WO2025062348A1 - Handling plant for agricultural or forestry crops, cultivation plant comprising said handling plant, process for operating said handling plant and cultivation process through said handling plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The handling plant (1, 1') according to the invention comprises a first (9, 9') and a second runway guide (11), and a shuttle assembly (13) in turn comprising a mother shuttle (15) and a satellite shuttle (17). The shuttle assembly (13) is configured for carrying the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one first runway guide (9, 9') until it is brought at or in the proximity to the at least one second runway guide (11). The satellite shuttle (17) is configured for detaching from the mother shuttle (15) and carry the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one second runway guide (11). The invention also concerns a cultivation plant (3, 3' ) and processes for operating the handling plant (1, 1').

Description

HANDLING PLANT FOR AGRICULTURAL OR FORESTRY CROPS, CULTIVATION PLANT COMPRISING SAID HANDLING PLANT, PROCESS FOR OPERATING SAID HANDLING PLANT AND CULTIVATION PROCESS THROUGH SAID HANDLING PLANT

This International Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. IT102023000019521 the whole content of which is incorporated by reference.

Field of the invention

[1] The present invention concerns a handling plant for agricultural or forestry crops, a cultivation plant comprising said handling plant and processes for operating said handling plant.

[2] These plants and processes are particularly advantageous for managing greenhouses and vertical farms

- commonly called vertical farms in the technical jargon

- where to grow vegetables, fruits, algae and vegetables in general, mushrooms and lichens.

Prior art

[3] Growing techniques are known in which vegetables, fruits, flowers or other vegetables are grown off-soil, that is, above ground level or the field level in large and relatively low aluminium and/or plastic racks intended to contain the plants.

[4] These containers, sometimes called "benches", often have a width comprised between 120-180 cm and a length often comprised between 120-480 cm.

[5] The weight can often be comprised between 40-300 Kg depending on the material of the bench which can contain smaller containing trays for plants, commonly also called planters and/or a solid growing bed consisting for example of soil, loam, peat and/or sand sprayed with water or other liquid "fertilizing-irrigating" solution, i.e. with nutrients added based on the needs of the water to give a nutrient base of micro and macro nutrients to the plants.

[6] According to some well-known and fairly widespread cultivation methods, plants are sprouted in a special environment called "nursery", after which they are replanted into receptacles 60 of little trays 6, generally made of plastic material, having a weight and overall size such that they can be easily manipulated by hand (Figure 2).

[7] The receptacles 60 contain the growing bed, for example peat, soil, sand or other granular, powdery or otherwise incoherent, solid material.

[8] Several little trays 6 are housed in one of the aforementioned benches in which the plants will complete their growth or a significant part of it will take place, before sometimes being further replanted into a further growing bed.

[9] The benches are usually laid on metal support frames such as grids or aluminium profiles with circular or square section, distributed along the entire bay of a greenhouse.

[10] Then, in greenhouses with fully manual handling, the operators, often unskilled personnel, most of the time do not displace the benches but only the little trays, picking up from the benches the little trays whose plants are ready for cutting or in any case for harvest or must be eliminated as they are sick, and placing new little trays in the benches containing younger plants, still to be grown.

[11] The benches are generally left still in their initial position until harvest or at most displaced about 20-60 centimetres during the entire cultivation cycle to allow operators to pass between them to prune, check for any pathologies and perform other basic agronomic care and activities.

[12] Some drawbacks of this cultivation method are the high number of manual displacements of the little trays 6 and the equally high labour requirements.

[13] A further drawback is that often this type of nonautomated greenhouses is switched off and deactivated in the autumn or winter season and reactivated in spring - in Italy the closure period often lasts from November to April, starting in some cases also at the end of August - in order to reduce heating and lighting costs, but it is not easy to find a lot of labour available for several months of the year but not all year round.

[14] To try to reduce these inconveniences and generally increase the profitability of an off-soil cultivation plant, these solutions have been devised.

SI) Displacing by hand the benches provided with rollers that slide on guides longitudinal to the bay of the greenhouse: this is a very widespread system in technologically more advanced greenhouses that allows to slightly reduce the distance between the different rows of benches slightly increasing the useful space for cultivation, it is not acceptable in large greenhouses.

[15] The length of the bays of a greenhouse currently varies between about 10-120 metres, with a preferential length of about 100 metres for greenhouses for commercial-scale, non-experimental productions.

[16] Current benches are generally rectangular in shape and based on the features of the growing environment, they are generally oriented transversely to the direction of the row they form; this row is preferably as long as a bay of the greenhouse and each bay tends to contain two rows of benches; therefore each 100-metre long bay contains a number of benches approximately comprised between 50-80 X 2 = 100-160 benches.

[17] If the benches are handled once a day as per First- In-First-Out criterion, which allows to reduce the width of the aisles that separate the rows of the benches in very long bays, it is indicatively necessary every day to make a number of displacements of the benches equal to the number of the benches themselves, that is 100-160 displacements per day for each bay of a greenhouse, that is, a number of daily displacements that is considerable; even if they are not carried out daily and/or according to the First-In-First-Out criterion, the number of manual displacements of the benches during the growth cycle of a crop generally remains considerable, which does not significantly reduce the need for low-skilled labour required for this very repetitive work, maintaining this need indicatively between 2-8 operators for each hectare cultivated.

[18] In addition, the manual handling of benches greatly increases accidents at work, of various types - from crushing due to heavy benches without brake to muscle strains and torn muscles, sprains, the onset and early worsening of low back pain, herniated discs, arthritis and other long-term diseases.

S2) laying the benches provided with rollers on sliding guides which extend along the bay of the greenhouse and pushing the benches with a plurality of electric motors arranged along the guides; this solution significantly increases the initial and management cost of the plant due to the high probability that at least one of the many electric motors installed will fail every day, this probability according to the author of the present invention is often equal to 1, therefore this solution has been applied, to the knowledge of the inventor of the present invention, in very rare cases;

S3) laying benches provided with rollers on sliding guides which extend along the bay of the greenhouse and pushing the benches with chains, as described for example in patent application EP3861852 Al; the latter solution considerably reduces the required labour but in the presently known embodiments according to the author of the present invention has led to plants with very heavy and redundant mechanical structures, in other words to an excess of mechanical carpentry that unduly increases the initial cost of the plant itself; in addition, a jam, breakage or other failure in the chain is relatively long and expensive to repair and can block the handling of the benches of an entire bay and the entire production cycle even for several hours.

[19] It is also known to apply to greenhouse cultivation various techniques and handling plants derived from other technological sectors, such as for example the loading AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles') described in publications CN216805044U and CN213621885U, the towing AGV described in publication CN217739780U, the AGV- managed greenhouses described in publications CN114766249A and CN218007289U, or the roller conveyors with seeding trolley described in publication

CN116040218A [20] However, the author of the present invention believes that AGVs in general are not fast and cheap enough to carry out the large number of bench displacements that may be necessary to be performed in a greenhouse on a daily basis; and they also believe that known plants based on roller conveyors or tracks along which trolleys dragged by chains slide are excessively expensive and complicated.

[21] An object of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks and in particular to provide a mechanized system and method for handling benches for intensive plant cultivations, for example in greenhouses, vertical farms and other controlled environments, or for handling other load objects that require lower construction costs and initial investments while offering better performance or which is in any case not worse than the mechanized plants and processes currently used in agriculture.

Summary of the invention

[22] This object is achieved, according to the present invention, with a handling plant having the features according to claim 1.

