Arrangement and method for the cultivation of horticultural products.

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for the cultivation of horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms. The arrangement (1) comprises a transfer unit for moving cultivation packages coming from a third rack (6) along a first rack (4), the moving in particular comprising pulling a first flexible base (81) on which the cultivation package can be received in the first rack (4). The arrangement (1) further comprises an auxiliary transfer unit arranged at an end of the third rack (6) closest to the first rack (4) and configured to actively roll up a second flexible base (82) on which the cultivation package can initially be arranged in the third rack (6) to thereby pull the second flexible base (82) with the cultivation package along the third rack (6) towards the first rack (4) and / or towards the first flexible base (81).

Description

[0001] Title: Arrangement and method for the cultivation of horticultural products.

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention is directed at an arrangement for the cultivation of horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms, wherein the products are cultivated in cultivation beds arranged in racks at various support heights. The invention is further directed at a method for cultivation of such horticultural products.

[0004] Background

[0005] The cultivation of mushrooms, such as champignons or similar products, is typically on a large scale performed in in-house in cultivation facilities. Cultivation conditions are to be monitored and managed well in such facilities, because the growing of mushrooms is very sensible to deviations from these conditions. Moreover, controlling these conditions also enables to control the yield and size of the champignons bred. To guarantee the breeding of high quality products, active and accurate management the cultivation conditions is thus important.

[0006] As may be understood, it is more easy to manage these conditions in small or compact cultivation facilities. The larger a facility becomes, the more difficult it will be to manage the conditions efficiently everywhere in the facility. For this reason, it is advantageous not to make the facilities too large and to use the available space efficient. For this reason, mushrooms such as champignons are typically bred in racks, having cultivation beds arranged in a stacked configuration at various heights, as this allows efficient use of the available space. As will be appreciated, the space above each bed large enough to allow growth, condition management and harvestings. With respect to the latter, an operator harvesting mushrooms must be able to reach the mushrooms in the beds and to judge their size in order to pick the right mushrooms to harvest.

[0007] With respect to the cultivation conditions, a further challenge is provided by the optimal conditions during various stages of cultivation. For example for champignons, after spawning during the phase wherein the casing soil is being colonized by mycelium by ingrowth, the soil is to be kept wet and the ambient conditions require a high content of carbon dioxide (CO2) and a relative high temperature of 22 to 23 degrees Celcius (°C). However, in the phase thereafter when the casing soil is colonized, the mycelium will form buttons at the surface. During this stage, ventilation is important, the CO2 is reduced and the temperature will be decreased to 17 to 18 °C. Thereafter, control of the ambient conditions allows to manage whether many small champignons (e.g. at low temperatures and low humidity) or fewer large champignons (e.g. at higher temperatures and higher humidity) will grow. Ventilation remains important during this phase, which will continue until the mushrooms are ready for harvesting.

[0008] During the harvesting phase, having a duration of various weeks, the mushrooms appear and grow in cycles. Also, various different sizes may be desired, requiring to perform harvesting of some mushrooms to take place later than other mushrooms. Thus harvesting may be performed multiple times per cultivation bed. Due to the vulnerability of the mushrooms, machined harvesting — although being much faster — has the disadvantage of leading to more damage and lesions on the mushrooms. Therefore manual harvesting is still popular, however, this is a labour intensive task. During such harvesting, reaching the mushrooms as well as judging their size is difficult in view of the typically limited amount of space above the beds. Hence, this may lead to variation in size of the mushrooms harvested and it also renders the task to be physically demanding on the operator / harvester. WO 2017 / 204643 Al discloses an arrangement for the cultivation of horticultural products comprising a first rack and a second rack providing a working space there between, wherein cultivation packages can be alternatingly supported in either the first or the second rack. Although this arrangement already provides many advantages, further improvement is still desired.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] In the present document, reference is made to a ‘cultivation package’. This term is to be understood as a package comprising at least compost including the horticultural products or its growth, spores or seeds (i.e. spores, ingrown spores, seeds, seedlings of the horticultural products). Usually, but dependent on the type of product, the cultivation package may also comprise further layers or ingredients, e.g. casing soil for champignons. The invention is not limited to the cultivation of champignons or other mushrooms, but may likewise be applied to cultivating plants or similar products (for example short-stemmed plant varieties, such as herbs).

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate the disadvantages identified above, and to provide a cultivation arrangement and method that allows efficient use of space for enabling effective condition management, preferably while also improving harvesting conditions. A further object is to provide a cultivation arrangement that is easier to use and / or more efficient in terms of labor and / or more reliable.

