AU2009225349A1

AU2009225349A1 - Improved plant cultivation system

Info

Publication number: AU2009225349A1
Application number: AU2009225349A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Lines
Original assignee: HOLLA FRESH Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Grow Systems Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-15
Filing date: 2009-10-15
Publication date: 2011-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-15
Also published as: AU2009225349B2

Description

15223AU ORIGINAL Complete Specification Applicant: Holla-Fresh Title: Improved plant cultivation system Address for Service: LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 Improved plant cultivation system FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved plant cultivation system and, in particular, to an improved and more efficient means of moving plant growing 5 containers through a cultivation cycle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Growing plants in a controlled environment, such as a glasshouse, using hydroponics is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to many reasons including that it provides a system which is able to be modified to provide optimal growing 10 conditions for the particular plant being grown, In typical large scale commercial operations the plants are grown in a glasshouse which is usually isolated from the outside environment. The glasshouses include a plurality of bays to minimise space wastage, and which each have automated movement apparatus for moving plant growing containers along the bays 15 during loading and unloading. Once a bay is loaded, the plants are typically left for a predetermined time period, this being dependant upon the type of plant being cultivated. Typically, water is made to flow through each container, and the water may be dosed with nutrients for assisting plant growth. The process of stocking empty containers with plants and loading them onto a 20 feed conveyor for transfer to each bay is at present an arduous one. Once the containers are filled with plants, they are placed one by one onto the feed conveyor which transports the containers one at a time to one end of a bay, where they are then transferred onto a rack using hydraulically actuated arms. The containers are made to move along the rack using a series of automated toggles, and this continues 25 until all plant carrying containers are on the rack. When the containers have remained in the bay for a desired period of time, the system is operated again and using the same hydraulically actuated components on the opposite end of the bay, they are transferred from the rack to a second conveyor which feeds each container one by one away from the bay. The containers are then removed manually from the 30 conveyor, unloaded onto a tray, washed, and transported manually back to an area 3 where they can be re-stocked with plants and placed again onto the feed conveyor on the opposite end. The need to make this process still more efficient has been recognised. In particular, the process of removing the plant growing containers from the system for 5 re-stocking has been identified as a major deficiency in terms of the associated time and labour requirements. It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative. The means by which the container is transferred between the rack and 10 conveyor, and also the means by which the containers are moved along the rack, form the subject matter of two of the Applicant's co-pending Australian patent applications. The contents of these co-pending patent applications are incorporated by reference herein. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 15 Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a plant cultivation system including: a first cultivation bay having a longitudinal axis, said first cultivation bay including means to move plant growing containers along said longitudinal axis; a second cultivation bay having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said first 20 bay longitudinal axis, said second cultivation bay including means to move plant growing containers in an opposite direction to the containers in said first bay; a first conveying means extending transversely across a first end of said first and second cultivation bays; a second conveying means extending transversely across a second opposed end of 25 said first and second cultivation bays; a means of transferring plant growing containers from said first cultivation bay to said first conveying means; a means of transferring plant growing containers from said first conveying means to said second cultivation bay; 30 a means of transferring plant growing containers from said second cultivation bay to said second conveying means; a means of transferring plant growing containers form said second conveying means 4 back to said first cultivation bay; a control means adapted to operate said first and second conveying means so that containers received on said first conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said second cultivation bay, and containers received on said second 5 conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said first cultivation bay. Preferably each bay includes a container support rack. In preference said means of transferring plant growing containers from a cultivation bay to a conveying means includes: 10 at least one movable arm associated with said support rack, said moveable arm adapted to move a container supported above an end thereof between a retracted position in which said container is substantially on said rack, and an extended position in which said container is disposed above said conveying means; and at least one moveable vertical shaft associated with said conveying means, said 15 moveable shaft including an engagement member at its upper end being moveable between a retracted position in which said engagement member is positioned below the conveying means, and an extended position above said conveying means, said shaft being configured such that when said arm is holding a container in the extended position, and said shaft moves to its extended position, the engagement 20 member engages and lifts the container from the arm. Preferably said means of transferring plant growing containers from a conveying means to a cultivation bay includes: at least one moveable vertical shaft associated with said conveying means, said moveable shaft including an engagement member at its upper end adapted to move 25 a container between a retracted position in which said container is substantially on said conveying means, and an extended position in which said container is disposed above said conveying means; and at least one movable arm associated with said support rack, said moveable arm being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position above said 30 conveying means, said arm being configured such that when said engagement member is holding a container in the extended position, and said arm moves to its extended position and the shaft subsequently retracted, the arm engages and lifts the container from the engagement member.

