FR2560740A1 - Automated method of culture on mobile extensible supports and apparatuses for the implementation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

This culture is carried out either on mobile and extensible supports, or on networks of radiating divergent wires covering the containers, or else on mixed supports combining the two. The plants are movable and separated by increasing intervals. The granules 100 come from a silo 8, are lifted by compressed air 9 through a tube 11, come to 2, 2 bis, pass through the floor 3 via the tubes 4 whose axes are inclined and divergent, fill the containers 5 and entrain the young plants 14 to the harvesting zone 7, and are then pushed either by the tubes 4, or by rotating cylinders and pass through screens 13 and return to the silo 8 via the hoppers 12 and pipes 15. The seeds and young plants grow as they move from position 6 to position 7 where they are harvested. Overhead supports 23 having platforms 27, sweep the whole of the surface of the containers 5.

Description

Automated Culture Process on Extensible Supports
Mobiles and equipment enabling its implementation
The invention relates to a method of cultivation, with some of the possible variants, of all kinds of plants on different extensible supports allowing extremely advanced automation, as well as the production and the mode of implementation of the necessary special equipment.

the various cultivation methods currently known are essentially the following: - Field cultivation without any kind of shelter - Field cultivation with simple shelters - Culture in "cold greenhouses - Culture in" warm greenhouses - Culture in hot "greenhouses - Culture known as "without soil", on various aggregates which is practiced most often under shelters or greenhouses - Hydroponic culture (in 1 water)
These different methods of cultivation present specific hazards and difficulties: - field crops are subject to all natural hazards: excessive drought, cold, hail, too much rain, diseases, etc., they cannot be achieved in all seasons - cold greenhouse crops only protect against some of these hazards - "warm and hot" greenhouse crops are more independent of natural elements, but have the major disadvantage of having only limited productivity per square meter, hence the considerable importance of heating, labor, handling costs, etc.

- Crops without soil or hydroponics have not succeeded for the same reasons as above, in becoming really competitive, except in exceptional cases.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks, it solves the problem of productivity, savings in heating, labor, water, etc.

by the extremely important reduction, for equal production, of the cultivated areas necessary which, moreover, are productive throughout the year.

In addition, the automation of most cultivation methods allows real industrialization.

The reduction in planted areas is obtained in the following manner
In traditional cultivation, sowing or planting is carried out respecting the minimum spacing necessary for the adult plant ready to be harvested, there can of course be an intermediate transplanting which slightly reduces the surface area occupied overall by each plant, but this operation is costly in manpower and leads to a significant percentage of losses.

The object of the invention is the production of "Supports
Mobile Extensible n allowing permanent and automatic adaptation of the area occupied by a plant to its real instant needs (and not to its future needs, ie at the maturity / harvest stage) as well as the production of equipment and materials to achieve this goal.

According to the invention, the culture is done in tanks which are essentially, but not limited to, * of two main types: Â - Culture tanks in concrete, metal, plastic or any other material, containing an aggregate such as: sand, gravel, expanded clay, grains of all kinds, vermiculite, perlite, polystyrene, glass beads, etc.

hereinafter called under the generic term of n Aggregates ", according to the known and well developed technique, of the culture known as" Without soil "or" on "Artificial soil".

The invention consists in the fact that this or these materials, instead of being stationary as is always the case in known techniques, are driven in a translational movement at increasing speed and adjustable at will, both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, and constitute a mobile support whose surface increases at the same time as the seedlings grow, therefore the seedlings occur permanently the surface which is necessary for them and nothing more.

This result is obtained by injection, under slight pressure and at a multitude of judiciously distributed points, through the bottom of the tanks by means of conduits or nozzles, radiating and direct, fixed or possibly orientable, inclined towards the front of the tank where the harvest is made, of the quantity of aggregates necessary to maintain at the chosen level the thickness of the layer of aggregates serving as support for the plants, despite the longitudinal and transverse dilatation caused by the push of the aggregates .

the overall result of the thrusts of the nozzles ensures the translation of the whole mass of the aggregates at the same time as that of the plants towards the harvest front, in a global time, adjustable at will, equal to the vegetative cycle of the plant cultivated since the planting until harvest.

the aggregates are soaked, permanently or not, with a nutritive solution of which many formulas are known.

This system has the advantage of having a self-stabilizing tendency with regard to the thickness of the aggregate layer, in fact, for a given angle of the nozzles with respect to the horizontal, any increase in the thickness of the layer tends to increase the forward thrust which tends to reduce this thickness, and vice versa, there is therefore a self-stabilizing tendency.

Cultures can be done in the open air, but even better, under permanent shelter where it is possible to automatically regulate all the useful parameters: temperature, aeration, humidity, brightness, composition of the atmosphere, etc. the areas required are considerably reduced = the invention can also be changed with regard to the walls of the shelter which are arranged in such a way that the uncultivated circulation areas are located outside the areas where the atmosphere is heated, air conditioned and optimized according to the needs of plants, which allows a considerable saving on heating and air conditioning in general.

Furthermore, the circulations can also be easily sheltered if desired, but these zones being independent of the cultivated zones, do not need to be heated nor air-conditioned, moreover, as they surround the cultivated zones, they profit from an intake of free calories, which instead of getting lost as usual, serve to temper the working and circulation areas, which at the same time are sheltered from the weather.

This double wall system also considerably improves the thermal insulation coefficient compared to that of a single wall; it also makes it possible to easily attenuate the too fiery solar rays at certain times and seasons by maintaining between the two walls a more or less transparent atmosphere by blowing more or less opaque gases or fumes, this transparency being able to be regulated automatically with the greatest ease and at a minimal cost.

The invention also relates to the various equipment materials and methods which make it possible to achieve this result and more particularly: tubs, nozzles and the material necessary for their realization and their operation, sowing and planting systems, staking, portal for ways crops and treatments, harvesting cylinders, sterilization of aggregates, it also relates to the shape and layout of the tanks and installations in general.

B - Culture trays in concrete, metal, plastic or any other material, containing a nutritive solution, as above, but without any aggregate acting as support for the plants.

In these tanks, the plants are supported by a network of pairs of wires, metallic or otherwise, stretched radially from one end to the other of the tanks, in the direction of their length and whether or not driven in a translational movement from the point of "sowing or planting" until
harvest front ".

This network of wires forms a sort of fan comprising a very large number of branches or pairs of branches, each supporting a line of plants naturally attached to these wires by their roots and / or their emerged parts depending on the species.

Due to the radiating arrangement of these wires, the space between them is very small at the start (a few millimeters) and much larger on arrival (up to a few decimeters).

It is therefore easily understood that the plants have, as they grow and translate towards the harvest front, an increasingly large space in width.