[23] According to a particular embodiment, in said handling plant (1, 1') the shuttle assembly (13, 13’), the mother shuttle (15, 15’) and/or the satellite shuttle (17) have one or more of the following features:

-the shuttle assembly (13, 13') and/or the mother shuttle (15, 15’) is configured for carrying on itself and/or lifting a weight load equal to or lower than 1500 kg and/or equal to or greater than 200 kg;

-the satellite shuttle (17) is configured for carrying on itself and/or lift a weight load equal to or lower than 600 kg and/or equal to or greater than 30 kg;

- the shuttle assembly (13, 13’), the mother shuttle (15, 15’) and/or the satellite shuttle (17) is configured for moving along the respective at least one first (9, 9') or at least second runway guide (11) with a maximum speed equal to or lower than 600 metres/minute.

[24] According to a particular embodiment, in said handling plant (1, 1'):

-at least said second runway guide (11) has the shape of an oblong profile or rail, forms a runway surface (110) and a resting surface (112) which are substantially oblong in shape and extend longitudinally to the at least one second runway guide (11);

-the satellite shuttle (17) is provided with wheels (170) or runners configured for resting on and respectively rolling or sliding along the runway surface (110) allowing the satellite shuttle (17) to displace itself along the at least one second runway guide (17);

-during normal operation of the handling plant (1, 1') the runway surface (110) is located substantially further down than the resting surface (112).

[25] According to a particular embodiment, in said handling plant (1, 1') the satellite shuttle (13) is configured for carrying on itself a load object (5) displacing it along the at least one second runway guide (11) and laying it on the resting surface (112) and/or picking it up from the resting surface (112).

[26] A cultivation plant (3, 3') according to a particular embodiment of the invention comprises at least one predetermined load object (5) and wherein: -the predetermined load object (5) has one or more of the following features: -the shape of a platform;

-the shape of a tray or tank;

-a width (WB) comprised between 0,5-4 metres;

-a length (LB) comprised between 1-9 metres;

-is configured for containing a load having a weight equal to or lower than 300 kg, where the load comprises a bed of incoherent material.

[27] In a second aspect of the invention, this object is achieved with a cultivation plant having the features according to claim 8.

[28] In a third aspect of the invention, this object is achieved with a method for operating a handling plant having the features according to claim 10.

[29] In a fourth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved with a process for operating a handling plant having the features according to claim 12.

[30] In a fifth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved with a cultivation process having the features according to claim 15.

[31] Further features of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[32] The advantages achievable with the present invention will become more apparent, to the person skilled in the art, from the following detailed description of some particular non-limiting examples of embodiment, illustrated with reference to the following schematic figures.

List of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cultivation platform set up for use in the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a little cultivation tray configured for being housed in the cultivation platform of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a greenhouse and a vertical farm according to two respective particular embodiments of cultivation plants according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the distribution in space of the first and second runway guides of a cultivation island of the greenhouse of Figure 3 and of the cultivation platforms laid on said second runway guides;

Figure 4A shows an enlarged detail of Figure 3;

Figure 4A shows the detail of a portion of the distribution in space of the first and second runway guides of Figure 4;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second runway guide and of a satellite shuttle of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a broken perspective view of a first example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a track formed by two second runway guides, a satellite shuttle and a cultivation platform loaded on the shuttle of the cultivation plants of Figure 3, according to an observation direction parallel to the second runway guides;

Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the distribution in space of the first, second and third runway guides of a cultivation island of the vertical farm of Figure 3 and of the cultivation platforms laid on said second runway guides;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the distribution in space of the first, second and third runway guides of the island of Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view with a detail of the first, second and third runways of the island of Figure 8;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the shuttle assembly of the cultivation island of Figure 8;

Figure 12 shows a first perspective view of an AGV belonging to the handling system of the greenhouse and/or of the vertical farm of Figure 3, without a cultivation platform;

Figure 13 shows a second perspective view of the AGV of Figure 12 on which a cultivation platform of Figure 1 is loaded and inserted, in which a plurality of cultivation trays are inserted;

Figure 14 shows a broken perspective view of a second example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 15 shows a broken perspective view of a third example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 16 shows a broken perspective view of a fourth example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 17 shows a broken perspective view of a fifth example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 18 shows a broken perspective view of a sixth example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3.

Figure 19 shows a broken perspective view of a seventh example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 20 shows a broken perspective view of an eighth example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3;

Figure 21 shows a broken perspective view of a ninth example of a profile, bar or beam that can be used to make one of the two second runway guides of the cultivation plants of Figure 3.

Detailed description

[33] The attached Figures relate to a plant and a handling process, indicated with the overall reference 1, according to a first particular embodiment of the present invention.

[34] The handling plant 1 is preferably part of a cultivation plant 3 (Figure 3); the latter preferably comprises a plurality of cultivation platforms 5, each of which may for example have the shape of a substantially crushed parallelepiped and/or of a box or of a large and low tank closed below by a bottom, provided with lateral sidewalls and preferably open at the top so as to be able to contain a plurality of cultivation trays 6 described in more detail below or directly a growing bed (Figure 1, 13). [35] The growing bed may for example comprise a layer of solid material such as sand, expanded clay, peat of different humic composition, plant fibres and/or soil soaked in an appropriate amount of an aqueous solution having the function of both irrigating and fertilising the plants.

[36] A cultivation platform 5 can be set up for cultivating vegetables, aromatic and/or medicinal plants, other plants or fungi for example with a so- called "ebb and flow" hydroponic technique.

[37] For this purpose the cultivation plant 3 may for example comprise a plurality of taps or other water delivery outlets arranged near and above the cultivation platforms 5, and a plurality of collection channels arranged near and further down than the cultivation platforms and preferably longitudinal to the relative bay of the greenhouse.

[38] The benches are preferably laid on the second runway guides 11, described below, with a slight slope so that the water falls from these outlets onto the platforms 5 and drains by gravity into the collection channels through one or more drainage outlets present at the bottom of the platforms 5.

[39] Alternatively, water can be introduced to each cultivation platform 5 through external pipes to which the platform 5 connects via suitable quick couplings when it reaches suitable stations or other stationing positions.

[40] A cultivation platform 5 may for example have one or more of the following features:

-an external length LB comprised between 1-9 metres, between 2-6 metres, between 3-7 metres, between 4-5 metres and for example equal to about 4,4-4,6 metres;

-an external width WB comprised between 0,5-4 metres, or between 1-3 metres, between 1,5-2 metres or between 1,6- 1,7 metres;

-an external height HB comprised between 0,03-1 metre, or between 5-50 centimetres, between 10-25 centimetres or between 13-17 centimetres;

-an empty weight -i.e. a tare- comprised between 50-300 kg, or between 100-200 kg or between 140-160 kg;

-a fully loaded weight comprised between 50-400 kg, or between 100-300 kg or between 200-280 kg or between 240- 250 kg and for example not higher than 280-300 kg.

[41] Each cultivation platform 5 has a preferably oblong plan shape (Figure 1).

[42] The ratio of the plan length LB to the plan width WB of a cultivation platform 5 is preferably comprised between 1,5-4 times, and more preferably between 2-3 times or between 2,5-2,7 times.

[43] In each cultivation platform 5 a plurality of smaller and lighter trays 6 are preferably arranged (Figure 2, 13), for example from 5 to 30 trays in each cultivation platform 5.

[44] Each smaller tray 6, also referred to as little tray 6 in the present description, preferably comprises a plurality of receptacles 60 each of which is configured for containing a small amount of growing substrate.

[45] The smallest trays 6 lend themselves to being handled and manipulated with anthropomorphic robots and other automatic or semi-automatic equipment.

[46] The cultivation plant 3, 3’ may comprise one or more cultivation islands 7,7' each of which in turn preferably comprises a grouping of several cultivation platforms 5, one or more first runway guides 9,9' one or more second runway guides 11 and at least one shuttle assembly 13, 13' (Figure 4, 4B, 11).

