, it will be caused by 20 gravity always comes into the correct position and so little possibly offer resistance when the displacement rail too- back moves and the tips of the fingers over the upper side of the suspension mechanisms slide 3. Between the (trolleys spacer blocks have been fitted to the suspension mechanisms which 25 guarantee a minimum spacing so that the displacement singing fingers always fit in between. Thus, by means of the rotating / hinged ver- placement fingers 7 provide in a sort of one-way- 30 ratchet mechanism, with which the breeding towers 2 by means of "back and forth" activation of the movement system 6 and the shift of the displacement caused thereby singsrail 4 and the movable displacement fingers 7 to be moved to the right (in Figure 1). In order to ensure that the breeding towers are further spread out 5 candles come to hang as the plants in them get older and so be larger (see description introduction), are the ver- placement fingers 7, along the length of the displacement- rail 4 viewed, at, on average, increasing distance applied, compare the distance between the 10 breeding towers, 2 on the left side of Figure 1 with those at the right side Figure 2 shows an example of the implementation of a series of retaining systems. 8 drippers, which are installed along the suspension 15 rail 1 at locations corresponding to the locations of (the vertical centerlines of) the breeding towers 2, so also on the same (on average increasing) mutual distance as the grow towers 2, whereby all drippers 8 always - after every shift of the breeding towers under the influence of the 20 displacement fingers (not visible in Figure 2) - (on- new) in the immediate vicinity of (the vertical centerline of) a grow tower 2 are located, whereby the plants in all Grow towers from the water drippers are pre- see, via a special configuration of the suspension organs 3, 25 which in a previous patent application of the applicant further is being treated. Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a breeding tower 2 from the execution example of Figure 1, suspended from the up- 30 hanging rail 1 and including accompanying water dripper 8 out figure 2. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate an example of implementation of a mechanical transmission between drive segments 9 for moving the breeding towers 2 over the suspension- rail. The drive segments 9 are part of the ver- 5 installation rail 4, which is mounted in various segments 9 divided, each with a separate stroke length. The 9 segment with the largest stroke is powered by a single cylinder. or motor-driven. This segment 9 is by means of a slot- 10 plate 10 connected to the next segment 9. The length of slot 10a serves as a "reduction" of the stroke length of the second segment 9, resulting in a smaller stroke makes. For example: segment 9a makes a stroke of 250mm, segments 9a and 9b are connected by means of a 15 slotted plate 10 with a slot length of 60mm. As segment 9a a stroke makes 250mm will a connection pin 11 that to Segment 9b is connected by sliding 60mm through slot 10a. before segment 9b is pulled along. Because this 60mm if "reduction" acts on the total stroke, makes segment 20 9b a stroke of 190mm. The same applies to segment 9c. are applied, causing it to subsequently make a turn of 130mm. Due to the drive thus consisting purely mechanically to operate there are no drivers, sensors, separate cylinders / motors, wiring etc. required for the individual 25 dual drive segments 9.

Claims

1. Device comprising on a horizontal suspension rail (1) suspended vertical breeding towers (2), each comprising- a frame with a series of growing cavities stacked on top of each other for plants to be grown, which grow towers with the up- hanging rail connected by means of an over or movable suspension element along the suspension rail (3); whereby provision is furthermore made for one parallel to the suspension rail extending travel rail (4) which in longitudinal direction in two directions (5) can be vari- places by means of an alternating back and forth moving direction activatable movement system (6), which displacement rail is equipped with a series one- directional displacement fingers (7) that in the vertical be movable in a flat manner and in such a way in relation to the up- suspension organs of the breeding towers are designed and argued that they in the one driving direction of the ver- installation rail can be in a horizontal direction 20 moved whereby the displacement fingers the suspension organ pass the sides of the breeding towers without moving them- sen, while the displacement fingers in the other an- driving direction of the displacement rail the suspension elements seize and take and move it. 25 2. Arrangement in accordance with claim 1, where the displacement sliding fingers, along the length of the displacement rail viewed, at least partly at an unequal distance from each other card, preferably on, on average, increasing 30 distance, have been installed.

3. Arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, whereby water- Ring drippers are installed along the suspension rail at locations that correspond to the locations of the breeding towers

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