5 In preference said system further includes a means of controlling the speed of the conveying means between the first and second bays to facilitate placement of plants into the plant growing containers without removing the containers from said first conveying means. 5 Preferably said system includes a plurality of second cultivation bays, and said system further includes a means of nominating one of said plurality of second bays as a destination bay for the plant growing containers. In preference each bay includes an individual first and second conveying means, whereby all of said first conveying means are aligned along a single axis, and 10 all of said second conveying means are aligned along a single axis. Preferably said system further includes a plant holding tray positioned substantially between individual conveying means of the first and an adjacent second bay on the first conveying means end, from which a user is adapted to take plants for placement into the plant growing containers as they move from one conveying 15 means to the next. In preference said means of controlling the speed of the conveying means is in the form of a foot pedal also positioned substantially between the conveying means of said first bay and the conveying means of an adjacent second bay on the first conveying means end of the system, whereby the speed of the conveying means 20 increases as the foot pedal is pressed, and decreases as the foot pedal is depressed, thereby facilitating the placement of plants in said containers as they travel along said first conveying means. Preferably the plant growing containers include a base portion, a channel adapted to contain a plant growing media, and an upper portion including apertures 25 which extend into said channel which are adapted to receive plants. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a method of moving plant growing containers through a plant cultivation system including the steps of: (a) moving empty plant growing containers from one end of an empty container bay to a second end of the empty container bay; 30 (b) transferring empty plant growing containers from the second end of the empty container bay to a first conveying means used to transport the containers to a 6 cultivation bay; (c) stocking empty containers with plants as they move one by one along said first conveying means from said empty container bay to said cultivation bay; (d) transferring stocked containers from the first conveying means to the cultivation 5 bay; (e) moving stocked containers from one end of the cultivation bay to a second end of the cultivation bay; (f) transferring said containers from the second end of the cultivation bay to a second conveying means used to transport the containers to said empty container bay; 10 (g) removing cultivated plants from the containers as they move one by one along said second conveying means from said cultivation bay to said empty container bay; and (h) transferring empty plant growing containers from said second conveying means to said empty container bay. 15 In preference said method further includes the step of repeating steps (a) to (h) one or more times. Preferably said method further includes the step of nominating one of a plurality of second cultivation bays as a destination bay. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of one end of a bay in a plant cultivation 25 system; Figure 2 illustrates a top view and enlarged perspective view of how toggles are used to move each container along the support racks of the bay of Figure 1; 7 Figure 3 illustrates a top view and enlarged perspective view of the automatic arms used to move the container into and out of the support racks of the bay of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates end views and an enlarged perspective view of a conveyor 5 and vertically extending conveyor shafts used to raise and lower the plant growing container; Figure 5 illustrates a top view of a plurality of plant cultivation bays including conveyors on opposed ends, and an apparatus for controlling the transfer of containers between a first and a second bay; 10 Figure 6 illustrates the empty plant growing container bay of Figure 5 including a plurality of empty plant growing containers ready to be stocked and transferred to the adjacent second bay; Figure 7 illustrates an enlarged top view of the bays of Figure 6 at the point when a single empty container has been moved out of the empty plant 15 growing container bay using movable arms; Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged top view of the adjacent bays of Figure 6 after the empty container has been engaged by vertically moveable conveyor shafts and lowered onto the conveyor for movement to the nominated bay; 20 Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged top view of the bays of Figure 6 as the empty container moves past a seated worker who stocks the container with plants; Figure 10 illustrates an enlarged top view of the bays of Figure 6 when the container has been fully stocked with plants and moved to the front of 25 the nominated bay, and a second empty container is fed to the conveyor; Figure 11 illustrates an enlarged top view of the bays of Figure 6 after the stocked container has been transferred to the rack, and as the second empty container moves past the seated worker for stocking; and 8 Figure 12 illustrates a top and end view of a conveyor including a plant growing container, and an enlarged perspective view of an end stop bracket for the conveyor. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 5 The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the 10 following description to refer to the same and like parts. The system 10 of the present invention provides a completely automated and efficient means of moving plant growing containers 12 through a plant cultivation system. The features of the plant holding tray 14 being positioned between a first 15 empty container bay 16 and an adjacent plant growing bay 18, the means 20 of nominating a destination bay 18, 22 or 24, conveyors 26 for transporting empty containers from bay 16 to the nominated bay, and the means 28 of controlling the speed at which the conveyors 26 move the containers 12 past a worker 30 seated at the holding tray 14 responsible for re-stocking the containers 12 with plants 32, forms 20 the subject matter of a co-pending patent application by the present Applicant. The present invention is directed towards a system of moving the plant growing containers from an empty container bay to a growing bay, stocking the containers along the way, and then following a growing episode, moving the containers from the growing bay back to the empty container bay and removing the 25 plants along the way. The skilled addressee would realise that the system 10 enables a complete plant growing cycle to be undertaken without having to remove the containers from the system, thus reducing time and labour requirements. Figure 1 illustrates bay 16 which is identical in most aspects to the remaining bays 18, 22 and 24. Each bay includes a rack 33 comprising a frame 34 configured 30 to support a plurality of longitudinally extending U-shaped struts 36. The frame 34 is retained in a position above the ground by legs 38 to reduce pest infestation and 9 ensure air circulation around the plant growing containers 12. The struts 36 are configured to each house a further longitudinally extending U-shaped member 40 which is configured to move backwards and forwards in a longitudinal direction within the strut 36. The U-shaped member 40 is preferably moved using a pneumatic drive 5 apparatus (not shown), however the reader should appreciate that any drive mechanism could be used. The U-shaped member 40 includes a plurality of biased, cam-shaped, toggles 42 which are adapted to pivot around respective rods 44 and engage grooves (not shown) in bottom of the containers. In their rest position the toggles 42 are at an 10 angle between 45*-75* from the horizontal. The toggles 42 are prevented from rotating to an angle greater than 750 from the horizontal because at this angle the base of the toggle contacts with the base of the U-shaped member 40. In use the horizontal movement of the U-shaped member 40, in combination with toggles 42, provides a mechanism for moving a plant growing container 12 from the end of the 15 rack to the other end. A clear illustration of a toggle arrangement is shown in the enlarged view of Figure 2. Although Figure 1 illustrates only one plant growing container 12 the reader should appreciate from the other Figures that each rack 18 can accommodate a plurality of plant growing trays 16 as illustrated by broken lines 46. 20 As plants grow they require greater space, accordingly the space between the toggles 42 can vary from one end of the rack 33 to the other. For instance, the space between adjacent toggles at the beginning of the rack can be in the order of 20cm whilst the space between adjacent toggles at the opposite end can be in the order of 35cm. This spacing ensures that the plants have sufficient room for growth. In the 25 case of bay 16 where the containers are empty, this is not of concern and each container can be stacked as close as possible to one another. The skilled addressee would appreciate that by changing the spacing along the length of the rack by small increments the toggles 42 will still be able to engage grooves in adjacent trays and thereby provide a propulsion mechanism for the trays. 