[47] Advantageously each cultivation island 5 is provided with at least two first runway guides 9, 9'and two shuttle assemblies 13, 13' (Figure 4, 7, 8).

[48] The one or more first runway guides 9,9' the one or more second runway guides 11 and the at least one shuttle assembly 13, 13' are part of the handling plant 1, 1'.

[49] Preferably the handling plant 1, 1' comprises one or more groupings of second runway guides 11 arranged parallel or in any case side by side each other at least in each grouping (Figure 4, 8).

[50] In this case the second runway guides 11 of each grouping are preferably arranged with the ends aligned with each other (Figure 4, 4A, 4B).

[51] Each of said groupings is part of a respective cultivation island 7.

[52] Each first runway guide 9, 9' of each grouping is arranged substantially perpendicular or transverse to the second runway guides 11 (Figure 4).

[53] For this purpose, when a grouping of guides 11 or cultivation island comprises two first runway guides 9,9' they are preferably arranged along two opposite sides of the grouping of guides 11 itself (Figure 4); in this case the two first runway guides 9, 9' are preferably parallel or in any case longitudinal to each other (Figure 4).

[54] Preferably the second runway guides 11 of each grouping of the plants 1, 1' are arranged close together in pairs so as to form a plurality of tracks, meaning thereby that the distance DI between two adjacent pairs of guides 11 is greater than the distance D2 between two guides 11 of the same pair (Figure 4, 4A).

[55] The first 9,9' second 11 and third runways 19 are preferably straight in space; however in embodiments not shown they may also extend along curved lines in a plane or in three-dimensional space.

[56] As for example in the plant 1, 1' the second runway guides 11 of each grouping - for example of each cultivation island 7- can lie - preferably together with the relative one or more first runway guides 9, 9' - on a substantially flat and preferably horizontal surface during normal operation of the plant 1, 1'.

[57] As for example in the plant 1 the second runway guides 11 of each grouping - for example of each cultivation island 7- can be distributed - preferably together with the relative one or more first runway guides 9, 9'- on a single level forming a substantially two-dimensional distribution 8, i.e. having a negligible height or thickness DRH with respect to the length DRL and width DRW of the distribution 8.

[58] Each first runway guide 9 of each grouping 8 also preferably extends horizontally (Figure 4).

[59] The second runway guides 11 can have a length for example comprised between 10-150 metres, or between 20- 130 metres, between 30-120 metres, between 40-100 metres, between 50-70 metres or between 80-90 metres and/or such as to allow a number of cultivation platforms 5 to be laid on top of them, for example comprised between 2-200, between 5-150, between 10-100, between 20-70, between 30-60 or between 40-52 platforms 5 on each second runway 11 or on each track formed by a pair of two second runways 11. [60] Each cultivation island 7, 7’ may comprise a number of tracks of second runways 11 for example comprised between 1-50, between 3-30, between 10-15 or between 13- 14 tracks.

[61] Advantageously, the distance D2 between two second runway guides 11 of the same pair of guides is lower than the length LB of the cultivation platforms 5 or other load objects 5 to be handled through the plant 1, allowing to lay on each track - that is, on each close pair of second guides 11- one or more cultivation platforms 5 arranged transversely to the track itself, as will also be explained below, allowing to lay a greater number of platforms 5 on each second guide 11 or track comprising two second guides 11.

[62] In an embodiment not shown, however, the distance D2 between two second runway guides 11 of the same pair of guides can be lower than the width WB of the cultivation platforms 5 or other load objects 5 to be handled through the plant 1, allowing to lay on each track one or more cultivation platforms 5 arranged longitudinally to the track itself.

[63] According to one aspect of the invention, each shuttle assembly 13, 13’ is configured for carrying a cultivation platform 5 or other predetermined load 5 along the at least one first runway guide 9, 9’ until bringing the cultivation platform 5 or other predetermined load 5 at or in the proximity to the at least one second runway guide 11.

[64] Each shuttle assembly 13, 13’ in turn comprises a mother shuttle 15 and a satellite shuttle 17 (Figure 5, 14).

[65] The satellite shuttle 17 is configured for detaching or otherwise separating reversibly - and clearly fixing or otherwise joining reversibly, for example by means of mechanical couplings - preferably actuated by suitable actuators - from the mother shuttle 15, 15’ and carrying a cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 along the at least one second runway guide 11.

[66] For this purpose, the satellite shuttle 17 is advantageously configured for depositing and laying on a second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11 the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 it was carrying.

[67] The satellite shuttle 17 is also design to pick up a cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 from a second runway guide 11 or from a track formed by two second runway guides 11, on which the platform or other load object 5 can be for example laid, and join and fix reversibly to the mother shuttle 15, preferably while it is carrying - for example laid on itself - a cultivation platform 5.

[68] For this purpose the satellite shuttle 17 is advantageously configured for lifting and loading on itself a cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 initially laid on a second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11.

[69] To carry out these handlings of the cultivation platforms, the satellite shuttle 17 is preferably provided with a lifting system configured for lifting and lowering a cultivation platform 5 laid on the upper part of the satellite shuttle itself so as to respectively lift it or lay it on one or more second runway guides 11, for example on the upper part of said second runway guides 11 especially when they have cross- sections substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped.

[70] Such a lifting system may for example comprise a cover or liftable plate, one or more hydraulic or electric jacks, one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or other linear actuators.

[71/] This lifting system is configured for ensuring that:

-at least in a lifting condition the satellite shuttle 17 has an overall height HN greater than the overall height HG of the runway guide 11 or of the runway guides 11 on which the shuttle 17 can slide (Figure 6, 7); and -at least in a lowered condition the satellite shuttle 17 has an overall height HN lower than the overall height HG of the runway guide 11 or of the runway guides 11 on which the shuttle 17 can slide.

[72] Always for these purposes the satellite shuttle 17 can have for example the shape of an overall flat and wide trolley (Figure 5, 11).

[73] Each mother shuttle 15 is preferably configured for carrying, preferably laid on top of itself, the respective satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 loaded on the satellite shuttle 17, at least when the mother shuttle 15 and satellite 17 displace themselves along a first runway guide 9, 9’ or station on that first runway guide 9, 9’ (Figure 4B, 11); this condition is an example of how the mother 15 and satellite 17 shuttle can be joined so as to form a shuttle assembly 13, 13’.

[74] Advantageously, the handling plant 1 is configured for transferring on a second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11, one or more cultivation platforms 5 or other load objects 5 initially carried or stationing on a first runway guide 9, 9’.

[75] For this purpose the mother shuttle 15 is advantageously configured for transferring on the second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11 the satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 initially laid on the mother shuttle 15.

[76] For this purpose, the mother shuttle 15 can be provided with a horizontal handling system configured for pushing or pulling horizontally the satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 initially laid on the mother shuttle 15.

[77] Such a horizontal handling system may for example comprise one or more motorized belts similar to those shown of Figure 12: by sliding such motorized belts are preferably configured for pushing or pulling the satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 laid on the belts themselves.

[78] Still for this purpose the mother shuttle 15 can be configured for lifting and lowering up to the height of the second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11 the satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 initially laid on the mother shuttle 15.

[79] Still for this purpose, to carry out such handlings of the cultivation platforms, the mother shuttle 15 is preferably provided with a lifting system configured for lifting and lowering the satellite shuttle 17 and any cultivation platform 5 laid on the latter.

[80] Such a lifting system may for example comprise a cover or liftable plate, one or more hydraulic or electric jacks, one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or other linear actuators.