These wires can also be set in motion by drive drums, around which they are wound, situated at the two ends of the tanks, which ensures that the plants move from the sowing or planting area to the harvesting area.

 In this case the speed of movement of the plants will be uniform and the plants will maintain a constant spacing, it will therefore be necessary to adopt, from sowing or planting, a spacing equal to that which will be necessary for the plant when mature, there is therefore good gain of space in the transverse direction but not in the longitudinal direction and in total the surface gain will be equal to half of what it is in the case of cultivation on aggregates described above.

Iais it is possible to move all the plants as described above, but in addition to gradually spacing them from each other throughout their path, by sliding on the support wires, using fluted rollers or provided with sorts of fingers passing between the wires, the rifle of which is to support the network of wires at constant level despite the weight of the plants and to gradually space them out, this requires a large number of rollers, each of them having a different tangential speed and being adapted to the importance of the volume of the roots and submerged parts of the plants.

A much better solution consists in using a network of pairs of non-mobile wires, strongly stretched, radiating and divergent, from the sowing or planting area to the harvest front, which serves as support for the plants; these wires are supported from place to place by supports fixed to the bottom of the tanks themselves filled with nutritive solution. The seeds or young plants are placed manually or by an automatic machine in the interval separating the two wires of the same pair, the plants can, as they grow, slide on this network of wires.

 the spacing of the wires, when they are hung on the bins at the front of the crop, is determined by the diameter of the plants that have reached maturity; this same spacing is determined, in the sowing or planting area, by the size of the seeds, possibly pre-coated, or of the young plants, and is generally a few millimeters.

The roots of the plants develop under the wire network, and the aerial parts above.

The plants are pushed and / or pulled, at time intervals adjustable at will, by n carriages n rolling on rails or guides by means of wheels or rollers fixed to their chassis itself serving as a basis for structures comprising a guide support on which slide blades provided with a lug and whose movement is controlled by one or more worms with progressive pitch mdes by any motor system. The first and / or last blade of each carriage has thin extensions capable of passing between the two wires of each pair.

Each structure can be animated, as a block, in an upward or downward movement. In the high position, the screws, whose pitch is progressive, push or pull the blades and at the same time the plants against which they are pressed, one or more rows, towards the harvesting front, at the same time these are spread apart. each other (due to the progressiveness of the pitch of the screws), then each structure is brought back to the low position, the screws put in reverse rotation, and the blades return to their initial position
Finally these structures are returned to the high position and the cycle can start again.

The role of the thin extensions is to be able to pass between the wire supports fixed to the bottom of the tanks to fetch the plants from the preceding or next carriage, and thus make them participate in the overall movement of translation.

At each of these cycles the plants advance by one or more rows and their relative spacing, in the longitudinal direction increases to adapt to the growth needs of the plants, it increases of course correlatively in the transverse direction of the divergence of the threads.

The surface gain is thus maximum, identical to what it is in the cultivation on aggregates.

An opaque liquid, of density lower than that of the nutritive solution, and therefore floating on this one can between planned to stop the solar rays and thus to avoid the proliferation of harmful microorganisms.

 C - * - In the culture process on mixed supports using both aggregates and networks of wires, a certain amount of aggregates, generally of low density, which constitute a layer of adjustable thickness at will, the lower part of which is submerged and the upper part emerged, the ratio between these two parts depending on the density of the aggregates. The plants are more or less sunk into these aggregates. Pusher and / or tractor systems, similar to those described above, ensure the translation and the progressive spacing of the plants as they grow, the mass of the aggregates opening, at each push, in front of the plants and refers: going behind them without any significant global displacement of this mass.

The blades can be cut in the form of combs to facilitate the relative movement of the plantigranulates, the teeth of these combs can be tilted back so that the plants are slightly lifted at each cycle and kept at their optimal level despite their tending weight to drag them down.

the advantages provided by this invention arise essentially from the fact that the area necessary for obtaining a given quantity of plants is far less, and even without commensurate measurement) with that which is currently necessary in the prior art.

As a result, investments in land (especially for vegetable and floral crops often located near cities where the price per square meter is very high) and in building shelters are reduced in quite considerable proportions.

The savings thus made come in deduction of the cost of the tanks and the necessary equipment which allow them a true industrialization of the cultures with all the economic advantages that this implies.

The arrangement of the tanks and their shelters, as provided in the detailed descriptions and the drawings, allows a reduction of the areas not actually cultivated, the circulation is done outside the heated and air-conditioned areas, the combination of these factors allows achieve considerable savings in heating, which is a key factor in drastically reducing cost prices.

In addition, the arrangement of the tanks is provided, according to the invention, in such a way that sowing, planting, treatments, harvesting, etc. can be carried out automatically with very little labor.

Due to the considerable reduction of immobilized surfaces, it becomes very profitable, with minimal costs, related to the tonnages produced, to control all the factors favoring the growth of the plants: Temperature hygrometry, lighting, shading, aeration, composition of the atmosphere (with in particular enrichment in carbon dioxide), thus allowing an optimal growth of plants, sheltered from bad weather, diseases, insects, and this during the whole year.

Because of these optimal conditions, the plants can be much tighter than in traditional culture and staggered rather than in line, new important factors in reducing the area.

Maturity levels are also reduced, as are losses from bad weather, insects and diseases.

The daily volumes of aggregates to be moved are very low, hence the minimal expenditure of motive power; these aggregates can be very easily sterilized, either permanently, or at more or less short intervals, at various points in the installation, and without any specific handling.

The water consumption is also reduced in enormous proportions since the evaportation surface of the support is divided by a factor greater than ten, this is a considerable advantage in regions where water is scarce and expensive.

A particularly efficient and rewarding application of this process is that in which thermal "Releases" from electric, thermal or nuclear power plants are used (cooling water, steam, hot air)
The combination of these different factors, gains in surface areas eminently favorable vegetative conditions throughout the year, reduction in the duration of the vegetative cycles, drastic reduction of heating and air conditioning costs in general, of labor, leads to absolutely considerable productivity gains that greatly exceed a dr-x factor compared to traditional cultivation methods.

The invention is set out below in more detail using diagrams and drawings.

Several embodiments of the invention are given by way of non-limiting example with their variants:
Figure 1 shows, in section, the whole of an installation of which various variants are given in the following figures
The detail A1 illustrates, in section, and on a larger scale, a variant of the detail de in FIG. 1
Figure 2 shows schematically the forces present allowing the extensibility of the support.

Figure 3 shows the overall arrangement, in plan, of an installation comprising several tanks "any spade n arranged in one or more straight alignments.

