WO2014147267A1 - Improvements made to invention patent number 200902150, by "automated system for plant cultivation" - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated system for plant cultivation to which improvements have been made, comprising a series of parcels (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) defined laterally by passages (5). The parcels are provided with frames or carriages with trays (6) made from cork and equipped with cavities filled with substrate for the cultivation of the plants, said carriages and trays being moved longitudinally through the different parcels and transversely along the ends of the parcels in order to change direction and move from one parcel to another. A cutting element or device (8) is provided at the corresponding outlet at the front part of the first parcel (1) for cutting the cultivated plants, and two rails extend therefrom, namely: a deceleration and transfer rail (9), and a rail (10) for returning the trays to the cultivation parcels.

Description

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BEST TNTROPHYTICAL ASSOCIATIONS FN T A FAITHFUL PATENT ΪΝΥΕΝΓΤόΝ NUMBER 200902150, BY "STSTFMA ATITOMATTZAFÍO FOR EJ

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f e R T P C T O N f f TA TNVFNCTÓN OBJECT

The present invention relates to a series of improvements introduced in the object of the main invention patent number 200902150, in which an automated system for growing vegetables is described.

By means of the improvements that will be described later, it is intended to achieve a significant saving in labor and machinery required in the automated system for plant cultivation object of the main invention patent mentioned above.

FF T A TNVENCTÓN BACKGROUND

In the main invention patent number 200902150 an automated system for plant cultivation is described, based on the fact that the area available or intended for cultivation is divided into two collateral plots and separated by an intermediate aisle, so that at one of the ends of The first plot provides means and operators for planting vegetables in pipes or crop lines that run transversely, but with longitudinal displacement in the corresponding plot, establishing at the other end means of change of direction so that the cross crop lines can access the second plot and run to the front end where another series of operators collect the vegetables.

That is, at the ends of the plots that are established in the cultivation zone, the cultivation lines themselves are automatically dragged by appropriate mechanical means, moving with chains or means similar to the rest of the cultivation lines of each plot, being the last crop line transferred to the second plot and vice versa, that is, from the front end of the latter to the front end of the first plot, using rails suitable for this with a mobile car or any other similar element capable of grabbing each line of cultivation, raise it, move it to the other plot and access again to the general plane of the last crop line.

It would be desirable to further reduce the labor force participating in the system, in order to achieve an increase in performance.

FROM IPCI N OF T TO INVENTION

The improvements object of the invention consist in using trays of suitable material with alveoli filled with substrate (peat type, perlite or other material), for feeding the vegetable, as if it were a classic crop.

Said trays are moved in parcels established in the growing area, which may include two, three or more plots, separated from each other by corresponding aisles, so that in the first plot the trays move in corresponding cars or racks on guides or rails, longitudinally to the plot, so that at the end of it they change direction and the cars or racks are directed transversely to be introduced in the rest of the plots, All this in an automated way.

On the other hand, it is foreseen that at the front end of the first plot, there is at the exit a cutting or mowing device of the plants that come from the previous plots, in corresponding cars that in this frontal part will run transversely with respect to the direction Longitudinal of the plots.

After the mowing or cutting of the plants at the above-mentioned exit, and depending on the type of plants that are grown, the cork trays will leave the installation immediately after the plants are cut, reintegrating back to the closed-circuit installation, when These are plants that, when cut, sprout again, so that in this area it is also planned that they can incorporate trays with new plants for their cultivation.

In short, it is about the trays with the plants, they are given a movement so that they move from the planting area or front end of the initial plot, make the relevant route, and return to that same front end to reach the side area of mowing or cutting, all automatically and depending on the state of development of the plants.

The support trolleys of the trays are provided with two types of wheels to facilitate movement, some of the rolling type, on which the weight of the frame corresponding to the carriage and crop falls, and other sides that They perform the function of guided by the corresponding rail.