30 As further illustrated in Figure 1 and also in Figure 3 each rack 33 includes arms 48 retained within a support member 50 which includes guides 52. Each arm 48 is adapted to be moved along a substantially horizontal plane by way of drive means 10 54. It is envisaged that the drive means 54 is a pneumatic ram however the invention is not limited to this type of mechanism, The drive means 54 is used to move the arms 48 between an extended position, as illustrated by the broken lines, and a retracted position wherein the terminal end of the arm 12 is withdrawn into 5 support member 50. The arm 12 includes a single toggle 56 which is configured to pivot around rod 44. The toggle 56 is biased and in its rest position is at approximately 550 from the horizontal. The toggle 56 is prevented from rotating to an angle greater than 550 by the base of the toggle coming into contact with the base of the arm 48. This 10 means that in use as the arm 48 is driven forward into an extended position the toggle 56, which is in an upright position, engages the underside of container 12. In contrast when the arm is being withdrawn the toggle 56 pivots downwardly thereby disengaging it from the tray 12. When the arm 48 is in the extended position, it places a container 12 in a 15 position above the conveyor 26. As shown most clearly in Figure 4, each conveyor 26 includes parallel side rails 60, rollers 62 and upright posts 64. Each post 64 is configured to accommodate a moveable shaft 66 which includes at its terminal end a container engagement member 68. The shaft 66 is adapted to move between a fully retracted position wherein the engagement member 68 is positioned below rollers 62 20 and a fully extended position wherein the engagement member 68 is adjacent to arm 48 when the arm is likewise in the fully extended position. The skilled addressee would realise that when the arm 48 is extended outwardly whilst carrying a container 12 at its end, the shaft 66 is made to extend upwardly to thereby take the container from the arms 48 (which are subsequently 25 retracted), followed by downward movement of the shafts 66 to place the container 12 onto the rollers 62. The same process occurs but in an opposite manner when a container is transferred from the conveyor rollers 62 to the rack 33, for example during transfer to a destination bay. Although not all shown, a number of sensors in communication with pneumatic devices are used to ensure each component moves 30 at the required time. Each conveyor 26 extends across the width of each of each bay at ends thereof, and adjacent conveyors are spaced apart so that users can safely access 11 the space between adjacent bays without having to navigate their way over permanent fixtures, It is envisaged that walkways will be located between adjacent racks to allow for access in the event of maintenance and repairs. The side rails 60 also include guides 61which ensure that the container 12 is positioned in the centre 5 of the conveyor as it enters. The skilled addressee would appreciate that without the guides 61, the containers 12 could potentially come into contact with the end rails 60 thereby causing the container to jam or to be impelled off the conveyor onto the ground. The container 12 includes a base, sides and top surface defining a conduit 10 through which water or a nutrient solution can pass. To assist in the flow of nutrient solution through the container, the rack 33 is constructed at an angle to ensure that one end of the container 16 is higher than the other when supported above the racks 33. This angle is between 1* and 5*. The frame 18 further includes longitudinal channels (not shown) on either side that transport water to, and away from, the plant 15 growing trays 16. The way in which water is deposited into the container and drained therefrom will not be described in detail herein. Turning now to the features of the present invention, Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a plant cultivation system 10 including four bays, the first bay 16 being an empty plant container holding bay, and the remaining bays 18, 22 and 24 20 being plant growing bays. The system 10 involves a clockwise cycle of movement of plant growing containers starting from the empty bay 16 to a nominated further bay 18, 22, or 24, and then back again to the empty bay 16. Plants are placed into the empty containers prior to transfer to a nominated growing bay, in this case being bay 24, and removed from the containers prior to transfer back to the empty container 25 bay 16. The skilled addressee would realise that the system 10 allows for the containers 12 to remain in the cultivation system 10 at all times. Should the containers need to be washed after a certain amount of cycles, they can either be removed, or the empty bay could include a pre-wash facility whereby instead of water 30 trickling into the containers as per the other bays, it is sprayed through to clean any residual soil and other undesirable material out.

