Movable Rack Plant Cultivation System for Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant cultivation systems, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, result in reduced crop acreage due to the need for aisles between racks and the inability to utilize space where movable racks are drawn out, limiting indoor cultivation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A plant cultivation system featuring a plurality of racks with cultivation vessels, a travel line with guide rails, and electric wires for driving a pump and illumination, allowing racks to advance based on plant growth, thereby optimizing space usage and increasing crop acreage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If movable racks are drawn out from fixed racks for plant harvesting and movement, then plants can be accessed and moved, but space is wasted in the drawn-out area and aisles between rack units
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system transitions from static fixed racks to dynamic movable racks that can autonomously move along guide rails. The racks move forward to access plants for harvesting, then automatically return to their original positions, eliminating the need for permanent aisle spaces and maximizing crop acreage while maintaining operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack system performs self-service through automatic movement and positioning. The racks autonomously navigate along the guide rails, move forward to access plants, and return to their starting positions without requiring manual intervention or permanent aisle spaces, thereby optimizing space utilization while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If aisles are provided between adjacent plant cultivation rack units, then racks can be accessed and operated, but the aisle space cannot be used for cultivation
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates static aisles by implementing dynamic movable racks that travel along guide rails. The racks move forward to access plants in adjacent units, perform operations, and return to their original positions, allowing the entire floor area to be used for cultivation without requiring permanent aisle spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail system serves multiple functions: it provides the pathway for rack movement, defines the cultivation area boundaries, and enables rack-to-rack communication and coordination. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate aisle spaces, maximizing the usable cultivation area while maintaining operational accessibility.
3Productivity
If racks are arranged in multiple rows for cultivation, then cultivation capacity increases, but aisle space and drawn-out space reduce overall crop acreage
Solution Approach 1:
The system arranges racks in multiple rows along guide rails, enabling high cultivation capacity. The racks dynamically move forward to access plants in adjacent rows, perform harvesting or maintenance operations, and return to their starting positions. This dynamic movement eliminates the need for permanent aisle spaces between rows, allowing the entire facility area to be utilized for cultivation while maintaining high productivity through multi-row arrangements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances indoor crop acreage by allowing racks to move and adjust based on plant growth stages, optimizing space utilization and improving cultivation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pump and a tank (18), provided at a lower portion of the racks (1), for circulating water between the water supply pipe (16) and the water drain pipe (17)
Implementation Method 2
an illumination means (19) for illuminating a plant cultivated in the plurality of cultivation vessels (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Provided are: a plant cultivation method for improving the crop acreage of plants that are cultivated indoors, a plant cultivation system, and a rack that is comprised in the plant cultivation system. The plant cultivation method of the present invention comprises: setting a cultivation vessel 2 for cultivating a plant P in a rack 1; adjacently arranging a plurality of the racks 1 on a travel line in order of growth of the plant P; intermittently advancing the rack 1 according to a growth state of the plant P; and separating the first rack 1 from the following rack(s) 1, and making a new rack 1 adjacent to the last rack 1 of the following rack(s) 1.