The detail B1 of this FIG. 3 shows, in plan and seen from above, on an enlarged scale, the orifice, opening at the bottom of the tanks in detail B, nozzles which allow the extensibility of the support of the plants cultivated in the case of cultivation. on aggregates.

Detail B2 of this figure 3 shows in perspective and seen from above, on an enlarged scale, a variant of these same nozzles.

The details C of this FIG. 3 represent, on an enlarged scale, the arrangement of the blades ensuring the translation and the spacing of the plants in the case of culture in water or on mixed supports, in the two directions opposite to I800
Detail D of this FIG. 3 represents, in plan and seen from above, on an enlarged scale, the arrangement of the wires and wire supports in the case of culture in water or on mixed supports.

Figure 4 shows, in plan and seen from above, a culture tank of circular and / or polygonal shape
5 shows, in plan, the whole of an installation comprising several tanks like those shown in FIG. 4 with possibly one or more tanks or sets of traps of trapezoidal shape.

Figure 6 is a section, enlarged, on the bottom of a tank, valid for both the tanks illustrated fi.3 and fig.4
Figure 7 is a sectional view, before inflation, of the mold allowing the production of the nozzles, an appearance of which is given in detail B1 in FIG. 3
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the same mold after inflation.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a variant of the culture tanks, the section of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. This variant allows the neutralization of "pressure drops" and is applicable to all types of tanks for culture on aggregates, both those illustrated in fig. 3 and fig. 4
FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view, according to AD of FIG. 9
Figure 11 represents, in plan, a fraction of installation for culture in water or on mixed supports.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view, along CD of Fig.11
The detail El represents, in section and on a larger scale, the arrangement of the plants, wires and wire supports shown in plan in detail E of FIG. 11
Detail E 2 is an even more enlarged view, in section, of the wires and their supports shown in detail E 1
The detail F 1 represents, in plan and on a larger scale, the arrangement of a carriage provided with blades of the detail F of FIG. 11 - FIGURE 1 is a few: ':: half section AS on a concrete tank, produced in accordance with the invention, such as that shown in plan fig 4 and which can just as easily be made of wood, metal, plastic or any other material, with its equipment and the shelter covering it
The bottom (1) of the tank consists of a concrete slab, preferably reinforced, resting either on the ground or raised on pillars. It is surmounted by a space (2) in which circulate, UNDER slight pressure, the aggregates (100) intended to constitute the mobile and extendable support of the plants (14); this space (2) is surmounted by a second concrete slab (3), connected from place to place to the slab (1) by bolts, concrete studs, ribs, etc.

The aggregates coming from the space (2) are pushed through a multitude of orifices (4) called "Tuyères", arranged in staggered rows through the slab (3), as far as the tank itself (5) . They stabilize in thickness as a function of the angle formed by the axis of the nozzles with the horizontal and of the nature of the different aggregates (100) which can be used: density, coefficient of friction, roughness, water content, angle of the natural slope, provenance (crushed, rolled, etc.).

- FIGURE 2 schematizes the forces involved: the weight of the aggregates (100), proportional to the thickness, is represented by the vector OP, the horizontal translation force by the vector 0?, The thrust of the aggregates from the nozzles ( 4) by the vector OA decomposing into - - 0E. So that there is translation of the aggregates it is necessary and it suffices that 0T is greater than the force OF necessary to overcome the friction of the aggregates (100) on the bottom and the walls of the tanks (5), this effort is in order general significantly lower than the OP weight.

For a determined inclination of the axis of the nozzles (4) 11 thickness of the aggregates (100) with a tendency to increase under the influx of these coming from the nozzles (4), the vector OA also increases and therefore 0T which is the force translation pushing the aggregates (100) towards 11 before (7); this increase in translational force tends to decrease the thickness. Conversely, if the thickness tends to decrease the forward translation force also decreases, which has the result of increasing the thickness.

The system therefore has a self-stabilizing tendency.

- Let's go back to FIGURE 1:
The aggregates (100) filling the tank (5) over a selected thickness are driven in a translational movement from the sowing or planting area (6) to the harvesting front (7) with a speed increasing substantially according to a progression. geometric with very little "reason", the growth of this speed being itself proportional to the volume of the aggregates (100) injected which depends on the pressure, the section of the injection nozzles (4) and the time, all parameters adjustable at will.

The seeds or plants planted on these aggregates are therefore also driven by the same overall translational movement. In addition, the injection of additional quantities of aggregates at a multitude of points throughout the translation causes the plants to gradually spread apart from one another, in the same way as points traced on a rubber membrane which are stretches back and forth away from each other
An important characteristic of the invention is that the bottom of the tanks (5) can be provided in a downward slope from the sowing or planting areas (6) to the harvesting fronts (7) to facilitate the translation of the aggregates (100) The surface of these aggregates can also be sloping or horizontal. In the case where this surface is sloping, the nutrient solution which fills the tanks (5) can no longer be maintained at a determined level, but can be distributed by percolation and flow through the aggregates (100) from the sowing zones. or plantation (6) up to the harvest fronts (7)
The above determines the longitudinal and progressive spacing of the plants, the transverse spacing is determined by the orientation of the nozzles whose axes are arranged radially, in the end there is indeed progressive spacing in both directions. (see fig. 3 details B1, B2).

The nozzles (4) are staggered, their arrangement and their embodiments are detailed in fig. 3 details B1 and B2 and figures 6,7 and 8.

The aggregates (100) supplying the nozzles (4) come from a storage tank or silo (8), the walls (10) of which can be made of concrete, metal, plastic or any other material, the silo is pressurized of compressed air! 9), only during the operating time of the installation in "translation" mode, in fact the daily volumes 2 to move are very low, it is enough a very small number of hours of daily operation . The silo (8) is shown buried, it could as well be placed above the ground, the flexibility of the installations operating with compressed air allowing all the arrangements.

The air pressure (9) in the upper part of the silo (8) pushes the aggregates (100) into the tube (11) at the top of which are connected the radiating inlets of the spaces (2). From there the aggregates under light pressure follow the path described above, that is to say pass through the nozzles (4), progress in the tanks (5) and arrive at the harvesting front (7) where they pour into the space (12) through an inclined screen (13) which retains the plants (14); space (12) they descend, by gravity, into the conduits (15) to reach the silo (8). To avoid giving an excessive slope to the conduits (15), and therefore to bury the silo (8) deeply, it may be advantageous to vibrate these conduits using vibrators (16) which considerably facilitates the descent of the Aggregates (100). Valves (17) are provided to prevent backflow of the aggregates (100) into the conduits (15) when the silo (8) is pressurized.

A variant of this installation consists in replacing the pressurization of the aggregates (100) using compressed air, by the pushing of worms, the aggregates being able to be supplied, coming from the harvesting fronts (7), by conveyor belts or any other means.