[0012] To this end, according to a first aspect, there is provided herewith an arrangement for the cultivation of horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms, comprising a first rack, the first rack comprising a plurality of support structures arranged at respective support heights for supporting cultivation packages at the plurality of support heights in the first rack. The support structure may comprise one or more guiding members for guiding a cultivation package along a horizontal movement. With reference to WO 2017 / 204643 Al, a second rack may optionally be provided in addition to the first rack, although this is not strictly necessary in the context of the present invention.

[0013] After spawning and before harvesting, the cultivation packages may reside in one single rack wherein a package is present e.g. at each defined height in the rack. This provides a compact stacking of the packages. This is advantageous for example for the cultivation of mushrooms such as champignons during this phase. The packages do not need to be very accessible during this phase, and a compact stacking allows reduces the required space for keeping the racks under the right conditions. In accordance with the invention, the arrangement therefore further comprises a third rack arranged adjacent and aligned with the first rack, the third rack comprising a plurality of further support structures arranged at respective support heights for supporting cultivation packages at the plurality of heights in the third rack, in particular such that the support heights of the third rack are aligned with the support heights of the first rack.

[0014] The arrangement further comprises a transfer unit for moving cultivation packages coming from the third rack along the first rack. The third rack may be a separate rack that may be kept in a separate room during growth, i.e. isolating it for different ambient condition control for the third rack. In such an embodiment, when the packages with the horticultural products (e.g. champignons) are ready to be moved to the first rack, the packages may be received into the first rack from the third rack. The packages may be received into the first rack either one-by-one, two or more together, or all at once. In some embodiments, for providing the transfer unit, one or more of the support structures of the first rack each comprise a pulley comprising a windable longitudinal pulling member and optionally a coupling member connected to the pulling member, the pulling member having a length for enabling spanning the first rack in longitudinal direction, the pulley being operable for pulling the cultivation package along the support structure of the first rack. This may include a winch or rollable spool or the like.

[0015] The moving of the cultivation packages by the transfer unit comprises pulling a first flexible base, for example comprising a cloth, canvas, and / or netting, on which the cultivation package can be received in the first rack.

[0016] The arrangement further comprises an auxiliary transfer unit comprising a spool arranged at an end of the third rack closest to the first rack and configured to actively roll up, for example onto a spool, a second flexible base on which the cultivation package can initially be arranged in the third rack to thereby pull the second flexible base with the cultivation package along the third rack towards the first rack and / or towards the first flexible base.

[0017] Such an auxiliary transfer unit advantageously obviates the need during the transferring for a pulling or other connection between the transfer unit at the first rack and the cultivation package when it is still at the third rack, e.g. as taught in WO 2017 / 204643 Al. Thus, ease of use and operational efficiency can be improved. Moreover, obviating such a connection can promote reliability and versatility, as well as facilitating advantageous separation of different growing environments associated with the first and third racks.

[0018] In accordance with some embodiments, a bridging unit is arranged between the third rack and the first rack to support a cultivation package between the third rack and the first rack.

[0019] In accordance with some embodiments, the bridging unit comprises a conveyor, in particular with a conveyor belt configured to be actuated with an upward facing section of the belt in the direction of the first rack from the third rack, corresponding to a transfer direction of a transfer of the cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack. Alternatively or additionally, the bridging unit may comprise one or more of: a plate, one or more planks, and one or more slats. More generally, any construction suitable to bridge an interspace between the third rack and the first rack may be applied to form such a bridging unit. The bridging unit may or may not be physically connected to the third rack and / or to the first rack. It shall be appreciated that a small gap may be present between the bridging unit and the third rack and / or between the bridging unit and the first rack, the smallness gap being such that a stiffness of the cultivation package allows the cultivation package to readily cross the small gap during the transferring.

[0020] In accordance with some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a separator unit configured to separate the cultivation package into multiple sub-packages extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, the separator unit preferably being arranged in or adjacent an interspace between the third rack and the first rack, for example at the bridging unit.

[0021] In accordance with some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a controller operably connected to, and configured to control, the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit to effect a transfer of a cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack using both said units.

[0022] In accordance with a second aspect, a combination is provided of an arrangement according to the first aspect and the first flexible base and the second flexible base, wherein the transfer unit is connected to the first flexible base and the auxiliary transfer unit is connected to the second flexible base.

[0023] In accordance with some embodiments, the first flexible base is arranged completely outside the third rack and / or the second flexible base in arranged completely outside the first rack. In accordance with a third aspect, a cultivation rack is provided for use as the third rack in an arrangement according to the first aspect, wherein the cultivation rack is provided with the auxiliary transfer unit. Such a cultivation rack may thus be used in a method of cultivating horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms.

