Movable Wall Greenhouse Chamber Pest Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased density of plants in vertical farming greenhouses leads to a higher risk of pest infestation, necessitating the use of pesticides, which increases production costs and reduces ecological acceptance.

Innovation Solution

A greenhouse arrangement with movable walls on the loading and unloading sides, allowing for controlled access and minimizing exposure to external pests, while maintaining a sealed environment during container handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the chamber is kept completely closed to prevent pest entry, then pest protection is improved, but loading and unloading operations become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest protectionVSAvoidloading and unloading operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wall is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between closed (for pest protection) and open (for loading/unloading) states. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The opening in the movable wall can be positioned at different heights to expose only the specific receiving position that needs access. This segmented approach to opening control minimizes exposure to pests while enabling necessary operations at targeted locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the opening is made large to facilitate container insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but pest entry risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer insertionVSAvoidpest entry risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening size and position are dynamically adjustable through the movable wall mechanism. The opening can be made large enough for container insertion when needed, then closed immediately afterward to prevent pest entry, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and pest protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable wall is positioned to close the opening after container insertion is complete. This preliminary closing action prevents pest entry risk that would otherwise exist during and after the loading operation, while still allowing sufficient opening size for easy container insertion when the wall is open.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the wall is made thin to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The wall derives its stability not from thickness alone but from its movable structure and engagement with support elements during operation. The dynamic positioning and coupling mechanisms provide structural reinforcement when needed, allowing the wall to be thinner while maintaining stability during both closed and open states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3883362B1Greenhouse arrangement
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP3883362B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3883362B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3883362B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A greenhouse arrangement comprising a chamber (25) in which multiple receiving positions (24, 24a) for planter boxes are arranged one above the other, which are accessible from a loading side (15) of the chamber (25). In such a greenhouse arrangement, plants should be able to grow without any pesticide or with as little pesticide as possible. To this end, the invention provides that the chamber (25) is delimited on the loading side (15) by a movable wall (30) which has an opening (31) that can be moved from a first position, in which the chamber (25) is not accessible from the outside, into at least one second position, in which one of the receiving positions (24, 24a) in the chamber (25) is accessible from the outside.