Another variant consists in returning the aggregates (100) from the harvesting front (7) to the silo (8) under compressed air pressure: see detail AI: the aggregates (100) fall into the hoppers (12bis) which can be closed. by the valves (I7bis), they are then pushed by a pressure of compressed air at (18) into the horizontal ducts (15bis).

This same detail Al of FIG. 1 shows another variant which consists in providing a collecting cylinder with pallets (19) arranged in line with the harvesting front (7), in its rotation it entralne the aggregates (100) and the plants (14) and pushes them on the sieve (13), its speed of rotation is determined as a function of the forward speed of the aggregates (100) at the harvesting front (7).

An automatic watering system (20), fixed or mobile, makes it possible to clean the plants (14) as and when they are harvested. A conveyor belt (21) can be provided, both in the example of detail A and in that of detail A 1, for discharging the crop; "trimming", the preparation and conditioning of the plants which can also be carried out on this mat (21).

In the absence of a conveyor belt (21), all other handling methods using the circulation areas (22) could just as easily be used.

A gantry 23 rotating around an axis or mast (24) and orientable on 3600 rolls at its periphery on a raceway (25) by means of rollers (26), this path is supported from place to place by posts fixed to the tank (5), In the case of aligned tanks (fig.3), this rotating gantry (23) is replaced by a gantry (23bis) moving on two straight raceways.

A nacelle, adjustable in height, (27) can move by means of rollers (28) on the gantries (23,23bis) thus sweeping the entire surface of the tanks (5).

A cover, resting on a frame or a simple network of cables stretched in (35) s or suspended below, can be made of plastic films, glass or any other material suitable for this used, it covers all of the surface of the tank (5).

This cover (29) turns down, in line with the crop fronts (7), to form the vertical walls (30), the lower part (31) of which can be opened, raised, or deposited, or rolled up as shown in (31) to allow the evacuation of the crops, this arrangement is a very important characteristic of the invention because the covered area, most often intended for between heated and air-conditioned, is reduced to the strict minimum if it does not include any non-enclosed area. productive this @ui is a very important factor of savings.

A second wall (32), not essential, may however be useful ^ nt other provided, it may or may not cover the circulation areas (22) and acts as a double wall considerably improving the coefficient of thermal insulation.

When walls (32) cover the circulation areas (22) there automatically reigns a pleasant temperature, although they are not directly heated, but they benefit from the free calories diffusing through the walls (30).

Ventilation systems can of course be provided in one and / or the other wall (29, 30, 32).

More or less opaque gases, such as smoke, can be injected at will in (33) between the walls (29) and (32) whenever necessary, which provides particularly economical protection and easy to modulate plants (14 ) against excessive radiation from the sun.

The sterilization of the aggregates (100) can be ensured under the best conditions, either continuously or at selected times, at various points in the installation without requiring any special handling, for example at the level of the harvesting front (7), in the volumes (12,72bis), in the conduits (15,15bis), in the silo (8), the tubing (11) in (34) .., this sterilization can be carried out by any means and in particular: steam, electrical resistances (as shown by way of example in (34), ozonization, infrared, chemical treatments, etc.

Sowing or planting is carried out in (6), shown diagrammatically in fig. 1 by a funnel, it is possible to use natural or pre-coated seeds, placed at a suitable spacing either manually or by an automatic machine, or else seeds fixed beforehand, at suitable spacing, on various supports: paper, textiles, nonwovens, nets, etc., which can advantageously be rapidly disintegrated.

The translation times, as well as the speed, from the sowing or planting area (6), to the harvest front (7), are adapted without any difficulty to the vegetative cycle of the different cultivated plants, simply by varying the time daily pressurization of the silo (8), and therefore the daily duration of the travel time. This time being likely to vary from 0 to 24 hours allows all possible vegetative cycles from a few days to several months and more.

Different cultures of different vegetative cycles can be done in mdmXe time in the same tank r it suffices to provide radiant separations (35) fig (4), the different times and speeds of translation being modulated large at the valves (36) fig. 1
The control of these different members can be electric, pneumatic or other, it can easily be automated according to well known techniques.

In the case of growing climbing plants, stakes (40) are provided. They slide or roll on wires or guides (37) (metallic, nylon or other), hooked at one end on one structure (38) and at the other on the raceway (25), they are supported by a profile (39) kept at a good height by vertical uprights fixed from place to place on the tanks (5). The stakes (40) may other single or double and may or may not have a roller at their upper part, they are planted in the aggregates (100) just in front of the plants (14) and may or may not be ligated there, they may possibly be flared at their base so as to present a large push plate (41) which facilitates their translation towards the harvesting front (7) at the same time as the plant.

The provisions of figure i with its details A and A 1 are generally valid whatever the plan shapes of the tanks (see fig. 5, 4 and 5), the most sensitive modifications are: - Figure 3 relating to the tanks any spade "arranged in alignment: the gantry (23bis) instead of turning around a central pivot, rolls on two raceways located on either side of the queue of bins. The silos (8) do not have no privileged central position, they can be installed in the most suitable place depending on the number of trays (5), the number of rows and the length of these, there may be only one or more depending on the size of the cultivated area. For the same reason, the supply of aggregates (5) to the tanks (5) may no longer be radiant from a central point, but may come from a distribution network whose layout will be best suited to the overall plan.

The structure (38) becomes useless, the wires (37) being able to be hooked to the second raceway of the gantry (23bis). In the arrangement of the tanks (5) provided in fig. 3, the transport of the aggregates (100) back to the silo (8) can possibly be done using the lower band of the conveyor belts (21), if they are not transported under air pressure - FIGURAS 3 shows the plan arrangements of an installation comprising several elementary tanks (5, @ 0) arranged n spade head n in one or more rows each comprising an unspecified number of tanks (5) and (80)
There are essentially the same elements as in FIG. i but sometimes arranged differently:
The sowing or planting points (6) are straight and no longer circular or polygonal.

The circulations (22) are also rectilinear, they can be covered or not as above.

The gantry (23bis) has two raceways.

The partitions (35) are similar to those in FIG. 4
The walls (30) separate the heated zones from those which are not. The outer envelope (32) separates the entire installation from the open air.

Arrows indicate the direction of translation of the aggregates (100) and the plants (14).

TOMORROW B 1 at the bottom of fig. 3 is a top view, greatly enlarged, of the outlet of the nozzles (4) as they can be made, among other possibilities, in a concrete slab (3), showing the radial arrangement of the axes of these nozzles (4)
DETAIL B 2 at the bottom of fig. 3 is a perspective view from above and a section of the nozzles (4) produced differently, for example in sheet metal folded as drawn, or corrugated, or in molded or extruded plastic, etc., the arrows indicate the direction of circulation of the aggregates (100 ) and the dotted areas the orifices through which these aggregates arrive under the nozzles (4).