[0024] In accordance with a fourth aspect, the invention is directed at a method of cultivating horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms, using an arrangement according to the first aspect. The method comprises the steps of: cultivating, for a first duration of time, the horticultural products in cultivation packages in the third rack; aligning the third rack with the first rack; and moving, using both the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit, the cultivation packages from the third rack into the first rack, for enabling cultivation of the horticultural products in either one of the first and the second rack for a second duration of time. As explained, in the third rack, the stacking may be more compact as access to the packages is not frequently required and a more compact stacking takes less space of which the ambient conditions need to be controlled. A cultivation package may be moved from the third rack into the first rack as an integral cultivation package or alternatively in parts such as in sub-packages, for sequentially and / or in parallel.

[0025] In accordance with some embodiments, the step of cultivating the horticultural products in the third rack is performed following a step of spawning of the products in the cultivation packages.

[0026] In accordance with some embodiments, the moving of a cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack comprises transferring the cultivation package from a second flexible base on the third rack to a first flexible base on the first rack, and preferably comprises actuating both the first and second flexible bases, using respectively the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit. Although the present invention is mainly presented herein in the context of arrangements such as disclosed in WO 2017 / 204643 Al, it shall be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such arrangements. Rather, as will be understood by the skilled person having the benefit of the present disclosure, the present invention can be applied more broadly to arrangements and method for the cultivation of horticultural products, including arrangements which do not include the second rack and / or the workspace as taught in WO 2017 / 204643 Al. For example, as an alternative solution to said workspace, an arrangement may allow cultivation packages or sub-packages to be tilted laterally for access by workers.

[0027] Brief description of the drawings

[0028] The invention will further be elucidated by description of some specific embodiments thereof, making reference to the attached drawings. The detailed description provides examples of possible implementations of the invention, but is not to be regarded as describing the only embodiments falling under the scope. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and the description is to be regarded as illustrative without being restrictive on the invention. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

[0030] Figures 2A-2F illustrates a method of the present invention performs using an arrangement of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 illustrates a close-up of figure 2E, illustrating an operator platform;

[0032] Figure 4 illustrates a further close-up of the operator platform in an arrangement of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 illustrates a method of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 illustrates a possible transfer arrangement and method; Figures 7 A and 7B illustrate transfer arrangements and methods in accordance with the present invention; and

[0035] Figure 8 illustrates an optional separator unit.

[0036] Detailed description

[0037] In the present document, reference is made to a ‘cultivation package’. This term is to be understood as a package comprising at least compost including the horticultural products or its growth, spores or seeds (i.e. spores, ingrown spores, seeds, seedlings of the horticultural products). Usually, but dependent on the type of product, the cultivation package may also comprise further layers or ingredients, e.g. casing soil for champignons.

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement, generally indicated with reference numeral 1, in accordance with the present invention. The arrangement 1 comprises a first rack 4, a second rack 5 and a third rack 6. The third rack 6 is isolated from the first and the second rack, and located in a separate room as is indicated by the walls 9 and 10 in figure 1.

[0039] In accordance with the present invention, in between the first rack 4 and the second rack 5, a working space 14 is formed wherein an operator platform 12 can be vertically moved up and down via guiding rails 13. The operator platform 12 allows for operators 15 (e.g. see figure 2D) to be moved in vertical direction alongside the working space 14 to work at various heights as desired. In the racks 4, 5 and 6, cultivation packages 8 comprising horticultural products such as mushrooms (e.g. champignons) can be arranged at various support heights in the racks. In each of the racks 4, 5, and 6, the support heights wherein the cultivation packages may be supported are the same, such that the support heights of the first rack 4 and the second rack 5 are the same, such that they are aligned with each other. Similarly, the support heights of the first rack 4 and the third rack 6 are also the same for enabling the operation of the arrangement. As may be appreciated by the skilled person, the alignment of the support heights must be such that cultivation packages 8 may be moved easily from one rack to the other. So, as can be understood, the support heights are more or less the same, but tolerances or workable differences that readily enter the mind of the skilled person are of course possible.

[0040] For vertical movement along the rails 13 connected to the racks 4 and 5, the operator platform 12 is supported or connected to a moveable structure 11 that cooperates with the guiding rails 13. The moveable structure 11 is also shown in figure 4 and will be discussed further below.

[0041] Figures 2A-2F illustrate a method of the present invention wherein the arrangement of the present invention is applied. In figure 2A, a plurality of cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 are supported at various support heights in the third rack 6. Although eight such support heights are shown in these figures as example, it shall be appreciated that a different number of support heights may be applied, for example more or less than eight. In this rack, the cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 are placed after spawning of the mushrooms. In the third rack 6, the cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 will reside during the first stage of the growing process. Walls 9 and 10 (see figure 2C) separate the third rack 6 from the first rack 4 and the second rack 5. As is visible in figure 1, an opening in the walls 9 and 10 will allow for the cultivation packages 8 to be moved from one rack to the other. This opening in the walls 9 and 10 may be closable by a door of any kind. By separating the third rack 6 from the first rack 4 and second rack 5, the growing conditions in the room can be controlled separately for providing the optimal conditions during this phase of the cultivation process. In figure 2B, each of the cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 is moved onto the first rack 4. As is visible in figure 2B, racks 8-2 to 8-8 are already moved to the first rack 4, while cultivation package 8-1 is being moved from the third rack 6 to the first rack 4 (note that not all cultivation packages have been numbered). As can be seen in figure 2B, the operator platform 12 has moved to the top most support height in the first rack 4 to operate a transfer unit, e.g. a hauling engine, for hauling the cultivation package 8-1 into the first rack 4. The transfer unit could be an actuator, such as an engine of any type, or may be a manually operated tool.

