AU2016222439A1

AU2016222439A1 - An apparatus and method for stocking empty plant growing containers in a plant cultivation system

Info

Publication number: AU2016222439A1
Application number: AU2016222439A
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: 2016-09-01
Publication date: 2016-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-15
Also published as: AU2009225352A1; AU2016222439B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of stocking empty plant growing containers in a plant cultivation system. The invention enables a user to nominate a destination bay for plant growing containers, and controlling the speed 5 of transfer of containers from an empty container bay to a nominated cultivation bay to thereby facilitate stocking of the containers with plants between the bays.

Description

An apparatus and method for stocking empty plant growing containers in a plant cultivation system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the controlled movement of plant growing containers between bays of a plant cultivation system. In particular, the present invention relates to a means of controlling the speed of transfer of empty plant growing containers from a first bay to a second bay in a manner which facilitates stocking of the containers with plants prior to transfer to the second bay.

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 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 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 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 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 conveyor, unloaded onto a tray, washed, and transported back to an area 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 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 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

Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an apparatus for moving plant growing containers between bays of a plant cultivation system, said apparatus including: a conveying means for moving said containers from a first bay to a second bay; a means of transferring containers from said first bay to the conveying means; 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; and a means of transferring containers from the conveying means to the second bay.

Preferably said system includes a plurality of second bays, said apparatus further including 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 associated conveying means, the conveying means being aligned along a single axis such that the containers are moved along said axis from the conveying means of one bay to the conveying means of an adjacent bay.

Preferably said apparatus further includes a plant holding tray positioned substantially between said conveyors of the first and a second adjacent bay, from which a user is adapted to take plants for placement into the plant growing containers as they move from one conveyor 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, 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 along said conveying means.

Preferably each bay includes a container support rack.

Preferably said means of transferring plant growing containers from said first bay to the 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 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 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 member engages and lifts the container from the arm.

In preference said means of transferring plant growing containers from the conveying means to the second 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 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 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.

In a further 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 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 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 stocked 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; a means of transferring plant growing containers from 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 received on said second conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said first cultivation bay; and a means of controlling the speed of said first conveying means to facilitate the placement of plants in said plant growing containers without removing the containers from said first conveying means.

In preference 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.

Preferably each bay includes an individual first and second conveying means, whereby all of said first conveying means are aligned along a single axis, and all of said second conveying means are aligned along a single axis.

In preference 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 means to the next.

Preferably 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 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.

In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a method of stocking empty plant growing containers in a plant cultivation system having a first empty container bay and at least one second cultivation bay, and a conveying means associated with each bay, said method including the steps of: transferring empty plant growing containers from the empty container bay to the conveying means; controllably operating said conveying means so that said empty plant growing containers are transported from the first to the second bay at a desired speed to facilitate placement of plants into the containers; and transferring stocked plant growing containers from the conveying means to the second cultivation bay.

In preference said method includes the further step of nominating one of said second cultivation bays as a destination bay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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 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;

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 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 in accordance with the present invention;

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 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;

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 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

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

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 following description to refer to the same and like parts.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention provides a more efficient means of controllably stocking empty plant growing containers 12 without having to remove the containers from a plant cultivation system. In brief, the apparatus 10 includes a plant holding tray 14 positioned between a first empty container bay 16 and an adjacent plant growing bay 18, a 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 a 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 who is responsible for re-stocking the containers 12 with plants 32.

The skilled addressee would realise that the apparatus 10 enables the worker 30 to stock the containers at his or her own pace. Because stocking of the containers is undertaken during their transfer from one bay to another, it does away with the need to remove the containers from the system for re-stocking thus reducing time and labour requirements.

Before describing the apparatus 10 in more detail, it is useful to have an understanding of how the rack system of each bay works. 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 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 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 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 angle between 45°-75° from the horizontal. The toggles 42 are prevented from rotating to an angle greater than 75° 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 55° from the horizontal. The toggle 56 is prevented from rotating to an angle greater than 55° by the base of the toggle coming into contact with the base of the arm 48. This 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 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 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 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. Although not all shown, a number of sensors in communication with pneumatic devices are used to ensure each component moves at the required time.

Each conveyor 26 extends across the width of each of each bay and adjacent conveyors are spaced apart so that users can safely access the space between adjacent bays without having to navigate their way over permanent fixtures. It is envisaged that walkways are 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 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 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 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 example of a plant cultivation system including four bays, the first bay 16 being an empty plant container holding bay, and the remaining bays 18, 22 and 24 being plant growing bays.

In the embodiment shown, the last bay 24 has been nominated by the worker 30 as the destination bay for containers being stocked with plants. The means by which a bay is nominated is 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, 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 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 senses the arrival of a container it communicated with 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 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. It is to be understood that the plant growing bays need not necessarily be on one side of an empty container bay, for example, in the system shown there could equally well be plant growing bays on the right hand side of bay 16, as long as the apparatus 10 of the present invention is positioned there between.

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 is controlled so that the 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 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 than hitherto known systems. It also provides for a more versatile system given that a 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 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 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.

Figures 6-11 illustrate step by step the process, including transferring an empty container from bay 16 to the conveyor 26, nominating bay 18 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 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.

Figure 12 illustrates an end stop bracket 70 fitted to the end of a conveyor 26 of a nominated bay. Use of an end stop bracket 70 is a precautionary measure to ensure the container stops at the required position should the sensors fail 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 which provides an apparatus 10 for nominating a destination bay, and controlling the speed of transfer of plant growing containers from a first bay to the nominated destination bay to thereby facilitate stocking of the containers with plants.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown 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 “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving plant growing containers between bays of a plant cultivation system, said apparatus including: a conveying means for moving said containers from a first bay to a second bay; a means of transferring containers from said first bay to the conveying means; 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; and a means of transferring containers from the conveying means to the second bay.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said system includes a plurality of second bays, said apparatus further including a means of nominating one of said plurality of second bays as a destination bay for the plant growing containers.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each bay includes an associated conveying means, the conveying means being aligned along a single axis such that the containers are moved along said axis from the conveying means of one bay to the conveying means of an adjacent bay.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said apparatus further includes a plant holding tray positioned substantially between said conveyors of the first and a second adjacent bay, from which a user is adapted to take plants for placement into the plant growing containers as they move from one conveyor to the next.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein 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, 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 along said conveying means.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the above claims wherein each bay includes a container support rack.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means of transferring plant growing containers from said first bay to the 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 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 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 member engages and lifts the container from the arm.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said means of transferring plant growing containers from the conveying means to the second 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 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 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.

9. 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 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 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 stocked 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; a means of transferring plant growing containers from 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 received on said second conveying means are moved to a position to be transferred to said first cultivation bay; and a means of controlling the speed of said first conveying means to facilitate the placement of plants in said plant growing containers without removing the containers from said first conveying means.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein 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.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein each bay includes an individual first and second conveying means, whereby all of said first conveying means are aligned along a single axis, and all of said second conveying means are aligned along a single axis.

12. A plant cultivation system according to claim 11 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 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.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein 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 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.

14. A method of stocking empty plant growing containers in a plant cultivation system having a first empty container bay and at least one second cultivation bay, and a conveying means associated with each bay, said method including the steps of: transferring empty plant growing containers from the empty container bay to the conveying means; controllably operating said conveying means so that said empty plant growing containers are transported from the first to the second bay at a desired speed to facilitate placement of plants into the containers; and transferring stocked plant growing containers from the conveying means to the second cultivation bay.

15. A method according to claim 14 including the further step of nominating one of said second cultivation bays as a destination bay.

16. An apparatus and method for plant cultivation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.