FR3057139A1 - TURKEY CULTURE PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention describes a culture method (500) comprising at least watering steps (520) at a watering station; admitting a sprinkler into a root chamber (210) through an inlet opening (290), filling (530) the root chamber (210) with an aqueous priming solution (540) a dump device (240) after filling (530) the root chamber (210) and emptying (545) the root chamber (210).

Description

Field of the invention

The field of the present invention relates to that of soilless crops and more particularly that of hydroponic crops. It particularly, but not exclusively, relates to the field of the process of automated cultivation of plant production chains by hydroponics in which the plant is cultivated individually.

Prior art

It is known to cultivate plants above ground in container tanks according to several techniques.

According to a first technique called NFT (Nutrient Film Technique in English), a culture by hydroponics is carried out using a thin film of water circulating in the roots of the plants placed on the surface, with or without substrate. The plants in their container are immersed in the solution that is continuously diffused in a continuous flow.

According to a second technique, called the tide table or DWC (Deep Water Culture in English), the plants are placed in the cells of a table. The level of nutritive liquid rises at regular intervals, allowing a regular supply with the aqueous nutritive solution.

According to a third technique called aeroponics, plants grow above ground with the roots protected from light by a cover but regularly vaporized by an aqueous nutritive solution in the form of a mist.

In all the cases mentioned, the containers used do not allow the plants to be fed individually. There is an extensive health risk and these systems cannot always be used in combination due to the weight. Plants cannot be handled individually automatically.

Statement of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above in the form of a culture process comprising at least the following steps:

- Providing a conveying support configured to convey a plurality of containers for culture at tide, the conveying support having a longitudinal shape;

- supply of tidal culture containers configured to be conveyed by the conveying support and each comprising a root chamber and an inlet opening, each of the containers further comprising a draining device configured to allow at least partial emptying of the respective root chamber;

- watering at a watering station; said watering step comprising admitting a sprinkler into the root chamber of each of the containers through the respective intake opening;

filling the root chamber of each of the containers with an aqueous solution;

priming of the emptying device of each of the receptacles after filling of the respective root chamber;

- emptying the root chamber of each of the containers; and,

- movement of the conveyor support for a determined period of time on a conveyor path until the next watering.

Thus, thanks to this arrangement, the present invention makes it possible to water, fill and empty the root chamber individually.

The cultivation process can also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises steps of;

- positioning of the containers in the conveying support; and

- conveying of the conveying support with the containers.

According to one embodiment, the emptying of the root chamber is at least partial, during the emptying step.

Thanks to this arrangement, the root chamber always includes a little aqueous solution for the roots.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of recovering part of the aqueous solution, during emptying, by a recovery system.

Thanks to this arrangement, the water demands of the crop are minimized.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises a pause between waterings; the duration of the break is determined so as to keep the roots moist.

Thus, thanks to this arrangement, the roots do not lack water.

According to one embodiment, the aqueous solution comes from a closed circuit.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of admitting drinking water, coming from a drinking water network, into the closed circuit.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of adjusting the level of the aqueous solution in the closed circuit so as to compensate for the losses.

Thus, thanks to this arrangement, the water level is always optimal.

According to one embodiment, the supply of the conveying support provides a conveying support comprising a receiving housing extending in a direction of extension transverse to a conveying direction and being configured to receive the plurality of containers.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example.

List of Figures

The invention will be better understood using the detailed description which is set out below with reference to the drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrate an example of a conveying system 900 seen in profile;

- Figure 2 shows an example of conveying system 900 seen from above;

- Figure 3 shows a top view of a conveying support 100 according to the invention;

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a conveying support 100 according to the invention;

- Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an example guide member 135 according to one embodiment;

- Figures 7a, 7b and 7c shows an example of handling a handling stop 230 according to one embodiment;

- Figure 8 shows an example of cover 270 according to one embodiment;

- Figure 9 shows a top view of the cover 270;

- Figure 10 shows a culture conveyor assembly 300 according to the invention; and

- Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 illustrate a culture conveying assembly 300 comprising at least a first series of retaining members 121 and a second series of retaining members 122 according to one embodiment;

- Figure 16 shows a schematic view of the method 500 according to the invention.

In the detailed description which follows of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

General principle

The present invention is intended for a conveyor shown in FIG. 1. The conveyor can be composed of two synchronized conveyor belts 910 which can make it possible to circulate conveyor supports 100 on which a plurality of containers 200 can be installed. At each end, a shuttle 920, which can carry conveyor supports 100, allows them to change direction in order to operate a carousel circulation.