[0042] As is known as such from WO 2017 / 204643 Al, the transfer unit for example may be a manual or power driven winch, enabling to connect a cable 80 that is long enough to span the longitudinal distance of the first rack 4 and connect with a coupling member to a cultivation package 8 in the third rack 6, for example as shown schematically in Fig. 6.

[0043] With reference now to Figs. 7 A and 7B as examples, as a highly advantageous alternative to connecting such a cable 80 to a cultivation package 8 in the third rack 6, such a cable 80 may connect to a first flexible base 81, e.g. a cloth, a canvas and / or a netting, on which the cultivation package 8 can be received in the first rack 4, for example on a carriage 23 on the first rack 4, wherein the cultivation package 8 may initially be arranged on a similar second flexible base 82 on the third rack 6. To effect the transfer of the cultivation package 8, the second flexible base 82 may be pulled along the third rack 6 towards the first flexible base 81 and the first rack 4, so that the cultivation package 8 is directly or indirectly transferred from the second flexible base 82 on the third rack 6 to the first flexible base 81 on the first rack 4, in particular without transferring either of said flexible bases 81, 82 from the third rack 6 to the first rack 4.

[0044] Thus, the cultivation package 8 may initially be driven from the third rack 6 towards the first rack 4 by pulling the second flexible base 82 towards the first rack 4, causing a leading portion of the cultivation package 8 to reach the first flexible base 81, which may then start to be pulled as well to drive and / or guide the cultivation package 8 further onto the first rack 4 while a trailing portion of the cultivation package 8 may continue to be driven and / or guided by the pulling of the second flexible base 82. It shall be appreciated that the transferring of the cultivation package 8 may thus be driven by at least partially simultaneous actuations of the first and second flexible bases 81, 82, wherein either one of respective actuators may e.g. act as master and / or slave with respect to the other, or both actuators may act under control of a common controller.

[0045] The pulling of the second flexible base 82 may be performed using an auxiliary transfer unit 83 arranged at an end of the third rack 6 closest to the first rack 4 and comprising an actuator. The auxiliary transfer unit

[0046] 83 is then preferably configured to actively roll up the second flexible base 82, e.g. onto a spool 84 extending transverse to the direction T of the transferring from the third rack 6 to the first rack 4. A corresponding rolling up direction of the spool 84 is indicated by an arc-shaped arrow on the spool

[0047] 84 in Figs. 7 A and 7B.

[0048] By such active rolling up, the second flexible base 82 can be pulled towards the first rack 4 to contribute to the transferring of the cultivation package 8 without a need to connect the second flexible base to anywhere remote from the third rack 6.

[0049] To support any part of the cultivation package 8 extending between the third rack 6 and the first rack 3 during the transferring, a bridging unit 85 may be arranged between the third rack 6 and the first rack 4, e.g. as shown in Figs. 6, 7 A and 7B. The bridging unit 85 may for example comprise a platform over which the cultivation package 8 and / or the first flexible base 81 can slide during the transferring, for example comprising a plate and / or one or more planks and / or one or more slats. Alternatively or additionally the bridging unit 85 may for example comprise a passive or active conveyor, e.g. with a conveyor belt and / or rollers and / or one or more chains, over which the cultivation package 8 and / or the first flexible base 81 can be passively or actively conveyed during the transferring. Such a bridging unit 85 can advantageously allow the third rack 6 and the first rack 3 to be somewhat spaced apart to allow one or more walls 9 with doors to be arranged therebetween, while the cultivation package 8 can still be well supported during the transferring from the third rack 6 to the first rack 4.

[0050] By comparing Fig. 7 A and 7B, it can be seen that different variants are possible, for example wherein the first flexible base 81 extends from immediately adjacent the spool 84 of the auxiliary transfer unit 83 (see Fig. 7 A) or wherein the first flexible base 81 extends at a distance from said spool 84 with the optional bridging unit 85, then preferably comprising a conveyor, being able to guide and / or drive the cultivation package 8 along said distance (see Fig. 7B).