- FIGURE 4 shows the plan arrangement of a circular or polygonal tank (5). The left side of the figure corresponds to a polygonal container (5) which does not have a variable number of sides (here 6 sides for a half container, or 12 sides for the entire container).

The right half corresponds to a circular container (5).

We find essentially the same elements as in FIG. 1 and in particular:
The wall (30) delimiting the cultivated area, only heated
The area (5) occupied by the aggregates (100)
Sowing or planting area (6)
Harvest area (7)
Radiant partitions (35)
Profile 39) supporting the wires (37)
Traffic zones (22)
The wall (32) separating the unheated zones from the outside in the case where the outside perimeter of the circulations is a hexagon, and the same wall (32bis) in the case where this perimeter shape is a dodecagon.

te gantry (23) and its nacelle (27) - FIGURE 5 shows in plan, and on a small scale, the overall arrangement of a complete installation comprising several assemblies similar to that shown in fig. 4, and in particular the culture tanks (5), the walls (, 0) delimiting the only heated and air-conditioned zones, the walls (32) separating the exterior, the same walls (32a) which no longer exist when the extensions (42) are made at the place where they are drawn, but are deferred -lead far.

The zones (4), the shape of which does not allow the installation of trays (5) such as those of FIG. 4, can receive trapezoidal tanks, such as those of FIG. 3, or circular or polygonal but smaller tubs (for example for growing plants with very short cycles).

Areas such as (44) can be used as stores, workshops, packaging and shipping areas, etc.

Areas such as (45) can be used as offices.

If several circular or polygonal tanks (5) are arranged as shown in fig. 5, the total immobilized surface is proportionally reduced since a large part of the circulation zones (22) is common to at least them tanks (5) - FIGURES 6 - 7 - 8 represent in section, among many other possible, three practical and economical embodiments, concrete slabs (1,3) pierced with nozzles (4). The lower slab (i) is lightly reinforced with longitudinal and transverse concrete steels (46) it can be poured at the same time as the partitions (35)
Cylindrical-elliptical recesses (47) are reserved for pouring concrete using inflatable elements (48) forming molds, shown in detail in fig. 7 and 8.

On the upper part of these inflatable elements are fixed other elements, also inflatable, (49), inclined, intended to reserve in the mass of the upper slab (3) recesses (4) called nozzles. Steels 50 arm this slab (3), they are wavy in a horizontal plane to pass between the elements (49) staggered, the upper part of these elements (49) exceeds in (51) the surface of the concrete (52) . This surface is equalized during pouring by vibration, after setting of the concrete and extraction of the deflated molds, this surface (52) can advantageously be sanded to facilitate the sliding and the translation of the aggregates (100).

The inflatable elements (48,49,5f) are made using plastic films or plasticized fabrics assembled together by gluing or welding, a little like Dneumaticues mattresses, the welding or gluing zones being represented in ( 53).

In the variant shown in the middle of FIG. 6, the lower part of the inflatable element (48) is replaced by a rigid panel (54) on which is fixed, at the locations (55) the upper part of the element (48) provided as a precursor with the inclined inflatable elements ( 49). The lower slab (1) is poured first; after hardening of the concrete, the panel (54), equipped as it has just been said, is placed on the concrete with interposition, not shown - icz, of a wedging of thickness easy to eliminate (for example inflatable tubes ).

The upper part of the element (48 is then inflated, at the same time as the inclined elements (49); the steels (50) put in place and the concrete poured
The recesses thus reserved have their upper wall (56) in the form of adjoining arches and their lower wall (57) planar.

In the second variant shown in the right part of FIG. 6, the two walls, lower and upper, of the recesses (23 are planar, the lower slab (13 is produced as in the previous variant. A panel (54bis) consists of two plates separated one from the other by rods 559 ) a few millimeters thick, reserving spaces (57).

As above, the inflatable half-element (48) is bonded to the upper plate, equipped with the same inclined elements (49), the bonding being made over the entire surface and no longer only in the zones (55). Holes (58) are made in the upper plate to the right of each nozzle.

Air under slight pressure is introduced into the space (57) between the rigid plates and inflates the elements (49).

The assembly is placed on an easily removable height setting, then the steels (50) are put in place and the concrete poured. After the concrete has hardened, the assembly is removed after deflating and eliminating the wedging; of course, connections are provided from place to place between slab (1) and slab (3) I1 can be advantageous to prefabricate all of the tanks (5) or only the slabs (3).

- FIGURE 7 represents the way in which the inflatable elements (48,49) which are discussed above can be produced.

A continuous sheet of plastic or plasticized fabric (60), of great length, or the like, is folded as follows: an inclined part (61) (forming an angle (62) equal to the angle formed by the nozzles (4 ) with the horizontal) continues until (63) where the sheet folds back on itself following (64), then becomes horizontal again in (65), it continues on a new inclined part (66), the sequence repeating in the same way a large number of times without any interruption.

 I1 is thus formed a series of folds (61 to 64), with no continuity of the sheet (60), separated by planar intervals (60,65 ...).

Collages or welds are made, perpendicular to these folds, as seen in (53) fig. 6, thus delimiting rectangular zones with double walls, inclined and closed at their end by the fold (63).

One out of two of these rectangular zones is then cut, alternating from one row to the next, to obtain a staggered arrangement of the nozzles.

The width of the adhesives or welds is as small as possible, to prevent these areas from becoming stuck in the concrete after hardening.

A sheet (68), of the same kind as the previous one, comprising holes (69), of section slightly smaller than that of the nozzles (4), located in staggered rows in line with each preserved rectangular zone, and therefore of each nozzle , is glued or welded under all surfaces (61,65.) and following, except of course on the surface (69). The assembly thus formed is used for the first variant shown in the middle of FIG. 6 after bonding, in the zones (55), on the panel (54). Air, under pressure, is blown between the panel (54) and the sheet (68), tending to inflate the latter, then passes through the holes (69) and inflates at the same time all the lilies (61 to 64 ) and following.

Each of these folds, once inflated, forms a mold for a nozzle (4), as shown in (70) fig. 8 which is a section A - B in FIG. 6, but on a double scale for more readability.

the same assembly cue above, consisting of the sheets (60 and 68), assembled as above, is used in the second variant to the right of FIG. 6, the only difference being that it is glued over the entire surface, and no longer only in the zones (55), of the panel (54bis), except of course at the level of the holes (69).

Air under slight pressure is blown into the spaces (57) and passing through the holes (58) and (69), inflates the folds (61 to 64) and following, as before, to serve as molds for the nozzles (4 ).