The present invention has a particular advantage in that each culture can be cultivated in an individual pot 200, also called container 200. Indeed, a culture can be cultivated in a clod of culture in inert materials such as fiberglass, coconut debris for example. Thus the roots can then develop freely in the container 200, without culture medium. Each container 200 is watered periodically in order to moisten the roots, once the container 200 is filled, the water is removed by a draining device 000 operating on a principle similar to that of a siphon.

The containers 200 are mounted on conveyor supports 100 in order to form a crop conveyor assembly 300. The latter circulates in a so-called carousel system and allows the cultures placed in the containers 200 to be watered at a watering station. 950 located at the end of the conveyor.

The ends of the carriage, serving as an interface with the conveyor, can initially be parts attached to a main body. To ensure their interaction with the conveyor, the material used can allow its translation on a strip and its sliding in contact with a part called “strip guide” for the lateral guidance of the conveyor support 100. This configuration can also make it possible to avoid interference with the drive components of the belt. Thus, the option of using aluminum or plastic continues to be viable.

A small amount of aqueous solution can remain present at the bottom of container 200 to ensure the humidification of the roots between two waterings. The aqueous solution can be loaded with nutritive salts allowing to bring to the cultures all that they can need for their development. The conveying system 900 can have several superimposed planes 905. The containers 200 can be mounted from one plan 905 to the next depending on their degree of leaf development.

Each plane has an inter-container space adapted to the size of the culture by means of at least a first series of holding members 121 and at least a second series of holding members 122. At each step from leaf development, the containers 200 are spaced apart by a handling maneuver making it possible to move the containers 200 from the first series of holding members 121 to the second series of holding members 122.

Subsequently, mature crops are picked at the highest plan 905 level. All inter-plane manipulations can be managed by a robot without human intervention and each plane can be illuminated in the upper part by low energy consumption 990 light devices such as for example light-emitting diodes so as to avoid uncontrolled natural light. .

The climate in which crops grow is provided by an air conditioning heater responsible for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air depending on the variety of crop grown.

Description of a conveying support according to one embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a conveying support 100. The conveying support 100 is configured to convey a plurality of containers 200 for culture at tide. The conveying support 100 has a longitudinal shape. As illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveying support 100 comprises a receiving housing 110 and a plurality of holding members 120 disposed along the receiving housing 110.

Each retaining member 120 can be configured to cooperate with a respective container 200 so as to define a predetermined position 129 of said container 200 in the receiving housing so that the conveying support 100 can make it possible to convey the plurality of containers 200 for culture at tide to a watering station to perform a watering step 520.

Furthermore, each holding member 120 allows each container 200 for culture at tide to be able to be treated individually. This is a considerable advantage because it makes it possible to avoid contamination with other plants and also to considerably reduce the weight per square meter by emptying each container according to the watering step 520. Indeed, the weight is a essential criterion for the layout of an urban farm on the roof of a building for example and therefore all handling equipment and others are designed for low weight.

As mentioned above, the receiving housing 110 has a longitudinal shape and extends in a direction of extension transverse to the conveying direction, which takes place during a conveying step 505, in which the conveying support 100 is conveyed. When conveying 505, the plurality of retaining members 120 makes it possible to individually maintain the plurality of containers 200 for tidal culture, received in the receiving housing 110, during their conveying 505 since the plurality of retaining members 120 is disposed or is substantially aligned along the receiving housing 110 on a longitudinal wall of the receiving housing 130 and more particularly on a side wall 133.

This arrangement also has an advantage since the containers 200 for tidal culture can be arranged in a direction and / or a dimension and thus considerably reduce the weight per square meter.

As Figures 3 and 4 show, the receiving housing 110 is open at the top and is also perforated down or more exactly the receiving housing also comprises a perforated bottom wall 140, The opening at the top allows accommodate the containers 200 for culture at high tide and the perforated bottom wall 140 allows the flow of an aqueous solution and partially delimits the receiving housing 110, which allows the flow of the aqueous solution in order to '' avoid retention of aqueous solution.

During the conveying 505, the conveying support 100 can in certain cases cross over into the conveyor and cause congestion of the circulation. To this end, the conveying support 100 comprises a guide member 135, presented in FIGS. 5 and 6, making it possible to guide the conveying support 100 during a conveying 505 in an alignment so as to perfectly guide the conveying support 100 and to avoid congestion.

The guide member 135 allows a linear contact, via a linear contact area 139, and is arranged on a side wall of the receiving housing 110. According to one embodiment, the guide member 135 can take the form of a fold 137 at one of the walls located at the end of the conveying support 100.

Description of a container according to an embodiment

In FIGS. 7a to 7c, there is shown a container 200 for culture at tide. The container 200 is configured to be conveyed by a conveying support 100 and comprises a root chamber 210. The root chamber 210 is dedicated to the development of the roots of the culture. This root chamber 210 also comprises a holding element 220 configured to cooperate with each holding member 120 of the plurality of holding members 120 of the conveying support 100 shown in FIG. 4 for example. The holding element 220, which can be placed on a wall of the root chamber 210, allows the container 200 for tidal culture to cooperate with the plurality of holding members 120 of the conveying support 100 and to individually accommodate a culture in root room 210.