The cars or racks that move along the cultivation area will be subjected to two movements, a longitudinal displacement of advance within the same plot, made by means of wheels of the frame or carriage along the paths provided for that purpose, and a transverse displacement perpendicular to the previous one, of transport towards the exit area where the mowing or cutting of the plants is carried out, as well as the relocation or return of the trays towards the cultivation plots, this return being carried out through rollers or guides, but always in movements that define a closed circuit, so that each carriage or frame travels the plots longitudinally and transversely with return to the initial end of the first plot. The longitudinal displacement in each plot is made based on some pushers, all in an automated system and that makes the racks or cars remain next to each other, so that they contact each other with an integral use of the available surface, which allows a sharp increase in the area of the plantation, eliminating, practically in its entirety, the aisles and increasing the production per unit area.

In short, by means of the system or improvements of the invention, a considerable saving in labor and machinery is achieved, since in this case no operators are required, as was the case in the main invention patent, since it is only enough to arrange the trays at the entrance and both the crop and the harvest or cut will be done automatically without the need for operators. ΠΕΚΓΚΤΡΓΤΟΝ f T T DTRTT.TOS

To complement the description that will then be made and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, an integral drawing is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: The figure shown in the drawing corresponds to a schematic representation in plan of a cultivation area with several plots, all in accordance with the improvements corresponding to an automated system for cultivation of vegetables.

RFAT TZACTÓN PRFFFRFNTF FROM J TO TNVFNCTÓN

As can be seen in the aforementioned figure, the cultivation area comprises a series of plots adjacent collaterally to each other, which have been referenced with the numbers (1, 2, 3 and 4), the number of plots being any other and all they separated by corresponding corridors (5).

In all the aforementioned plots cars, racks, or similar elements carrying trays (6) full of peat or other material suitable for plant cultivation are arranged, cars that in each plot (1, 2, 3, 4 ...) , they move in a longitudinal direction as indicated by the arrows, and at the ends of such plots in a transverse direction, foreseeing guides (7) transverse to the plots (1), that is to say the direction of movement or displacement of the carriages or tray racks (6), in order that when they reach the ends they can change direction and can be introduced in one or the other of the aforementioned plots, seeing the arrows that indicate the direction of transverse displacement both in the front and in the back, in the corresponding guides (7).

At the exit of the guide (7) from the front end corresponding to the first plot (1), a cutting or mowing device (8) is provided that logically makes the cutting or mowing of the plants that reach that area, so that after mowing, there is a deceleration and transfer lane (9) and a reentry lane (10) back to the first plot (1), to follow the trays the movements in the different plots as previously stated, being pushed longitudinally by pushers provided for this purpose and displaced both in longitudinal direction and the change to produce transverse displacement, by automatically operated mechanical elements conveniently provided for that purpose.

Claims

Κ Ε Τ ν Τ Ϊ Γ ACTONFS 1. - Improvements introduced in the invention patent number 200902150 for "Automated system for growing vegetables", applicable to growing areas divided into plots (1, 2, 3, 4, ...) delimited by longitudinal aisles (5 ), counting both at the front end and at the rear end of the plots with automated means for longitudinal and transverse displacement of elements carrying the plants to be cultivated, characterized in that the elements carrying the plants to be cultivated are made up of trays with alveoli stuffed with substrate for feeding the plant, whose trays are arranged in trolleys, racks or similar elements that move on corresponding rails, provided both longitudinally in the different plots and transversely at the ends of these; It is further provided that at the exit of the initial plot corresponding to the previous end, a device or element for mowing or cutting the cultivated plants is included. 2. - Improvements introduced in the patent of invention number 200902150 for "Automated system for the cultivation of vegetables", according to claim 1, characterized in that following the device or element for cutting or mowing the plants, both a rail or deceleration and transfer guide (9), such as a rail or guide (10) for forwarding the trays to the different plots corresponding to the growing area, establishing a movement of the trays in a closed circuit in the growing area.