12 It is to be understood that the system 10 is shown by way of example only, and that there could equally well just be one empty bay, and one growing bay. Alternatively, there could be one empty bay and ten growing bays, and so on. Also, the growing bays could be positioned on the other side of the empty bay which would 5 result in there being an anticlockwise movement cycle. Turning now to the control of the system 10 of the present invention in more detail, the means by which a bay is nominated is in the embodiment shown a push button device 20 located adjacent the plant holding tray between bays 16 and 18. The device 20 includes three separate buttons for each of bays 18, 22 and 24, 10 however, it is to be understood that other means such as a touch screen device or mechanical dial could equally well be used as a bay nomination means. Each conveyor 26 includes at least one sensor which senses when a container is passing over the conveyor 26. The push button device 20 is adapted to communicate with the conveyors to cause the containers to be moved to a 15 nominated bay. For example, if bay 24 is nominated, the device 20 communicates with the conveyors associated with bays 18, 22 and 24 to move the containers to the end bay 24. The conveyor sensors of bays 18 and 22 are not used when bay 24 is nominated so that the only functioning sensor 27 is that which is associated with the conveyor of bay 24. When that sensor 27 detects the arrival of a container it 20 communicates with the conveyors to stop the container when the leading edge reaches the end of that conveyor in an appropriate position for transfer to rack 33 as previously described. The skilled addressee would realise the usefulness in having multiple bays and being able to nominate any one of them as a destination bay. Each bay for 25 example could be used for a different purpose and therefore include different parameters such as different toggle separations, different levels of light exposure, varying nutrient intake, etc. Also located adjacent the plant holding tray 14 is a foot pedal 28. This is the means by which the speed of the conveyors 26 at this end is controlled so that the 30 container moves past the worker 30 at a speed which suits him. The skilled addressee would realise that when an empty container, including some twenty or more plant receiving apertures along its length, has been transferred from the rack 13 33 of bay 16 onto the conveyor 26, the speed of movement thereafter to a nominated bay is controlled by the extent to which the worker 30 presses down on the pedal 28. This makes the process of transferring and stocking each container a much faster and more efficient process. It also provides for a more versatile system given that a 5 worker 30 can stock the containers at his or her own pace, and then move the containers to a nominated bay. The conveyors 26 may include more than one sensor, for example, a first sensor (not shown) which detects when the leading edge of a container has arrived at the start of the conveyor, and the second sensor 27 described earlier which 10 detects when the leading edge is about to reach the end of the conveyor, as shown most clearly in Figure 12. A situation where a second sensor may be required is on the conveyor associated with bay 18 for example. Once a container has been stocked by the worker 30, he or she does not necessarily want to wait for that container to reach the nominated bay which could be some distance away before a 15 further empty container is fed from bay 16 onto the conveyor 26. Thus, if the conveyor associated with bay 18 has a sensor at its entry end, it will be able to detect when say the trailing edge of a fully stocked container has passed, and thereby trigger the transfer of arms 48 so that a further empty container from bay 16 is fed to the conveyors. 20 Once all the stocked containers have been fed to bay 28, and the growing time in the bay has lapsed, the containers are ready to be transferred to the conveyors on the opposite end of the bay, and the plants removed from the containers as they travel along the conveyors 26 back to the empty container bay 16. Because containers from all bays need to travel back to the empty container bay 16, 25 there is no need for a means of nominating a bay on this end of the system (although one could be used in an embodiment where there are multiple empty container bays). When the automated movement and transfer apparatus, and associated sensors are operated at this end, the containers are transferred one by one onto the conveyors, the plants are removed, and the container transferred back to the empty 30 bay 16. There could also be a means of controlling the speed of the conveyors at this end, but is not essential. Thus, the system 10 provides for a plurality of empty plant growing containers to be transferred at one end from a first line of conveyors to an empty container bay 14 16 where they remain until plants or seedlings are ready to be stocked, transferred at the other end to a second line of conveyors where they are stocked with the plants, transferred from the second line of conveyors to a growing bay where they remain for a set period of time, transferred back to the first line of conveyors where the plants 5 are removed, and finally, transferred back to the empty container bay. This process can then be repeated. Figures 6-11 illustrate step by step the process which occurs at the end of the bays where the plant containers are stocked. The process at this end includes transferring an empty container from bay 16 to the conveyor 26, nominating bay 18 10 as the destination bay, stocking the container 12 as it moves past the work at a speed controlled by him, and transferring the stocked container to bay 18 at the same time that a further empty container is fed to the conveyor 26 for stocking. Figure 10 in particular shows how once the trailing edge of a stocked container 12 has moved past the entry point of the conveyor of bay 18, the arms 48 15 in bay 16 are actuated to move a further empty container onto the conveyor. Obviously, although not shown, each container will include an object (not shown) at one or both ends thereof which are adapted to trip the sensors. In preference the sensors are wired up to a PLC controller (not shown) which is programmed to operate the various components as described above. The opposite end of the bays 20 includes similar sensors for causing the containers to stop when they reach the empty container bay again. Figure 12 illustrates an end stop bracket 70 fitted to the end of a conveyor 26 where a container is to stop. Use of an end stop bracket 70 is a precautionary measure to ensure the container stops at the required position should the sensors fail 25 or should any other problem occur which would cause the conveyor rollers to move the container beyond the nominated bay. The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the present invention. What is provided is a complete and versatile plant cultivation system which does away with the need for plant growing containers to be manually moved from 30 one point to another for stocking and removing of plants. The system 10 may include a plurality of bays and may also include a means of nominating a destination bay and 15 controlling the speed at which the containers reach the destination bay to facilitate stocking of the containers. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown 5 and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention. In the claims, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of 10 "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention,