[81] Advantageously and more generally, the handling plant 1, 1’ is configured for transferring on a first runway guide 9, 9’ one or more cultivation platforms 5 or other load objects 5 initially carried or stationing on a second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11.

[82] For this purpose, the satellite shuttle 17 can be configured for continuing the trajectory it was initially traveling along the second runway guide 11 or on a track formed by two second runway guides 11, until it completely climbs on the respective mother shuttle 15, preferably continuing to carry on itself the cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 that it was carrying along the second runway guide 11 or in any case supporting when it was laid on the second runway guide 11.

[83] Preferably the satellite shuttle 17 is configured for climbing on the mother shuttle 15 and getting off the mother shuttle 15 even when neither is carrying -for example laid on itself- any cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5, respectively so as to transfer the satellite shuttle 17 from the second 11 -or respective track- to the first runway guide 9, 9’ or from the first runway guide 9, 9’ to the second runway guide 11 or respective track.

[84] Preferably each mother shuttle 15 is configured for lifting and/or carrying a load weighing equal to or lower than 1500 kg or equal to or lower than 600 kg.

[85] Preferably each mother shuttle 15 is configured for lifting and/or carrying a load weighing equal to or greater than 200 kg, or equal to or greater than 300 kg or 400 kg.

[86] Preferably each satellite shuttle 17 is configured for lifting and/or carrying a load weighing 600 kg or less or 500 kg, 400 kg or 300 kg.

[87] Preferably each satellite shuttle 17 is configured for lifting and/or carrying a load weighing equal to or greater than 30 kg, or equal to or greater than 100 kg, 200 kg, 280 kg, 300 kg.

[88] Preferably each shuttle assembly 13, 13', each mother shuttle 15 and each satellite shuttle 17 are configured for displacing themselves along the respective first 9, 9' and second runway guides 11 with a maximum speed equal to or lower than 600 metres/minute, more preferably equal to or lower than 500 metres/minute, more preferably equal to or lower than 420 metres/minute and for example equal to or lower than 300 metres/minute, at 180 metres/minute, at 120 metres/minute or at 60 metres/minute .

[89] More preferably each shuttle assembly 13, 13', each mother shuttle 15 and each satellite shuttle 17 are configured for displacing themselves along the respective first 9, 9' and second runway guides 11 with an average or maximum speed comprised between 30-180 metres/minute and even more preferably comprised between 60-120 metres/minute.

[90] Preferably each shuttle assembly 13,13', each mother shuttle 15 and each satellite shuttle 17 are configured for displacing themselves along the respective first 9, 9' and second runway guides 11 with a maximum speed equal to or greater than 30 metres/minute or 60 metres/minute.

[91] The sliding of each mother shuttle 15 along its respective first sliding guide 9 can be driven for example by means of a spool and rack system and one or more motors -for example electric- mounted on board the mother shuttle 15 itself- that drive the spool, or by means of toothed and non-toothed belts, chains, ropes or linear electric motors.

[92] The sliding of each satellite shuttle 17 along its respective one or more second runway guides 11 can be driven for example by the wheels 170 and one or more motors -for example electric- mounted on board the satellite shuttle 17 itself- that drive the wheels 170.

[93] Advantageously each second runway guide 11 is formed by a preferably oblong profile, bar, rail or beam which form a runway surface 110 and a resting surface 112 which are substantially oblong in shape and extend longitudinally to the at least one second runway guide 11 (Figure 6,14 -18).

[94] Advantageously, the satellite shuttle 17 is provided with wheels 170 (Figure 7) or runners (not shown) on which it rests and can slide on a floor or other underlying surface.

[95] Advantageously, the satellite shuttle 17 is configured for resting by means of its wheels 170 or runners on the runway surface 110 of two or more second runway guides 11 and to slide along said runway surface 110 of said guides 11 by means of said wheels 170 or runners (Figure 7).

[96] For this purpose the satellite shuttle 17 is preferably configured for resting on and sliding along the runway surfaces 110 of two second runway guides 110 belonging to the same track (Figure 7).

[97] Again for this purpose, the second runway guides 11 of said track are preferably disposed by arranging the cross-sections of the guides 11 in symmetrical and mirror positions with respect to a vertical symmetry plane passing through the centreline of the track (Figure 7).

[98] During normal operation of the plant 1 preferably the runway surface 110 is located substantially further down than the resting surface 112 (Figure 6, 7, 14-18).

[99] Advantageously the second runners 11 have substantially S- or Z-shaped cross-sections (Figure 6, 18), shapes that greatly facilitate their production by hot extrusion or by cold bending of a metal sheet.

[100] Advantageously during normal operation of the plant 1 the second runway guides 11 are arranged with the respective travel 110 and bearing 112 surfaces facing upwards, in particular allowing one or more cultivation platforms 5 to be laid on the resting surface 112 of one or more guides 11, preferably on the bearing surfaces 112 of two guides 11 of the same track (Figure 7).

[101] Advantageously, each satellite shuttle 17 is configured for carrying on itself a cultivation platform 5 or other load object 5 by displacing it along the at least one second runway guide 11 -or along a pair of runway guides 11 belonging to the same track- and laying it on the resting surface 112 and/or picking it up from the resting surface 112 of said one or more second runway guides 11.

[102] As for example in the embodiment variant of Figure 8,9 the handling plant 1’ may comprise one or more groupings of several cultivation platforms 5, in each of which groupings during normal operation the second runway guides 11 form a distribution 8' which extends substantially along all three dimensions of the space, i.e. along a length X, a width Y and a height Z orthogonal to each other (Figure 8,9).

[103] This distribution 8' extends for a non-negligible height DRH with respect to the length DRL and width DRW of the distribution itself, for example for a height DRH that is equal to or greater than 0,1 times the lesser between the length DRL and width DRW, or equal to or greater than 0,2 times, 0,3 times, 0,4 times or 0,5 times the lesser between the length DRL and width DRW.

[104] Preferably each first travel edge 9' extends at least along the entire height DRH of the distribution 8’.

[105] Preferably in each grouping 8' of the plant 1' the second runway guides 11 are distributed so as to form a plurality of racks that allow laying the cultivation platforms 5 by distributing them in a plurality of levels, for example in a number of levels comprised between 2-20, between 5-15 or between 5-10 levels, meaning by level a grouping of cultivation platforms 5 laid on the second guides 11 of the same rack (Figure 8, 9).

[106] In each grouping 8' of the plant 1' the different racks formed by the second runway guides 11 are preferably superimposed on each other (Figure 8, 9).

[107] In this case the handling plant 1' and the related cultivation plant 3' of which it is a part may be or comprise a vertical farm.

[108] In this description, vertical farm means a plant for the cultivation of plants such as terrestrial plants, algae or other plants, fungi or lichens, comprising one or more cultivation platforms or other cultivation trays, and in which plant photosynthesis and plant growth is mainly stimulated - i.e. for over 50% of the organism's energy needs supplied by light - by artificial light sources, such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

[109] As for example in the embodiment variant of Figures 8, 9 the handling plant 1' may comprise at least one third runway guide 19 which extends substantially perpendicular or in any case transverse to the at least one first runway guide 9'.

[110] In this case the at least one first runway guide 9' is arranged substantially vertically or in any case so as to extend from bottom to top and is configured for displacing itself, for example by sliding on runners or wheels, along the third runway guide 19.

[111]Still in this case, each third runway guide 19 extends preferably and substantially horizontally.

[112] Still in this case, the shuttle assembly 13 and the mother shuttle 15, being configured for sliding along a respective first runway guide 9', are thus configured for lifting and lowering themselves along the first runway guide 9', possibly lifting and lowering a relative satellite shuttle 17.