[0051] Optionally, with reference Fig. 8 showing a top view, a separator unit 86 may be provided to separate the cultivation package 8 into multiple, e.g. two, sub-packages 8a, 8b extending parallel to each other, in particular along a transfer direction T corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the third rack 6 and / or the first rack 4. Such a separator unit 86, e.g. comprising a wedge 87, a knife and / or a saw, may for example be arranged between the third rack 6 and the first rack 4, e.g. extending upwardly from the optional bridging unit 85, e.g. at a position about halfway between lateral sides thereof. The separator unit 86 may further comprise one or more separator guides 88, e.g. in the form of upwardly extending belts or series of rollers, to guide a (further) separation of the sub-packages 8a, 8b, e.g. immediately downstream of the wedge 87, knife or saw. Such guides 88 are preferably configured to inhibit friction of the guides 88 with the sub-packages 8a, 8b while guiding the sub-packages 8a, 8b apart, e.g. by a belt moving along with the sub-packages 8a, 8b and / or by rollers. Although in Fig. 8 for clarity of the drawing a distance between the sub-packages 8a, 8b at the first rack 4 is shown as a relatively large distance compared to the widths of the subpackages 8a, 8b, such a distance may in practice be kept relatively small so as to maintain an efficient use of space at the first rack 4.

[0052] In case of such separation into sub-packages 8a, 8b, the first flexible base 81 (not shown in Fig. 8, e.g. arranged below the sub-packages 8a, 8b) may correspondingly be provided in separated or separable form as well. Such optional separation of the cultivation package 8 into lateral subpackages 8a, 8b may be particularly advantageous in combination with an arrangement in which the sub-packages are subsequently tilted sideways to provide access to the mushrooms for workers, e.g. for harvesting and / or inspection. Such form of access may be additional or alternative to e.g. using a working space 14 as presented elsewhere herein.

[0053] Further, although in the shown examples the cultivation packages are supported in the racks and moved between the racks while essentially extending in a horizontal plane, alternatively one or some or all of the cultivation packages may partly or fully extend tilted during some or all of the supporting and / or the moving, for example tilted about a longitudinal axis to be lower at one lateral side compared to an opposite lateral side, and / or lower at both lateral sides compared to a central section. Also, cultivation packages may incline and / or decline along the longitudinal transfer direction, for example during the transferring from the third rack to the first rack, in particular so as to allow a level change of the cultivation package between the third rack and the first rack. To that end, the optional bridging unit may be arranged and / or oriented to support such an inclination and / or declination. Such an inclination and / or declination may for example correspond to a level change of up to 1.5 m, for example over a distance of between 3 and 15 m along the transfer direction.

[0054] In figure 2C, all of the cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 have been placed in a first rack 4 of the arrangement of the present invention. The third rack 6 is now empty. During the later phases of the growth process, the space between the cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 may be selectively increased for enabling better ventilation of the cultivation packages. To this end, the cultivation packages will be distributed amongst the first and second rack in an alternating manner, alternatingly filling the support heights of the first rack 4 and the second rack 5. This is for example shown in figures 2D to 2F. The platform 12 comprising the operators 15 may be moved to the support height of cultivation package 8-7 (second from below). Here, the cultivation package 8-7, which is supported in a carriage (23) residing in support elements 22 of the racks, is moved from the first rack 4 to the second rack 5. During movement of the cultivation package 8-7, all kinds of desired operations may be performed. For example, wetting of the cultivation packages or fertilizing may be performed while moving the cultivation package 8-7 through the working area 14. To this end, the support structure 11 may for example comprise a spray nozzle or fertilizer distributor suspended above the passing package 8-7. Such equipment may be suspended from suspension construction 20 (e.g. see also figure 3) on the moveable structure 11. The suspension structure 20 may also, optionally, comprise cameras, light sources, sensors and all kinds of desired tools, sensors and other arrangements for performing necessary operations. The advantage of this construction is that by moving the packages (e.g. cultivation package 8-7) from the first rack 4 to the second rack 5 through the working area 14, these packages move past the available tools in the working area 14 to perform these operations fast and carefully. The moving of the cultivation packages 8 is continued until the desired alternatingly distributed arrangements of cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 is obtained.

[0055] As follows from figure 2E, for example cultivation packages 8-1, 8- 3, 8-5, and 8-7 may have been moved to the second rack 5, while cultivation packages 8-2, 8-4, 8-6, and 8-8 may reside in the first rack 4. As will be appreciated, to perform all required operations on each of the packages equally, the various cultivation packages may be moved back and forth between the first rack 4 and the second rack 5 in such a manner that eventually the alternatingly distributed arrangement of cultivation packages 8-1 to 8-8 is achieved (e.g. figure 2F).