To make the recesses (47) in the left part of fig. 6, the same assembly is used as above, consisting of the sheets (60) and (68), and under this sheet (68) is glued or welded, throughout the areas (55), a third sheet (71).

Air under slight ession is blown between the sheets (68) and (71), causing the formation of tubes which serve as rollers for the recesses (47), then passing through the holes (69) inflates equalize all the folds (61 to 64) and following, as before, to serve as molds for the nozzles (4).

- FIGURE 8 shows the inflatable elements described above, ra s this time in the inflated position, ie as they used to serve as molds for the recesses (47) and the nozzles (4).

- FIGURES 9 and 10 represent an important variant of certain arrangements described in Figure 1 and relates more particularly to the supply of the nozzles (4) in aggregates (100) from the silo (8).

The aggregates (100) have to travel varying distances between their exit from the tubing (11) and their arrival at the harvesting front (7) via the nozzles (4).

More or less significant "pressure drops" result (just as the water pressure decreases as a function of the length of the pipes traversed) which can lead to appreciably different flow rates between the nozzles (4) located near ia sowing or planting area (6) and those close to the harvest front (7).

This can be remedied by gradually varying the section of the nozzles (4), but this may not always be effective.

The solution described in fig. 9 fully solves this difficulty.

This FIG. 9 is a plan view, halfway through the slab (1) of FIG. 1 which is modified as shown in (1a) of FIG. 10 which is a section, on a larger scale, along A - B of FIG. 9.

Secondary conduits (72), of large section, circular or rectilinear, depending on the shape of the tanks (5) as shown in fig. 3 and 4, and around cases substantially parallel to the harvesting front (7), are supplied with aggregates (100) by primary conduits (73) coming directly from the silo (s) (8).

On the pipes (72), which can be in the form of tubes or gutters, and which we will call hereafter gutters ", are connected tertiary conduits (74) which open out through orifices (75) through the slab (Ibis ) and on its upper face.1e: tgrnults va'dank'l 'space (2bis) which is here significantly greater in height than the space (2) of Figure 1, and accumulate there.

The aggregates therefore arrive from the silo (8) through the conduits (73) in the gutters (72), and from there, go towards the space (2bis) thanks to the conduits (74), then cross the slab (3) by the nozzles (4) and then constitute, in the tanks (5), the extendable support for the plants (14).

The spacing of the conduits (73) is calculated to divide the gutters (72) into zones of relatively reduced length in order to standardize the pressures at all points at all points in the volume of these gutters which thus form a regulating buffer volume. The section of these gutters is clearly greater than the sum of the sections of the orifices (75) supplied by a section of gutter of length equal to the distance separating two conduits (73), which is important for obtaining an equal flow rate of all these orifices (75).

the distance between the top of the slab (1bis) and the bottom of the slab (3), delimiting the space (2bis) is calculated so as to create, here too, a large buffer volume equalizing the pressures at all points of the under the face of the slab (3) and therefore at the entrance to all the nozzles (4), this height depends on the intrinsic nature of the aggregates used, their natural slope angle, the coefficient of friction, etc.

In this way the aggregates (100) flow in line with each nozzle (4) with a uniform speed and pressure in the tanks (5).

- FIGURE 11 relates to the realization of an installation for cultivation in water or hydroponics.

the plan shape of the tanks (80) is the same as that of FIGS. 3 - 4 and 5, the harvesting front (7) being at will, as before, circular, polygonal or rectilinear.

 The equipment of these tanks (80) is similar to that of the tanks (5), such as gantries (23,23bis), nacelles (27); the tutors (40) and their supports (37,58,39).

The arrangement of the shelters (29,50,32) is identical as well as the circulations (22).

On the other hand, the tiles (1,1bis, 3) are replaced by a simple tile without nozzles (4).

The volumes (12, î2bis), the conduits (15,15bis) and the silo (8), as well as their equipment, are eliminated.

Figure 11 shows in, lan a fraction of a tray (80), thus no small part of the web of son (81) radiating and strongly stretched between the sowing or planting area (6) and the harvest front (7 ). These tanks (80) are sealed and closed by vertical walls (86,87) at their ends.

The layer of wires (81), metallic or of another material, consists of wires grouped in pairs as shown on a larger scale with details E - El - E2.

The seeds or young plants are placed in (82), between the two wires of the same pair, in the zone (6), the pairs are separated from one another by the spaces (33).

The distance from axis to axis between two pairs of consecutive wires (81), when they are hooked to the harvesting front (7), is equal to the average diameter of a mature plant ready to be harvested; this distance varies, depending on the species cultivated, from a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters. This same distance is equal to a few millimeters in (6).

Each plant is therefore held between the two wires of the same pair, the roots flourish in a nutritive solution (84), and the aerial part is deployed above the layer of wires (81).

A thin surface layer of an opaque liquid (89), of density lower than that of the solution (84), can be provided to stop the solar radiation and avoid the proliferation of harmful algae and microorganisms.

The plants (14) can be aligned or better arranged in staggered rows. The seeds, possibly pre-coated, or the young plants, are deposited as previously in the zones (6) and are pushed progressively by all systems at progressive speed and spacing of the plants of which an example, among many others possible, is given in more detail. fig. 12 and its detail F 1.

Supports 85) are provided from place to place to prevent the wires (81) from bending too much under the weight of the plants (14). Different plant species can possibly be cultivated in a large tank provided that the wire areas are properly spaced (81).

The supports (85) are provided according to detail E 2 so as not to lead the translation of the plants (14)
The stakes (40), if applicable, slide, as previously on the wires (37) under the thrust of the plants (14) to which they can be ligated, their lower part slides between the two wires (81) of the same pair.

A pusher and / or tractor system, according to the invention, covers a bin sector (80) whose angle at the center can be arbitrary, but the system will be less expensive the lower this angle, this sector is shown on the right side of fig. 11, it extends from the sowing or planting area (6) to the harvesting front (7), it is divided into concentric sections separated by the alignments of the supports (85) of the wires (81). coughing system comprised between two alignments of supports (85) constitutes an autonomous assembly (92) in the form of a rolling trolley by means of rollers on rails or guides (91); each carriage rolls on the guides (91), in one direction or the other at will, and all of the carriages (92) (there are four in fig. 11, but there may be more or less ) can thus sweep the entire surface of the tanks (80), whether these are circular, polygonal or trapezoidal. The carriages (92) can be provided with an independent means of propulsion or be pulled by cabals etc.

The base of each carriage is thus constituted by a chassis (92) integral with rollers, this chassis serves as a support for a structure, shown in more detail in F 1, which can be raised or lowered by a height corresponding substantially to that of the deepest roots we have to cultivate.