[113] Still in this case, the at least one first runway guide 9' is configured for sliding along a respective third runway guide 19, for example by rolling on wheels or runners which rest on the third runway guide 19.

[114] The assembly formed by the first runway guide 9', the third runway guide 19 and the shuttle assembly 13' can be made for example as a stacker crane (Figure 10).

[115] In particular the column 90 or the columns 90 of the stacker crane, the relative base carriage 92 and the possible top carriage 94 can make the first runway guide 9'; the cradle or cage that goes up and down along the column or columns can make the shuttle assembly 13 or at least the mother shuttle 15’ (Figure 10, 11); the rail fixed horizontally to the floor along which the base carriage and the columns slide can make the third runway guide 19 (Figure 10).

[116] If the mother shuttle 15' has the shape of a cage, it preferably has a length such as to accommodate both the satellite shuttle 17 and the cultivation platform 5 laid on the satellite shuttle 17 (Figure 11).

[117] In this case, if the cultivation platforms have an oblong shape, also the mother shuttle 15' is preferably oblong in plan and is preferably oriented perpendicularly -or in any case transversely- to the second runway guides 11 so that the cultivation platforms 5 leaving the mother shuttle 15' directed towards the second guides 11 or coming from the second guides 11 and directed towards the mother shuttle 15' are already oriented perpendicularly or in any case transversely to the second guides 11.

[118] The handling plant 1, 1' preferably comprises supply and evacuation means configured for bringing to each cultivation island 7, 7' cultivation platforms 5 and other materials for use or consumption and/or other equipment and/or for picking up and evacuating the cultivation platforms 5 and other materials for use or consumption and/or other equipment from the islands 7, 7', for example to bring to each cultivation island 7, 7' one or more cultivation platforms 5 in which younger plants are found -for example sprouted or replanted recently- and to pick up and evacuating from each cultivation island 7, 7 ' one or more cultivation platforms 5 in which older or otherwise mature plants are found, for example vegetables ready to be cut or otherwise harvested or plants that must be thinned and at least partially replanted in other cultivation platforms 5.

[119] Said supply and evacuation means advantageously comprise one or more automated or automatic guided vehicles 23 (AGV), i.e. vehicles configured for handling products and materials within an industrial plant and preferably not on public roads.

[120] In the present description the expressions "automated or automatic guided vehicle" and AGV also include so-called Intelligent Guided Vehicle (IGV).

[121] These AGVs can have a guide for example via underground wire, via magnets, via coloured band, an odometric or mixed odometric and optical guide, a laser guide, a GPS guide or other geolocation systems via positioning signal local emitters.

[122] Such AGVs may for example be configured for carrying, laid on themselves, one or more cultivation platforms 5.

[123] These AGVs are configured for displacing - empty or loaded - at a maximum speed preferably equal to or lower than 600 metres/minute, and more preferably equal to or lower than 300 metres/minute, at 180 metres per minute or at 150 metres per minute, at 120 metres per minute, at 60 metres per minute or at 30 metres per minute so as not to drop or damage the cultivation platforms 5 they carry and the plants or other organisms cultivated or grown therein.

[124] For this purpose, for example, AGVs such as the omnidirectional KMP 1500-3 model produced by the company KUKA (Augusta, Germany) can be used, preferably suitably adapted.

[125] For this purpose such AGVs 23 may comprise a platform-holder seat 230 configured for accommodating, supporting and maintaining in position a cultivation platform 5 (Figure 12).

[126] This platform-holder seat 230 can be delimited laterally by one or more containment sidewalls 232, 234 and below by one or more crosspieces 236, 238 to which the sidewalls 232, 234 can possibly be fixed.

[127] The sidewalls 232, 234 are preferably configured for containing and positioning laterally the cultivation platform 5 while the crosspieces 236, 238 are preferably configured for supporting and positioning vertically the platform 5.

[128] The sidewalls 232, 234 and the crosspieces 236, 238 and more generally the platform-holder seat 230 can for example be fixed to a main body 240 having a lower plan extension than the platform holder seat 230.

[129] The main body 240 may comprise a plastic or metal body and one or more electric motors, electric power batteries, electric and electronic control circuits enclosed in said body.

[130] The platform holder seat 230 preferably has a substantially oblong plan shape, for example substantially corresponding to the negative pattern of the cultivation platforms that the seat 230 must accommodate; in this case the platform holder seat 230 can be delimited by two -or more- longer sidewalls 232 and two -or more- shorter sidewalls 234.

[131] Advantageously, the AGV 23 is configured for pulling a cultivation platform 5 towards itself and/or pushing it away from itself, so as to pull the cultivation platform 5 into the platform holder seat 230 or out of it 230, respectively.

[132] For this purpose the AGV 23 is provided with a lateral handling system which in turn may comprise a belt or roller conveyor.

[133] The belt conveyor may comprise a plurality of belts 242 each configured for sliding horizontally around two or more suitable pulleys.

[134] Preferably the lateral handling system is contained in the platform holder seat 230 or in any case faces it (Figure 12).

[135] Advantageously, the lateral handling system is configured for translating the cultivation platforms 5 according to a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular or in any case transverse to the oblong platform holder seat 230 (arrow Fl of Figure 12), thus reducing the stroke necessary to insert a platform 5 in the seat 230 or to eject it from it.

[136] The AGV 23 is advantageously configured for lifting and lowering the platform holder seat 230 with respect to the main body 240 or in any case to the rest of the AGV.

[137] For this purpose, the AGV 23 can be configured for lifting and lowering both the sidewalls 232, 234 and any crosspieces 236, 238 and the belts 242 or in any case the belt or roller conveyor or the lateral handling system integrally with each other.

[138] The AGV 23 is preferably configured for lifting and lowering the belts 242 or in any case the belt or roller conveyor or the lateral handling system, with respect to the sidewalls 232 and/or 234 and any crosspieces 236 and/or 238 (Figure 12).

[139] For these purposes, the main body 240 of the AGV can comprise a cover or liftable platform 246 configured for lifting and lowering with respect to the rest of the main body 240; the belts 242 can each be mounted on a relative belt support 244; the sidewalls 232, 234, any crosspieces 236, 238 and the belt supports 244 can be fixed to the cover or liftable platform 246 (Figure 12); however, while the shorter sidewalls 234 and the related crosspieces 236 can be fixed integrally to the cover or platform 246, the longer sidewalls 232 and any related crosspieces 238 are advantageously fixed to one or more lifters 248 configured for lifting and lowering the crosspieces 238 with respect to the shorter crosspieces 234 and the belts 242.

[140] For this purpose each lifter 248 may comprise for example a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric jack or other linear actuator fixed to the cover or liftable platform 246.

[141] Alternatively the AGV 23 can be configured for lifting and lowering only the long sidewalls 232 but not the belts 242 -or another belt or roller conveyor mounted on board the AGV 23-and the shorter sidewalls 234.

[142] The supply and evacuation means preferably comprise one or more AGVs configured for carrying several empty cultivation platforms 5 - that is, without the plants to be cultivated in them and the solid or liquid bed in which to cultivate them - and stacked, for example to carry them clean from the washing lines to a vertical storage warehouse and/or from that vertical warehouse to the sowing lines.

[143] These AVGs are preferably of the KMP600 type from the aforementioned company KUKA.

[144] The supply and evacuation means may however comprise different types of AGV, for example different from the types of AGV described above.

[145] Handling the cultivation platforms 5 through AGV helps reduce the initial construction costs of the plant 1, 1' while allowing the movement trajectories of the cultivation platforms 5 between the various cultivation islands 7, 7' and the germination, cutting, washing department of the platforms 5 and/or the little trays 6 and/or other workstations to be modified more easily and at much lower costs.

