Removable Side Support for Plant Carrier Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cultivating plants using floating systems face challenges in gripping the growth medium without damaging the leaves or roots, especially when using automated means, as the growth medium becomes difficult to handle due to its integration within the carrier apertures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a carrier with apertures and a removable side support structure that provides sideways support to the growth medium during initial stages, allowing it to gain cohesive strength and be easily gripped and lifted for increased spacing, with the support structure removed before the second growth stage to facilitate handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the growth medium is integrated within the carrier apertures without additional support structures, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the growth medium becomes difficult to grip and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The removable side support structure is installed before the growth medium is placed in the carrier apertures. This preliminary action creates temporary sidewalls that protrude above the growth medium, providing gripping surfaces for automated handling systems. After the growth medium gains cohesive strength, the support structure is removed, allowing the now-handleable growth medium to be gripped and spaced without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable side support structure acts as an intermediary element between the carrier and the growth medium during the initial handling phase. It provides the necessary gripping surfaces that the growth medium alone cannot provide, facilitating automated operation without requiring specialized pots or wrapping materials.
2Productivity
If the growth medium is gripped from above or below using automated means, then the productivity is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase because the leaves or roots may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of gripping the growth medium from above (vertical dimension) or below (vertical dimension), the removable side support structure enables gripping from the side (horizontal dimension). The support structure protrudes above the growth medium, creating lateral gripping surfaces that allow automated systems to handle the growth medium without compressing or damaging the plant leaves or roots.
3Ease of operation
If specialized plant pots or wrapping papers are used to facilitate gripping, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to the additional materials required
Solution Approach 1:
The removable side support structure is a temporary element that is discarded after serving its purpose. It is removed after the growth medium gains sufficient cohesive strength, allowing the growth medium to be handled directly. This approach avoids the need for expensive specialized pots or wrapping materials while providing the necessary handling capability during the critical initial phase.
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
Enables the safe and efficient handling of the growth medium without damaging the plants, reducing costs associated with specialized pots or wrapping materials by allowing sideways gripping and exposure of the growth medium for easy manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
at least a significant part of the requirement for moisture of said plant or the precursor thereof is satisfied by an intermediate space between said carrier and said water supply and/or by said carrier
Implementation Method 2
at least two horizontally opposing sides of an upper part of the growth medium are sideways supported along a height by corresponding sides of a removable side support structure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the cultivation of a number of plants (9), comprising providing a carrier with apertures for said plants (3, 13) and providing a water supply (8), wherein said carrier can be provided on said water supply in a floating manner and wherein a growth medium containing the roots of said plant or the precursor thereof are placed in an air-containing intermediate space (10) in the apertures in said carrier at such a distance from said water supply that said roots of said plant or the precursor thereof are situated at a vertical distance (a) from said water supply, wherein at least two horizontally opposing sides of an upper part of the growth medium are sideways supported along a height (h) by corresponding sides of a removable side support structure (18), removably arranged on top of the carrier.