This structure is essentially composed of a large number of mobile "blades" (90) whose role consists in pushing the plants and spacing them from each other.

the blades (90) are rrliées between them by one or more worms (93), whose essential characteristic is to have a progressive pitch, and which are fixed relative to the hunting (92). the progression of this step, as well as that of the spacing between blades (90) is very exaggerated on the cattle F 1 in order to be perceptible on the small scale adopted, in reality this progression is extremely weak and is equal to the increase in the space required for each plant (14) as it moves from (6) to (7).

the blades (90) slide on a su-xoort (94), they include a lug (96) or any other similar system, penetrating at the bottom of the thread of the screws (93) -, they are separated from each other by increasing spaces, variable according to the cultivated plants.

When the screws (93) are rotated they slide the blades (90) on the support (94) in one or more rows at will, and at the same time the space separating each blade from its next is increased due to of the progressiveness of the pitch, there is therefore an overall translational movement and at the same time a progressive spacing of the blades (90) between them. The screws (93) are mazes by any motor system (95). The last and / or the first blade (90) of each carriage (92) is replaced by a thin extension "(97) capable of passing between the wires (81) of the same pair to grip the plant (14) coming from from the preceding carriage (92) or push it towards the following carriage, on either side of a line of supports (85). This thin extension can, if desired, interest several plants (14) instead of only one.

The operating mode of the installation is as follows: a structure with its guide (94), its blades (90) and the thin extensions (97), adjusted to the spacing suitable for the cultivated plant, is positioned under the rows of plants (14) interested, it is first raised until the upper edge of the blades (90) comes into contact with the wires (81); in a second step the screws (93) are rotated by the number of turns necessary to advance the assembly of a length equal to that separating two consecutive rows of plants (14), the blades and thin extensions pile up the plants ( 14) in their movement (as well as possibly their tutors.

the plants (14) slide on the wires (81) while acquiring the spacing which is necessary for them.

 bn a third time the structure is lowered to its initial level and in a fourth time the screws (93) are put in reverse rotation and the assembly returns from one row backwards, that is to say at its exact position of origin, and the cycle can start again.

All the carriages being animated by similar movements, it can be seen that all of the plants (14), in the sector concerned, have advanced by one row.

It is also possible to treat several rows of plants (14) at the same time instead of just one, the whole process remaining the same.

After having "treated" a sector in this way, the set of carriages (92) moves on the guide rails (91) to treat the next sector and so on until the treatment of all the tanks is completed. (oye)
In the case of culture in water with bcs (80) aligned and trapezoidal as shown in fig. 3, the above provisions are slightly modified
The separations (35) having no reason to be, are eliminated, a simple interval (35bis), a few centimeters in width, empty of wires (81) and plants (14) is provided to separate between them two consecutive trapezoidal zones and arranged 1 spade head in which the directions of translation of the plants (14) are opposite.

A group of carriages (92), in all points similar to that shown in detail F 1, with the exception of the blades (90) which are here rectilinear, ensures the translation and spacing of the plants (14) successively in all trapezoidal areas of the tanks (80) located in the same alignment and whose direction of translation is oriented in the same direction, that is to say one in two
Another group of carriages (92bis), identical, but oriented at 1800 compared to the previous ones, ensures the translation and spacing of the plants (14) over the rest of the surface of these same tanks (80), where the direction of the translation is inverse.

After having "treated", one after the other, all the zones relating to it, the group of carriages (92) returned to its original position.

The other group of carriages (92bis) then comes into action ucur treat "all areas concerning it, one after the other, then resumes will equal its original position. The entire surface of the same pattern. of bins (80) is thus treated with only two groups of trolleys (92,92bis) identical but oriented at I800.

We could use only one group of carriages, but in this case it is returned. to I800 either in the tanks (80) or out of these tanks.

The groups of carriages (92,92bis) of course roll in this case on straight rails or guides, all the other movements are similar to those of the carriages (92) equipping the circular or polygonal tanks.

All of these operations, without any difficulty, were carried out automatically by all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, electronic, etc. controls.

and it is possible to vary the various parameters such as speed, frequency, duration, repeatability, etc. of these various movements in order to best adapt them to the type of plant cultivated, thus allowing, as before, total automation of the installations.

Finally, the yields per square meter are similar to those of cultivation on aggregates (100).

An important variant, characteristic of the invention, consists in spreading, on the nutritive solution (84), contained in the tanks (80), aggregates (1O0), of low density, and in any case less than that of the solution (84), of which there is a considerable variety such as cork in granules, expanded polystyrene beads, granules of therefore, pozzolans, etc., of suitable thickness.

The seeds or young plants (14), dosed in (6) on this layer of aggregates (100), begin to develop their roots there which eventually eventually extend into the solution (84). the thickness of the aggregate layer (100) is calculated so that the parts normally emerged from the plants remain equal in this cultivation method.

The seedlings (14) are pushed from the sowing or planting point (G) to the harvesting front (7) by a system of trolleys (90 to 97) against this before, or by any other system leading to the result mass. . It is useful, in this variant, to cut the blades (90) in the manner of a comb, so that the aggregates (100) can pass between the teeth of this comb, without the plants (14) being able to do so. . It is also good to tilt the teeth of this comb backwards, in this way, at the same time as they push the plants (14) forward, they tend to lift them in order to help maintain them. at a constant level despite their weight tends to draw them down. An advantage of this variant is to screen the sun and prevent the proliferation of harmful algae or microorganisms.

In cases where the weight of the emerged parts of the plants (14) will not represent an excessive percentage of the total weight of the cultivated plants (14), it will be possible to simply remove the network of wires (81) and their supports ( 85) which will simplify the bins even more.

The thickness of the submerged part of the aggregate layer (100) will vary depending on the density of the latter, and the thickness of the emerged layer. It can therefore be chosen at will, which will allow the best optimization according to the nature of the cultivated plants. This layer of aggregates (100) contributes to the maintenance in vertical position of the plants which in any case, being more clearly spaced than in traditional culture, wedge each other since, most often, they are in direct contact with each other
All of the foregoing descriptions are given for information only and by way of example, they in no way limit the dozen of the invention from which one would not get out by replacing the details described by any other equivalent.

The Self -eatured Culture Process On mobile Extensible Supports, whether on aggregate supports, in water or on mixed supports, has absolutely universal industrial applications, because it finally allows a real industrialization of the cultivation of plants.

 It is found in all countries and in all climates.

 I1 concerns all the agro-food professions and if ilaires, the farmers in general and very particularly the market gardeners, the watercress producers, the horticulturalists etc.

 It is also of interest to fertilizer producers and the chemical industry in general for the supply of nutrient solutions, as well as civil engineering firms for the construction of facilities and manufacturers of equipment for the supply of equipment.