[146] Preferably each cultivation island 7, 7' is enclosed in a building envelope.

[147] Such a building envelope for containing one or more cultivation islands 7 in which the cultivation platforms 5 are arranged and handled on a single level, for example only in proximity to or at the ground level, is preferably made as a greenhouse or in any case comprises large glazed walls - which preferably extend over at least 50% of the outer surface of the building envelope, and for example over at least 60%, over at least 70%, over at least 80%, over at least 90% or over at least 99,99% of the building envelope so that natural sunlight, at least in some seasons, provides most of the light energy necessary for the plants or other crops present in the cultivation islands 7- supported by a metal and/or plastic material framing, to live and grow.

[148] Such a building envelope for containing one or more cultivation islands 7' of a vertical farm can be made for example as an opaque envelope, comprising for example side walls and an opaque roof or possibly provided with few windows, skylights and other openings capable of allowing external ambient light to reach the plants or other crops present in the cultivation platforms 5 or in other cultivation trays.

[149] Preferably the building envelope containing one or more cultivation islands 7' of a vertical farm is completely opaque and is preferably without doors, windows, skylights or other openings through which external natural light can reach the plants or other crops inside the building envelope.

[150] The building envelope containing one or more cultivation islands 7' of a vertical farm preferably comprises panels of heat-insulating material so as to reduce the effects of external temperature on that inside the building envelope itself.

[151] An example of the possible operation and use of the handling plant 1, 1' and of agricultural production 3, 3' previously described is now described.

[152] The AGVs described above or more generally the aforementioned supply and evacuation means preferably carry out one or more of the following handlings: -carry the empty and stacked cultivation platforms 5 from the line, machine or other washing station to the aforementioned storage warehouse;

-carry the empty and stacked cultivation platforms 5 from the storage warehouse to the aforementioned sowing line;

-carry the cultivation platforms 5 together with the plants planted in them to the cultivation islands 7, 7' for which they are intended, for example because they must be grown in there;

-carry the cultivation platforms 5 together with the plants planted in them from the cultivation islands 7, 7' -for example in which the plants have been brought to maturity or otherwise grown- to a line or other cutting, thinning or other working station.

[153] In particular, the plant 1, 1’ can transfer one or more cultivation platforms 5 from an AGV onto the shuttle assembly 13, 13’ of a cultivation island 7,7’preferably by loading the platform 5 onto the satellite shuttle 17 which is in turn loaded onto the mother shuttle 15 of the shuttle assembly 13, 13’.

[154] In the plant 1, 1' the shuttle assembly 13, 13’ is configured for sliding preferably on the first upstream runway guide 9, 9’ of the cultivation island 7 in question and the relative grouping of second runway guides 11.

[155] The shuttle assembly 13, 13’ - so-called upstream shuttle assembly 13, 13’- can then displace itself - for example by sliding - along the respective first upstream runway guide 9, 9’ until it reaches the second guide 11 or the track - composed of a pair of second guides lion which the platform 5- must be placed.

[156] In the plant 1 each shuttle assembly 13, 13’ in order to reach a second guide 11 can only slide according to a substantially horizontal direction along the relative first runway guide 9 which, as mentioned, preferably extends horizontally.

[157] In the plant 1' each shuttle assembly 13, 13’ in order to reach a second guide 11 can slide:

-either vertically -or in any case according to an up/down direction- by sliding along the relative first runway guide 9' which, as mentioned, preferably extends vertically or in any case from bottom to top; -either horizontally thanks to the displacements of the first runway guide 9' along the third runway guide 19 which, as mentioned, preferably extends substantially horizontally.

[158] The cultivation island 7, 7’ in question and the relative grouping of second runway guides 11 are preferably provided, as already partly explained, with a second first runway guide 9, 9’ located at the downstream end of the second runway guides 11, i.e. at the end opposite to the end of the guides 11 where the first upstream runway guide 9, 9’ is located.

[159] Said second first runway guide 9, 9’ is conventionally referred to herein as "first downstream runway guide 9, 9’ " while the shuttle assembly 13, 13’ configured for sliding along the first downstream runway guide 9, 9’ is conventionally referred to as "downstream shuttle assembly 13, 13’".

[160] If on the second guide 11 or on the track of second guides 11 of destination there is no place for depositing or in any case placing further cultivation platforms 5, preferably before said second guide 11 or track is reached by the upstream shuttle assembly 13, the downstream shuttle assembly 13, 13’ reaches said second guide 11 or track, then the downstream satellite shuttle 17 detaches itself from the downstream mother shuttle 15, 15’ and picks up one or more cultivation platforms 5 at or in the proximity to the downstream end of the second guide 11 or track of destination, freeing up space to place new platforms 5 in the downstream area of the guide 11 or track containing it.

[161] For this purpose, the downstream satellite shuttle 17 preferably slides along the second guide 11 or along the track containing it until it is located below a cultivation platform 5 resting on at least one runway guide 11 or on a track containing it and another second guide; after which it lifts the platform 5 from the guides 11 by loading it on itself and resumes sliding along the guide 11 or relative track, sliding for example towards the downstream end of the guide 11 or track and depositing the platform 5 at a point further downstream of the guide 11 or track containing it.

[162] The downstream satellite shuttle 17 may possibly repeat this step several times, if for example it is necessary or in any case appropriate to displace further downstream a plurality of cultivation platforms 5, for example laid on the downstream section of the guide of destination 11 or of the track containing it.

[163] Once these first preparatory displacements have been completed, the downstream satellite shuttle 17 is available for other tasks and can, for example, rejoin the downstream mother shuttle 15, 15’ and be taken by it to a new second guide 11 or track comprising it.

[164] Thereafter, when the upstream shuttle assembly 13, 13’ without cultivation platforms 5 has reached the second guide 11 or relative track of destination, it preferably stops.

[165] The upstream satellite shuttle 17 preferably detaches itself - or in any case separates - from the mother shuttle 15, 15’ of the upstream shuttle assembly 13, 13’.

[166] At this point, the upstream satellite shuttle 17 performs second preparatory displacements if necessary, which may comprise displacing one or more cultivation platforms 5 downstream. [167] For this purpose, the upstream satellite shuttle 17 can slide along the guide 11 or track containing it until it is positioned below one of the platforms to be displaced 5, laid on said guide 11 or track, lift the platform to be displaced 5, carry it on itself and for example deposit it again on the guide 11 or relative track in a further downstream position, similar to what was done by the downstream satellite shuttle 17 during the first preparatory displacements.

[168] Clearly the first and/or second preparatory displacements can be avoided if on the second guide 11 of destination there is already free space where to deposit the new cultivation platform 5.

[169] The upstream satellite shuttle 17 can thus pick up the new cultivation platform 5 to be placed, lift it by loading it on itself, carry it as far as the destination position by sliding along the second guide 11 or along the track that contains it and lower it by depositing the new cultivation platform 5 to be placed on the second guide 11 or on the track that contains it in the destination position, preferably in the upstream area of said guide 11 or track, after which the upstream satellite shuttle 17 is available for new tasks and can for example slide along the second guide 11 or relative track until it is fixed again or in any case rejoin with the upstream mother shuttle 15, 15’.

[170] In general each upstream satellite shuttle 17 displaces the cultivation platforms preferably in the upstream zone of each second guide 11 or track to which the guide 11 belongs, and each downstream satellite shuttle 17 displaces the cultivation platforms preferably in the downstream zone of each second guide 11 or track to which the guide 11 belongs.

[171] In this way the cultivation platforms 5 are handled according to the First In First Out criterion.