[0056] Further, as may be appreciated, the moving of cultivation packages between the first rack 4 and the second rack 5 may be repeated at different moments during the growth process to perform such operations. The present invention particularly provides an advantage with respect to all these kinds of operations (including harvesting). With the arrangement and method of the present invention, the operators 15 can perform the required operations without having to move between the cultivation packages 8 while these reside in the racks. This provides optimal ergonomic working conditions and good visibility of the cultivation packages for performing the operations correctly and carefully.

[0057] The eventual alternating distribution is illustrated in figure 2F. After each operation being performed, the packages from the second rack 5 may be moved to the first rack 4 and the packages from the first rack 4 may be moved to the second rack 5. Thus, after a next operation is performed on all of the cultivation packages, the stacking of the cultivation packages 8- 1 to 8-8 and the distribution amongst the racks 4 and 5 may be in mirror image with respect to figure 2F.

[0058] The present embodiments comprise racks having a total of eight support heights, allowing eight cultivation packages (8-1 to 8-8) to be stacked in the racks. As may be understood, the invention is not limited to a particular number of cultivation packages or support heights. The skilled person may implement the invention having less or more stacked cultivation packages in the first and second rack, e.g. two or more without having a particular upper limit. The number of packages that may be stacked is at most limited by the dimensions of the space wherein the arrangement of the present invention is installed. Moreover, in the presently described embodiments, the height difference between each two subsequent support heights may be a couple of tens of centimeters (cm), e.g. 50 cm. In an alternatingly stacked distribution illustrated in figure 2F, the height above each cultivation package will therefore be double as much, i.e. approximately 100 cm. The height differences between the support heights may however be different than as suggested above. For example, the height difference could be any of 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, 45 cm, 50 cm, 55 cm, 60 cm, 65 cm, 70 cm, 75 cm, 80 cm, 85 cm, or even larger or smaller, or any distance in between these dimensions. The invention is not limited to a specific height.

[0059] Figure 3 provides a close-up illustration of the operations platform 12 in figure 2E. As can be clearly seen in figure 3, the operations platform is moved to the top most support height and cultivation package 8- 1 is hold from the first rack 4 towards the second rack 5. Operators 15-1 and 15-2 can work from both sides of the cultivation package, e.g. by providing a similar operator platform 12 on either side of the movable structure 11 with respect to the packages 8. The movable structure 11 comprises a suspension structure 20 onto which the above discussed tools and sensors may be mounted. Also visible in figure 3 is the moving means 18 that cooperate with the carriages 23 onto which the cultivation packages 8 are provided, for moving the cultivation packages 8 from one rack 4 to the other rack 5 and backwards. Additional driving means, including an engine and wheels cooperating with the rails 13, may be provided for providing the vertical movement of the operator platform and the moveable structure 11. Figure 3 further shows the support structures 22 at the various heights in the first rack 4 and the second rack 5. The support structures 22 consists of guiding members, e.g. guiding rails 24, as will be shown in figure 4. In the packages 8 a plurality of horticultural products, e.g. mushrooms 25, are grown.

[0060] Turning to figure 4, the harvesting process in accordance with the present invention and using an arrangement of the present invention is illustrated. Figure 4 shows a close up of the moveable structure 11 supporting the operator platform 12. Operators 15-1 and 15-2 are working on either side of the cultivation package. Cultivation package 8-4 is moved from the second rack 5 onto the first rack 4. By doing so, cultivation package 8-4 passes the working area 14 in between the first rack 4 and the second rack 5. The operators 15-1 and 15-2 select the mushrooms which are of the desired size for harvesting. The harvesting is performed manually and the harvested mushrooms are laid down in cradles 40 by each operator. A conveyer arrangement 33 is conveniently installed on a moveable structure 11 for removing the cradles 40 that have been filled during harvesting.

[0061] The movement speed of the cultivation package 8-4 may be controlled by setting the speed of the engine 18 using control buttons 30. The controls 30 may comprise additional buttons for setting the correct height of the operator platform 12 and other necessary controls (e.g. for operation of operator tools or sensors). The engine arrangement for moving the moveable structure 11 and for moving each of the cultivation packages is located inside the housing 32, not visible in figure 4. Figure 4 further shows how each of the cultivation packages 8 is supported in carriages 23. The carriages 23 cooperate with rails 24 such as to form a drawer type of assembly. The rails 24 form the support structures 22 of the racks 4 and 5. By moving a carriage 23 out of one of the racks 4,5 across the working space 14, the carriage 23 engages with the rails 24 of the support structure 22 or the other rack 5,4 on the other side of the working space 14.