Claims (12)

Claims 1. Process of Automated Culture On mobile Extensible Supports and equipment allowing its implementation, characterized in that the culture is carried out either: - On mobile and extensible supports constituted by mobile aggregates (100), contained in tanks (5 ) - On networks of radiating and divergent wires (81), covering tanks (80) - On mixed supports combining aggregates (100) and networks of wires (81) In the three cases the plants (14) are mobile and spaced apart by increasingly larger intervals, adapted to their growth, throughout their translation between the sowing or planting area (6) and the harvest front. (7). In the cultivation process on aggregates (100), these can be of various types, they come from a tank or silo (8), fitted with backflow valves (17), put under compressed air pressure (9 ), often in a tube (11), reach the spaces (2,2bis) between the bottoms (1,1bis) of the tanks (5) and the slab (3) of these mime tanks (5), pass through of this slab (3) by nozzles (4), fill the tanks (5), then go towards the harvest front (7) by burying with them the plants (14). The aggregates (100) are then propelled out tanks (5) by the thrust of the nozzles (4) or driven out of the tanks (5) by cylinders (19) then they pass through sieves (13) which have the role of retaining the plants (14) but not the aggregates (100) which fall into the hoppers (12) and are returned by simple gravity to the silo (8) by the conduits (15), the descent into the conduits (15) can be facilitated by vibrators (16) The seeds or young plants (14) are placed either manually or by an automatic machine in the zones (6) on the aggregates (100) impregnated with a nutritive solution, and are entrained by these aggregates (100) up to the front of harvest (7), at the same time as they are spaced nrogressively, their complete growth taking place during this course. The plants (14) arrive, ready to be harvested, in (7) where they are picked either manually or by automatic collecting cylinders (19), they are placed on the sieves (13), washed by a sprinkler system (20), and can fall on conveyor belts (21) and be beech "trimmed" and packed. The aggregates (100) can be sterilized, without specific handling, in the silo (8) in (34) or in the conduits (15,15bis) The whole of this automated cultivation process is also characterized by the fact that the arrangements and the materials used allow almost total mechanization and automation of the cultivation methods, treatments, heating, air conditioning, shade, enrichment of the atmosphere> sterilization, etc. with centralized control of the entire installation, which can be carried out by computer. 2. Automated culture method according to claim 1 characterized in that the return of the aggregates (100), after passing aw-through sieves (13), instead of being carried out by simple gravity, can be done under the action compressed air blown in (18) into the hoppers (12bis) closed by the valves (17bis), the aggregates (100) being discharged horizontally in the conduits (15bis) and the silo (8). 3. Automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that the bottoms (1, lbis, 3) of the tanks (5) can be downwardly sloping from the sowing or planting areas (6) to the harvest fronts (7) to facilitate the translation of the aggregates (100) 4. Automated culture method according to claim 1 characterized in that an improved system for feeding the tanks (5) with aggregates (100) can be constituted by a network of conduits (73,74,75) supplying the nozzles (4) with the interposition of buffer volumes (72,2bis) thus canceling the "pressure losses" due to the differences in length and nature of the various conduits and regulating the pressures d injection of aggregates (100) through the nozzles (4) at all points of the tanks (5). 5. An automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that it uses nozzles (4) whose axes are inclined towards the harvesting front (7) and are located in divergent planes. 6. Automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized by molds for nozzles (4) made up of inflatable elements (48,49,51 and 60 to 71), easy to unmold and reusable economically a large number of times. 7. Method of automated culture, according to claim 1 characterized by the use of culture tanks (5 and 80) of trapezoidal shape, circular or polygonal, which are either isolated, or aligned, or arranged in a set in the form of nests d bees, the spaces (43,44,45) between circular or polygonal bins (5, N / A) that can receive trapezoidal bins or constitute storage, packaging, offices, workshops, etc. 8. An automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that a network of pairs of wires (81), highly stretched, radiating and divergent, from the sowing or planting area (6) to the harvest front (7) serves as a support for the plants (14), these wires are supported from place to place by supports (85) fixed on the bottom (88) of the tanks (80) filled with a nutritive solution (84), the supports (85) being arranged in such a way that the plants (14) do not hang on to the passage and are not hampered during their translation. 9. An automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that the plants (14) are pushed and / or pulled, at time intervals adjustable at will, by "carriages" rolling on rails or guides (91), by means of wheels or rollers fixed to their chassis (92) serving itself as a base for structures comprising a guide support (94) on which slide blades (90) provided with a lug (96) and whose movement is controlled by progressive worms (93), but by any motor system (95). The first and / or last blade (90) of each carriage has thin extensions (97) capable of passing between the two wires (81) of each pair. Each set (90,93,94,95,96,97) can be animated, in a block, in an upward or downward movement. 10. Automated culture method according to claim 1 characterized in that the blades (90) can be cut into combs to facilitate the relative movement of plants (14) / aggregates (100), in the case of culture on mixed supports in particular; the teeth of these combs are inclined backwards so that the plants (14) tend to be lifted at each cycle and to be maintained at their optimum level despite their weight which attracts them downwards. 11. Automated culture method according to claim 1 characterized in that the stopping of the light rays is obtained by the use of an opaque liquid (89) of density lower than that of the nutritive solution (84) and floating on that ci, to avoid within it the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. 12. Automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that a gantry (23,23bis) scans the entire surface of the tanks (5,8Q) by rotation around a mast (24) at one of its ends , and by rolling on a rail or guide (25) at the other end using rollers (26), or by translation on two raceways, and that a nacelle (27) is suspended from rollers ( 28) and that it can move over the entire length of the gantry (23,23bis) and be raised or lowered at will.  1î. . Method of automatic culture, according to claim 1 characterized in cc us stakes (40), with or without push lacquers (41), can slide or roll, at their upper part, on guides constituted by wires or cables or guides radiant and divergent or any other system, hooked in (25) and in (98) and supported by a framework (39), and be implanted, at their lower part, in the aggregates (100) and / or slide between the wires ( 81) supporting the plants (14) depending on the case 14. Autoe'atisée cultivation method, according to claim 1 characterized in that only the actually cultivated surface of the tanks (5,80) is sheltered by the overall arrangement of walls (29,30,31) delimiting a minimum volume which can be the only one to be heated, air-conditioned, shaded and where the atmosphere can be enriched with gases favoring vegetation. In addition, the spaces (33,22) between the walls (29,30,31) and the lining walls (32,32bis) form thermal insulation. 15. Automated cultivation method according to claim 1 characterized in that the volumes (33) can receive more or less transparent fumes or gases which protect the plants (14) from excessive heat from solar radiation