[172] As already mentioned, the AGVs 23 can bring to the cultivation islands 7, 7’ the cultivation platforms 5 coming from the possible germination (nursery) or sowing department, and remove from the cultivation islands 7, 7’ the cultivation platforms 5 whose plants or other cultivated organisms are ready for harvest and must be transferred for example to a cutting department.

[173] The cultivation islands 7, 7' may be provided with appropriate interfacing roller conveyors or other interface runways (not shown) to transfer the cultivation platforms 5 from the AGVs to the mother shuttles 13, 13' and vice versa.

[174] To transfer a cultivation platform 5 loaded on an AGV 23 onto an interfacing roller conveyor or other interfacing runway, the AGV preferably flanks the head of the interfacing runway perpendicular to the runway itself.

[175] Then the AGV 23 can lower its longer sidewalls 232 and by operating the belts 242 or other belt or roller conveyors push the cultivation platform onto the interfacing roller conveyor or other interfacing runway.

[176] To load onto itself a cultivation platform 5 arranged on an interfacing roller conveyor or other interfacing runway, the AGV preferably flanks the head of the interfacing runway perpendicularly to the runway itself.

[177] So if it had not already done so, the AGV 23 lowers its longer sidewalls 232.

[178] The interfacing runway may possibly push at least part of the cultivation platform 5 into the platform holder seat 230 of the AGV 23.

[179] Eventually the AGV 23 can assist this transfer by operating its belts 242 or other belt or roller conveyors thereof to pull the platform 5 in the platform holder seat 230.

[180] When the cultivation platform 5 is fully inserted in the seat 230 the AGV 23 can lift its longer sidewalls 232 and start carrying the platform 5 firmly and stably contained in the platform holder seat 230.

[181] If it is configured for lifting and lowering not only the longer sidewalls 232 but also the shorter sidewalls 234 and any belts 242 or other on-board belt or roller conveyor, alternatively the AGV 23 can position itself below a cultivation platform laid on an interfacing roller conveyor, on another interfacing runway or on another loading station and load the platform 5 on itself by lifting the sidewalls 232, 234 and any belts 242.

[182] From the previous description, it appears that the handling plants 1, 1' make it possible to significantly automate the operation of a greenhouse or a vertical farm, significantly increasing its productivity with a guide structure 9, 11, 19 that is simpler and less expensive than the known plants, also allowing the various cultivation platforms 5 to be arranged and moved very close together, thus significantly reducing the overall dimensions of the cultivation plant 3, 3'.

[183] In particular, it greatly contributes to the reduction of the overall dimensions of the plant 1, 1' and to the increase in the internal spaces usable for the passage of the cultivation platforms 5 and other materials or personnel the fact of using the second runway guides 11 both to slide 9 the satellite shuttle 17 with its possible load and to lay thereon benches 5 or other predetermined load objects 5: this measure allows to significantly reduce the necessary metal carpentry structures and the relative overall dimensions, also reducing the costs of the handling plant 1, 1' itself.

[184] In the event of failure the shuttle assemblies 13 in turn comprising each a mother shuttle 15 and a satellite shuttle 17 they can generally be repaired faster and with lower costs of the bench transport ways of the known solutions S2) (benches sliding on rollers and on guides, and pushed by a plurality of electric motors fixed to the guides) and S3 (benches sliding on rollers and on guides, and dragged by chains) mentioned above.

[185] The handling system with shuttle assemblies 13, mother shuttles 15 and satellite shuttles 17 is also generally more flexible and resistant to failure -fault tolerant in technical jargon - than known plants S2) 3 S3); for example, if an upstream or downstream shuttle assembly 13 fails in a bay, the cultivation platforms 5 of the relative bay can be handled respectively by the relative downstream or upstream shuttle assembly 13.

[186] The high degree of automation of the cultivation plant 3, 3' allows to improve the logistics inside and outside the plant itself, in particular by better synchronizing the handling of the various cultivation platforms and facilitating and allowing to increase the traceability of the process because it allows to know in which positions each plant is at all times of the entire growth cycle, in which climatic and nutritional conditions it has grown; it allows to make targeted controls on the cultivated batches and the automated handling systems can quickly recall the plants if for example a type of plant was derived from a seed or an upstream process potentially at risk.

[187] For this purpose each cultivation platform 5 is advantageously provided with a barcode, or with an RFID tag or with an NFC, Zigbee, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth emitter and/or receiver.

[188] The high degree of automation of the cultivation plant 3, 3' allows to optimize the spaces by reducing the space necessary for the passage of operators.

[189] The high degree of automation of the cultivation plant 3, 3' also allows to reduce the high costs of low- skilled personnel and the risks of accidents at work or occupational diseases in the medium and long term, as well as the risk of contaminating the crops because the number and presence of human operators in the bays of the greenhouses or in the vertical farms is reduced; in fact, it is known that human beings are vectors of fungi, bacteria, insects and other contaminants; the AGVs, on the other hand, lend themselves to being continuously and frequently sanitized in the appropriate stations, reducing the risk that they transfer contaminants from one cultivation environment to another or more in general that they introduce them.

[190] Since they always operate in the same cultivation premises - for example in the same greenhouse or room of a vertical farm - the first 9,9' second 11 and third runways 19 and the shuttle assemblies 13 can be sanitized less frequently without increasing the risks of contaminating the cultivation premises and, as is well known, a strong reduction in the risk of contamination is one of the key elements to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and other chemicals to eliminate plant diseases.

[191] Finally, the handling plants 1, 1' make it possible to significantly reduce the manual activities with low added value and the labour involved in them, requiring approximately a quarter of the low-skilled labour involved in a known plant in which the benches/cultivation platforms are stationary and only the little plastic trays are handled by hand, and half of the low-skilled labour involved in a known plant of the aforementioned type SI).

[192] The above-described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and variations without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[193] For example, the agricultural production plants 3, 3' and the relative cultivation platforms 5 can be configured for cultivating vegetables, aromatic and/or medicinal plants, other plants or fungi not only through the ebb and flow hydroponic technique but also through other hydroponic techniques -for example in which the growing bed is exclusively liquid or gelatinous- or aeroponic.

[194] Cultivation platforms 5 can have not only a rectangular but also a square, triangular, hexagonal, variously polygonal, circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular shape with rounded minor sides (i.e. a so- called "obround" shape).

[195] The second runway guides 11 of each grouping - for example of each cultivation island 7- during normal operation of the plant 1 can lie on a surface that is not substantially flat and also not substantially horizontal.

[196] The second runway guides 11 may have cross-sections that are only substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped but for example also substantially E-shaped (Figure 14), L- shaped (Figure 19, 20), J-shaped (Figure 21) or S-shaped or Z-shaped having one or more ribs 113, 114, 115 that branch out from the body of the S- or Z-shape (Figures 15, 16).

[197] Preferably at least some of such ribs 113, 114, 115 extend and lie substantially parallel or otherwise longitudinal to the runway surface 110 and/or a resting surface 112.

[198] Preferably at least some of said ribs 113, 114, 115 form, in the cross-sections of the respective profile, beam or rail, sections which extend substantially perpendicular or transverse to one of the sections of said cross-section that form the S or Z shape (Figure 15, 16).

[199] The runway surface 110 and/or the resting surface 112 can have not only a planar shape (Figure 6, 14-19) but also a rounded or convex shape (Figure 20, 21).

[200] The runway surface 110 and/or the resting surface 112 may be formed not only by the major face of a metal wall or rib (Figure 6, 14-21) but also by the thickness of a metal wall or rib, such as for example the resting surface 112 of Figure 19.

[201] The handling plant 1, 1' can be configured for handling the cultivation platforms 5 within each cultivation island 7, 7' not only according to the First In First Out principle but also according to different principles, for example according to the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.