[0062] The method of the present invention is illustrated in figure 5. As will be appreciated, figure 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method. This is not the only possible embodiment of the invention, and a skilled person may, where desired, add additional steps, rearrange the order of the steps suggested, or even remove some of the suggested steps without departing from the present invention as defined in the claims. In figure 5, the method starts with the forming of the cultivation packages 8 in step 50, and movement of the cultivation packages to the third rack in step 52. Forming of the cultivation packages in step 50 may be performed in Various ways. For example, it is possible to perform spawning of mushrooms spores in compost to thereby form a package. Alternatively, compost with already spawned spores and ingrown mycelium may be distributed in a layer and may be optionally covered by casing soil for champignon cultivation. As a further alternative, preformed layer blocks of spawned and ingrown compost and optional casing soil may be laid down contiguously to form a cultivation package. The skilled person is able to recognize the various manners in which a cultivation package may be formed in step 50. During step 54, the mushrooms will stay for a while in the third rack during ingrowth of the mycelium into the packages and the forming of buttons at the surface and the growth of the mushrooms. Step 54 is the cultivation step and may take a number of weeks to complete, as illustrated by the schematic clock.

[0063] When the mushrooms are large enough for moving the cultivation packages to the first rack 4, the third rack 6 and the first rack 4 are aligned in step 56, and in step 58 the packages 8 are moved into the first rack 4. After all the cultivation packages have moved into the first rack, the cultivation packages 8 are distributed amongst the first and the second rack 4 and 5 in step 60, providing the alternatingly distributed stacking of the packages in the first and second rack. Operations may be performed on the packages 8 while moving these between the first and the second rack. The mushrooms may not be ready for harvesting yet, and some time (e.g. two or three weeks) may pass in step 62 for growing of the mushrooms to their desired size. In the meantime, where desired, the cultivation packages may be moved in between the first and the second rack 4, 5 back and forth for performing operation on the packages in the working space 14 of the arrangement. This is depending on the needs for the particular case. The moving of the cultivation packages between the racks is illustrated in step 64 and 66 (including sub-steps 67 and 68 and decision step 70). In step 64, the platform is set at a respective support height for moving one of the cultivation packages to the other rack. Next, in step 66 the respective cultivation package 8 is moved to the other rack, while at the same time performing treatment or handling of the mushrooms in step 68. In case this is any operation being performed prior to harvesting, the treatment may consist of fertilizing or wetting or any other kind of treatment of the mushrooms, but alternatively, during harvesting, step 68 may consist in harvesting the mushrooms which are of the desired size.

[0064] Step 68 may also be absent, in which case only the cultivation packages are moved to the other rack or backwards. This is found to be beneficial to the cultivation process as well, as will be explained. During cultivation, even though ventilation is provided for in the growing facility, the mushrooms have been found to benefit from a complete refreshing of the air directly ambient to the mushrooms. This may be achieved by simply operating the arrangement of the present invention by moving the cultivation packages to another rack or backwards, without requiring to perform any additional treatment step. So in case of such a refresh, it is not necessary to perform any handling or treating as is proposed in step 68.

[0065] Then, when the package has been moved to the other rack and the mushrooms have been treated or handled, in step 70 it is decided whether a next package has to be moved to the other rack, or whether all the packages have been treated or handled. Where a next package is to be moved to the other rack, the method continues again in step 64 by moving the operator platform to the next desired support height. Step 66 is then repeated for the further cultivation package. Alternatively, if all the cultivation packages 8 have been moved to the other rack, in step 70 it may be decided that treating or handling of the mushrooms in the cultivation packages is complete, and the method continues with decision step 72. In decision step 72, in case the cultivation method is completed and all (desired) mushrooms have been harvested and no new mushrooms will be taken from the packages, the method may end in step 76. The package is removed and the carriage 23 is cleaned. Even during this step, the arrangement of the present invention may provide an advantage. As will be appreciated, the suspension structure 20 of the arrangement 1 may comprise a cleaning nozzle and cleaning agents for cleaning the carriage 23 during this step. Alternatively in decision step 72, if harvesting has to be performed a further time on the same cultivation packages, the cultivation package 8 is left in tact for the desired duration of time (74) and the method returns back to step 64 at the moment that the cultivation packages are to be treated or harvested again. As will be appreciated, some of the steps described above may be modified, omitted or additional steps may be added to the method described hereinabove.

[0066] The present invention has been described in terms of some specific embodiments thereof. It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described herein are intended for illustrated purposes only and are not by any manner or means intended to be restrictive on the invention. It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings appended thereto. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term 'comprising' and ‘including’ when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus the expression ‘comprising’ as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those listed in any claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure of the invention within its scope. Expressions such as: "means for ...” should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is determined by the claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise then as specifically described herein, and is only limited by the appended claims.