The container 200 may also include a cover 270 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. This cover 270 is configured to partially cover the root chamber 210, so as to protect the roots from light, and includes an off-center opening 280. This off-centered opening 280 allows access to the root chamber 210 and has a center 281 distant from the middle 201 of the cover 270 so as to allow a distribution of the volume in a heterogeneous manner by freeing up more space on one side and reducing the space on the other side.

It is, moreover, via this off-centered opening 280 that a culture support (not shown) can be received and maintained. Depending on the weight of the culture support, the cover 270 can comprise at least one reinforcing member 275 intended to reinforce the rigidity of the cover 270. This technical characteristic can also allow a reduction in the weight of the container 200 for culture at tide while allowing a good rigidity.

FIGS. 7a to 7c show more particularly the handling of the container 200 by means of handling stops 230, in the form of protuberance, present on a lateral face of the container 235. These handling stops 230 are configured to allow handling of the container 200 of the container 200 in its spatial movements, that is to say between several stages for example.

When the container 200 is presented to the sprinkler station, an aqueous solution is admitted into the root chamber 210 via an inlet opening 290. This aqueous solution is, after a certain time, run out of the root chamber via a flow opening so as to allow the culture to be supplied with an aqueous solution and the aqueous solution to be discharged. This flow opening is configured to cooperate with a drain device 545. This drain device 240, placed where there is the most space, allows the drain, during a drain step 545, at least partial from the root chamber 210, after the filling which can take place during a filling step 530, from the root chamber 210, through the flow opening which is intended to cooperate fluidly with the perforated bottom wall 140 of the support conveyor 100 when the container 200 is held in the receiving housing for example.

This admission opening 290 can, in certain cases, admit light into the root chamber 210. For this, a protective member 295 present on the cover 270, represented in FIGS. 8 and 9, allows protection of the culture. against this light entering the root chamber 210.

Description of a culture conveyor assembly according to one embodiment

Figures 10 to 15 show a conveyor assembly 300 for culture. The culture conveying assembly 300 comprises the conveying support 100 and the plurality of containers 200 described above.

The containers 200 are received in the reception housing 110 of the conveying support 100 and each holding element of each container 200 cooperates with each holding member of the assembly of holding members 120 of the conveying support 100 so as to allow conveying 505 of the plurality of containers for tidal culture. This arrangement also allows each container 200 for tidal culture to be treated individually, as shown in FIG. 11.

The plurality of retaining members 120, described above, comprises a first series of retaining members 121 and a second series of retaining members 122. The retaining members of the first series of retaining members 121 are distributed the along the receiving housing 110 as well as the holding members of the second series of holding members 122. This distribution is clearly visible in FIGS. 10 and 11.

However, the number of retaining members of the first series of retaining members 121 is greater than the number of retaining members of the second series of retaining members 122. Indeed, it is thus possible to arrange the plurality of containers 100 for culture at tide according to at least two spacings according to the stage of growth of the cultures.

Indeed, the holding members of the first series of holding members are regularly distributed along the receiving housing so as to allow regular spacing to the plurality of containers for culture at tide, thanks to a regular spacing 123, as the 'illustrate Figures 12 to 15.

The same applies to the holding members of the second series of holding members 122 regularly distributed along the receiving housing.

However, a notable difference makes it possible to differentiate them. Indeed, the holding members of the first series of holding members 121 allow a higher culture density than the holding members of the second series of holding members 122. Thus, when the culture has reached a stage of growth, it is possible to move the culture from the first series of retaining members 121 to the second series of retaining members 122 in order to have a culture density which varies according to the stage of growth of the cultures.

It is important to understand that the first series of retaining members 121 and the second series of retaining members 122 are defined relative to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the first series of holding members 121 can comprise six holding members. Figures 13 to 15 show a second series of retaining members 122 since, as mentioned above, the retaining members of the first series of retaining members 121 allow a higher culture density, in this case a density of six cultures, as the holding members of the second series of holding members 122 which in the case of FIGS. 13 to 15 allow a lower culture density, in this case a density which can vary from five to three cultures for example .

The same goes for FIG. 13, which can represent a first series of retaining members 121 and FIGS. 14 and 15 a second series of retaining members 122. And according to a particular embodiment, FIG. 14 can represent a first series of holding members 121 and FIG. 15 a second series of holding members 122.