[202] In the latter case, the handling plant 1, 1' may be devoid of the first downstream runway guides 9, 9' and of the corresponding shuttle assemblies 13, 13' and be provided only with first upstream runway guides 9, 9' and the corresponding upstream shuttle assemblies 13, 13’.

[203] In a further aspect thereof the present invention concerns an AGV 23 of the type described above, configured for carrying, laid thereon, one or more cultivation platforms 5 and adapted to be used for example in the cultivation plant 3, 3'.

[204] In a further aspect thereof the present invention concerns a handling plant (1, 1') configured for handling a predetermined load object (5) comprising:

-at least a first (9, 9') and at least a second runway guide (11);

-a shuttle assembly (13) configured for carrying the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one first runway guide (9, 9') until it is brought at or in the proximity to the at least one second runway guide (11) and possibly also configured for detaching from the mother shuttle (15) and carrying the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one second runway guide (11)•

[205] Every reference in this description to "an embodiment", "an embodiment example" means that a particular feature or structure described in relation to such embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention and in particular in a specific variant of the invention as defined in a main claim. [206] The fact that such expressions appear in various passages of the description does not imply that they are necessarily referred solely to the same embodiment.

[207] In addition, when a feature, element or structure is described in relation to a particular embodiment, it is observed that it is within the competence of the person skilled in the art to apply such feature, element or structure to other embodiments.

[208] Numerical references which only differ in terms of different superscripts 21', 21", 21¹¹¹ unless specified otherwise indicate different variants of an element with the same name.

[209] Furthermore, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[210] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions thereof, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

[211] It must be understood that an expression of the type "A comprises B, C, D" or "A is formed by B, C, D" also comprises and describes the particular case in which "A consists of B, C, D".

[212] The expression "A comprises a B element" unless otherwise specified is to be understood as "A comprises one or more elements of B".

[213] References to a "first, second, third,... n-th entity" have the sole purpose of distinguishing them from each other but the indication of the n-th entity does not necessarily imply the existence of the first, second ... (n-l)th entity.

[214] The examples and lists of possible variants of the present application are to be construed as non- exhaustive lists.

Claims

1) Handling plant (1, 1') configured for handling a predetermined load object (5) comprising:

-at least a first (9, 9’) and at least a second runway guide (11);

-a shuttle assembly (13) in turn comprising a mother shuttle (15) and a satellite shuttle (17); wherein:

-the shuttle assembly (13) is configured for carrying the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one first runway guide (9, 9’) until it is brought at or in the proximity to the at least one second runway guide (11);

-the satellite shuttle (17) is configured for detaching from the mother shuttle (15) and carrying the predetermined load object (5) along the at least one second runway guide (11).

2) Handling plant (1, 1') according to claim 1, wherein: -at least said second runway guide (11) has the shape of an oblong profile or rail, forms a runway surface (110) and a resting surface (112) which are substantially oblong in shape and extend longitudinally to the at least one second runway guide (11);

-the satellite shuttle (17) is provided with wheels (170) or runners configured for resting on and respectively rolling or sliding along the runway surface (110) allowing the satellite shuttle (17) to displace itself along the at least one second runway guide (17);

-during normal operation of the handling plant (1, 1') the runway surface (110) is located substantially lower than the resting surface (112); -the satellite shuttle (13) is configured for carrying on itself a load object (5) displacing it along the at least one second runway guide (11) and rest it on the resting surface (112) and/or pick it up from the resting surface (112).

3) Handling plant (1, 1') according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least a first runway guide (9, 9') and a plurality of second runway guides (11) and wherein:

-the second runway guides (11) are arranged substantially parallel or longitudinal to each other;

-the first runway guide (9, 9') is arranged substantially perpendicular or transverse to the second runway guides

(11)•

4) Handling plant (1, 1') according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein during normal operation the first (9) and possibly also the second runway guide (11) extend substantially horizontally.

5) Handling plant (1') according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one third runway guide (19) which extends substantially perpendicular or in any case transverse to the first runway guide (9'), and in which plant (1') the first runway guide (9') is arranged substantially vertically or in any case so as to extend from bottom to top and is configured for displacing along the third runway guide (19).

6) Handling plant (1) at least according to claim 3, wherein the second runway guides (11) form a distribution (8) which lies substantially in a two-dimensional surface and/or forms substantially a single level.

7) Handling plant (1') at least according to claim 3, wherein during normal operation the second runway guides (11) form a distribution (8') which extends substantially along all three dimensions of the space, i.e. along a length (X), a width (Y) and a height (Z) orthogonal to each other.

8) Cultivation plant (3, 3') comprising:

-at least one handling plant (1, 1') having the features according to claim 2; and

-a building envelope enclosing the handling plant (1, 1') and the possible at least one load object (5) handled by the handling plant (1, 1'), and wherein the building envelope forms a greenhouse for agricultural or forestry crops and/or a building configured for containing a vertical farm.

9) Cultivation plant (3, 3') according to claim 8, comprising a handling plant (1, 1') having the features at least according to claim 5, at least one cultivation island (7, 7') and at least one AGV, and wherein:

-the at least one cultivation island (7, 7') comprises the at least one first runway guide (9, 9'), the plurality of second runway guides (11) and a plurality of load objects (5);

-the second runways (11) are arranged substantially parallel or longitudinal to each other;

-the first runway guide (9, 9') is arranged substantially perpendicular or transverse to the second runway guides (11);

-the AGV is programmed or otherwise configured for taking a load object (5) to the cultivation island (7, 7') and/or removing a load object (5) from the cultivation island (7, 7’).

10) Process for operating a handling plant (1, 1'), comprising the following steps:

513.1) providing a handling plant (1, 1') having the features according to one or more claims from 1 to 7;

513.2) by means of the shuttle assembly (13) carrying the load object (5) along the first load guide (9, 9') until it reaches the second load guide (11) of destination;

513.3) separating the satellite shuttle (17) and the load object (5) from the mother shuttle (15);

513.4) displacing the satellite shuttle (17) and the load object (5) along the second load guide (11) to a predetermined destination position.

11) Process according to claim 10, comprising in the order the following steps:

514.1) after step S13.4) laying and/or depositing the load object (5) on the second load guide (11) in the predetermined destination position;

514.2) moving the satellite shuttle (17) away from the load object (5) laid on the second load guide (11) by displacing the satellite shuttle (17) along the second load guide (11).

12) Process for operating a handling plant (1, 1'), comprising in the order the following steps:

515.1) providing a handling plant (1, 1') having the features according to one or more claims from 1 to 7;

515.2) by means of the satellite shuttle (17) picking up a load object (5) laid on a second predetermined runway guide (11);

515.3) by means of the satellite shuttle (17) displacing said load object (5) along said second predetermined runway guide (11).

S.15.4) by means of the mother shuttle (15) or the shuttle assembly (13) displacing said load object (5) along the first runway guide (9, 9').

13) Process according to claim 12, wherein after step

S15.3) and before step S15.4) the satellite shuttle (17) is fixed or joined to the mother shuttle (15) so as to recompose the shuttle assembly (13).

14) Process according to one or more of claims 10 to 13, comprising the step of displacing the first runway guide (9') along the third runway guide (19).

15) Cultivation process comprising the following steps:

518.1) providing a cultivation plant at least according to claim 8);

518.2) arranging a plurality of specimens of organisms to be cultivated or cultivated in the at least one load object (5), where said organisms to be cultivated or cultivated are chosen from the following group: vegetables, fruits, aromatic and/or medicinal plants, algae and plants in general, fungi, lichens, moulds;

518.3) handling said at least one load object (5) and the organisms to be cultivated and/or cultivated contained therein by means of said handling plant (1, 1’).