[0067] Referenced method of figure 5:

[0068] 50 Form cultivation packages 8;

[0069] 52 moving of cultivation packages 8 to 3rdrack 6;

[0070] 54 mushroom cultivation, first phase of process;

[0071] 56 aligning of 3rd& 1strack (where needed);

[0072] 58 moving of packages 8 from 3rdrack 6 to 1strack 4;

[0073] 60 moving of packages 8 between 1stand 2ndrack 4, 5 until alternating distribution (e.g. fig. 2f) achieved;

[0074] 62 waiting period between steps (where needed);

[0075] 64 move operation platform 12 to desired working height;

[0076] 66 package handling / treating (incl. sub-steps 67 & 68);

[0077] 67 move package to other rack through working area 14;

[0078] 68 mushroom handling / treating / harvesting (depends on need) — this step may be absent if only refreshing of ambient air is desired;

[0079] 70 decision step: move another package for treatment / handling ?

[0080] 72 decision step: cultivation method complete ?

[0081] 74 waiting period between steps (where needed);

[0082] 76 end method, remove packages 8 and clean carriage 23 (e.g. using arrangement);

Claims

Claims1. Arrangement for the cultivation of horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms, comprising a first rack, wherein the first rack comprises a plurality of support structures arranged at respective support heights for supporting cultivation packages at the plurality of support heights in the first rack, the arrangement further comprising a third rack arranged adjacent and aligned with the first rack, the third rack comprising a plurality of further support structures arranged at respective support heights for supporting cultivation packages at the plurality of heights in the third rack, the arrangement further comprising a transfer unit for moving cultivation packages coming from the third rack along the first rack, the moving comprising pulling a first flexible base on which the cultivation package can be received in the first rack, the arrangement further comprising an auxiliary transfer unit comprising a spool arranged at an end of the third rack closest to the first rack and configured to actively roll up a second flexible base on which the cultivation package can initially be arranged in the third rack to thereby pull the second flexible base with the cultivation package along the third rack towards the first rack and / or towards the first flexible base.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein for providing the transfer unit, one or more of the support structures of the first rack each comprise a pulley comprising a windable longitudinal pulling member, the pulling member having a length for enabling spanning the first rack in longitudinal direction, the pulley being operable for pulling the cultivationpackage along the support structure of the first rack using the pulling member.

3. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a bridging unit is arranged between the third rack and the first rack to support a cultivation package between the third rack and the first rack.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the bridging unit comprises a conveyor, in particular with a conveyor belt configured to be actuated with an upward facing section of the belt in the direction of the first rack from the third rack, corresponding to a transfer direction of a transfer of the cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack.

5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a separator unit configured to separate the cultivation package into multiple sub-packages extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, the separator unit preferably being arranged in or adjacent an interspace between the third rack and the first rack, for example at a bridging unit as defined in claim 3 or 4.

6. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a controller operably connected to, and configured to control, the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit to effect a transfer of a cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack using both said units.

7. Combination of an arrangement according to any of the preceding claims and the first flexible base and the second flexible base, wherein the transfer unit is connected to the first flexible base and the auxiliary transfer unit is connected to the second flexible base.

8. Combination according to claim 7, wherein the first flexible base is arranged completely outside the third rack and / or wherein the second flexible base in arranged completely outside the first rack.

9. Cultivation rack for use as the third rack in an arrangement according to any of claims 1 — 6, wherein the cultivation rack comprises a plurality of support structures arranged at respective support heights for supporting cultivation packages at the plurality of support heights in the cultivation rack, the cultivation rack being provided with an auxiliary transfer unit to form the auxiliary transfer unit of the arrangement, the auxiliary transfer unit comprising a spool arranged at an end of the third rack configured to actively roll up a second flexible base on which the cultivation package can initially be arranged in the third rack to thereby pull the second flexible base with the cultivation package along the third rack, in particular towards the first rack of the arrangement and / or towards a first flexible base on which the cultivation package can be received on the first rack.

10. Cultivation rack according to claim 9, wherein the cultivation rack is arranged for cooperating with the transfer unit of the arrangement, the transfer unit being for moving the cultivation packages coming from the cultivation rack along the first rack of the arrangement.

11. Method of cultivating horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms, using an arrangement according to any of claims 1 — 6, in particular using a combination according to claim 7 or 8, the method comprising the steps of: cultivating, for a first duration of time, the horticultural products in cultivation packages in the third rack; aligning the third rack with the first rack; andmoving, using both the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit, the cultivation packages from the third rack into the first rack, for enabling cultivation of the horticultural products in either one of the first and the second rack for a second duration of time.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the moving of a cultivation package from the third rack to the first rack comprises transferring the cultivation package from a second flexible base on the third rack to a first flexible base on the first rack, and preferably comprises actuating both the first and second flexible bases, using respectively the transfer unit and the auxiliary transfer unit.

13. Use of a cultivation rack according to claim 9 or 10, and / or an arrangement according to any one or more of claims 1 — 6, and / or a combination according to claim 7 or 8, in a method of cultivating horticultural products, more specifically mushrooms.

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