Claims

1. A plant cultivation system including: a first cultivation bay having a longitudinal axis, said first cultivation bay including means to move plant growing containers along said longitudinal 5 axis; a second cultivation bay having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said first bay longitudinal axis, said second cultivation bay including means to move plant growing containers in an opposite direction to the containers in said first bay; 10 a first conveying means extending transversely across a first end of said first and second cultivation bays; a second conveying means extending transversely across a second opposed end of said first and second cultivation bays; a means of transferring plant growing containers from said first cultivation bay 15 to said first conveying means; a means of transferring plant growing containers from said first conveying means to said second cultivation bay; a means of transferring plant growing containers from said second cultivation bay to said second conveying means; 20 a means of transferring plant growing containers form said second conveying means back to said first cultivation bay; a control means adapted to operate said first and second conveying means so that containers received on said first conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said second cultivation bay, and containers 25 received on said second conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said first cultivation bay.

2. A plant cultivation system according to claim 1 wherein each bay includes a container support rack.

3. A plant cultivation system according to claim 2 wherein said means of 30 transferring plant growing containers from a cultivation bay to a conveying means includes: at least one movable arm associated with said support rack, said moveable arm adapted to move a container supported above an end thereof between a 17 retracted position in which said container is substantially on said rack, and an extended position in which said container is disposed above said conveying means; and at least one moveable vertical shaft associated with said conveying means, 5 said moveable shaft including an engagement member at its upper end being moveable between a retracted position in which said engagement member is positioned below the conveying means, and an extended position above said conveying means, said shaft being configured such that when said arm is holding a container in the extended position, and said shaft moves to its 10 extended position, the engagement member engages and lifts the container from the arm.

4. A plant cultivation system according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said means of transferring plant growing containers from a conveying means to a cultivation bay includes: 15 at least one moveable vertical shaft associated with said conveying means, said moveable shaft including an engagement member at its upper end adapted to move a container between a retracted position in which said container is substantially on said conveying means, and an extended position in which said container is disposed above said conveying means; and 20 at least one movable arm associated with said support rack, said moveable arm being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position above said conveying means, said arm being configured such that when said engagement member is holding a container in the extended position, and said arm moves to its extended position and the shaft subsequently retracted, the 25 arm engages and lifts the container from the engagement member.

5. A plant cultivation system according to any one of the above claims wherein said system further includes a means of controlling the speed of the conveying means between the first and second bays to facilitate placement of plants into the plant growing containers without removing the containers from 30 said first conveying means.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said system includes a plurality of second cultivation bays, and said system further includes a means of 18 nominating one of said plurality of second bays as a destination bay for the plant growing containers.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein each bay includes an individual first and second conveying means, whereby all of said first 5 conveying means are aligned along a single axis, and all of said second conveying means are aligned along a single axis.

8. A plant cultivation system according to claim 7 wherein said system further includes a plant holding tray positioned substantially between individual conveying means of the first and an adjacent second bay on the first 10 conveying means end, from which a user is adapted to take plants for placement into the plant growing containers as they move from one conveying means to the next.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means of controlling the speed of the conveying means is in the form of a foot pedal also positioned 15 substantially between the conveying means of said first bay and the conveying means of an adjacent second bay on the first conveying means end of the system, whereby the speed of the conveying means increases as the foot pedal is pressed, and decreases as the foot pedal is depressed, thereby facilitating the placement of plants in said containers as they travel 20 along said first conveying means.

10. An apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein the plant growing containers include a base portion, a channel adapted to contain a plant growing media, and an upper portion including apertures which extend into said channel which are adapted to receive plants. 25

11. A method of moving plant growing containers through a plant cultivation system including the steps of: (a) moving empty plant growing containers from one end of an empty container bay to a second end of the empty container bay; (b) transferring empty plant growing containers from the second end of the 30 empty container bay to a first conveying means used to transport the containers to a cultivation bay; (c) stocking empty containers with plants as they move one by one along said 19 first conveying means from said empty container bay to said cultivation bay; (d) transferring stocked containers from the first conveying means to the cultivation bay; (e) moving stocked containers from one end of the cultivation bay to a second 5 end of the cultivation bay; (f) transferring said containers from the second end of the cultivation bay to a second conveying means used to transport the containers to said empty container bay; (g) removing cultivated plants from the containers as they move one by one 10 along said second conveying means from said cultivation bay to said empty container bay; and (h) transferring empty plant growing containers from said second conveying means to said empty container bay.

12. A method according to claim 11 further including the step of repeating steps 15 (a) to (h) one or more times.

13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12 including the further step of nominating one of a plurality of second cultivation bays as a destination bay.

14. An improved plant cultivation system and method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 20