All these embodiments have in common the fact that the distance 128 between a holding member of one series and a consecutive holding member of the other series varies, that is to say the distance 128 between a holding member maintenance of the series it presented in FIG. 11 and a consecutive holding member of the series of FIG. 13 varies and similarly for the distance 128 between a holding member of the series presented in FIG. 12 and a consecutive holding member of the series of figure 14 or 15.

Description of a culture process according to an embodiment

The culture conveyor assembly 300, described above, can be implemented in a culture method 500.

Indeed, after having provided a conveyor support 100 and at least one container 200 as described in the preceding paragraphs, the conveyor assembly 300 is conveyed to a sprinkler station, as shown in FIG. 11, for a sprinkling step 520. During this step, a sprinkler 955, which may include several sprinkling nozzles 951, is admitted into the root chamber 210, more precisely each sprinkler nozzle is admitted into each root chamber 210 by the intermediate the inlet opening 290 and there follows the filling 530 of the root chamber with an aqueous solution.

This aqueous solution is prepared from drinking water from the network. This water arrives in a preparation tank by a control solenoid valve. The entire sprinkler circuit is filled once at the start of the cycle. Then it works in a closed way, the water is treated and reused, only the evaporation is compensated. A water level sensor, placed in the preparation tank, allows you to know when to add water to the system and to follow the evolution of the water level throughout the process.

Below a certain level for a certain time, the solenoid valve is open so that the osmosis water, coming from an osmosis unit making it possible to distill the drinking water so that it is as pure as possible and that no component does not alter the aqueous solution, is added. It is closed when the level reaches the desired value after stabilizing. Finally, if the water level reaches the extreme low limit in the preparation tank, the whole system can stop. A solenoid valve also empties the preparation tank. A minimum level detector is present in each tank. No pump is necessary for the circulation of the fluids because the liquids are sucked in by Venturi effect for example.

A digital ultrasonic flow meter allows to know the quantity of water injected during the process. A sensor allows you to be informed of the temperature of the water in the preparation tank.

Once the aqueous solution has been prepared, i.e. the nutrients are mixed with the water, the aqueous solution is pumped via pumps, and via a pre-filtration system into the tanks to supply them. The station supply pumps can operate normally one after the other in the event of a problem.

When the aqueous solution has reached a certain level, the emptying device initiates emptying 545 of the root chamber, which was previously filled during filling step 530. Once emptied, the container 200 and the conveying support 100 are moved for a determined period of time on a conveying path to a next watering 520. The aqueous solution can, according to certain configurations, be partially recovered during a recovery step by a recovery system so as to greatly reduce consumption in aqueous solution and particularly in water.

During a first watering step 520, a container 200 is placed in the conveying support 100 and cooperates with a holding member of the first series of holding members as illustrated in FIG. 11.

After several round trips, the method 500 verifies via a verification step 570 that the achievement of a characteristic criterion of growth of each culture. In other words, it is possible to follow the growth stages of crops and to move them according to their stages of maturity. When the characteristic criterion of growth of the culture is achieved, a step of confirmation 580 of the achievement of the characteristic criterion of growth is implemented and there follows a displacement 560 of the culture towards a second series of organs for maintaining a conveying support 100 which can be shown diagrammatically in one of FIGS. 12 to 14.

The achievement of the characteristic growth criterion makes it possible to decide to place the culture in a conveying support 100 of the first series of retaining members 121 to the second series of retaining members 122 so as to take into account the needs of individual spaces of each culture.

The achievement of the characteristic growth criterion can, for example, be verified by a weighing step 590 of the culture before the selection of a holding member 120 belonging to the second series of holding members 122 so as to decide to place the culture in a conveying support 100 of the first series of retaining members 121 to the second series of retaining members 122.

Otherwise, that is to say if the characteristic growth criterion is not achieved, the container 200 is positioned in the conveying support 100 and is held by a holding member of the first series before conveying the conveyor assembly 300 of culture again.

Each superimposed plane 950 can correspond to a stage of culture growth.

Claims (8)

1) Method (500) of culture comprising at least the following steps of: - supply (510) of a conveyor support (100) configured for 5 conveying a plurality of containers (200) for culture at tide, the conveying support (100) having a longitudinal shape; - supply of containers (200) for tidal culture configured to be conveyed by the conveyor support (100) and Each comprising a root chamber (210) and an inlet opening, each of the containers further comprising a drain device (240) configured to allow at least partial emptying (545) of the respective root chamber (210); 15 - watering (520) at a watering station; said watering step comprising admitting a sprinkler into the root chamber (210) of each of the containers (200) through the respective intake opening (290); - filling (530) of the root chamber (210) of each of the 20 containers with an aqueous solution; - priming (540) of the emptying device (240) of each of the containers after filling (530) of the respective root chamber (210); - emptying (545) of the root chamber (210) of each of the 25 containers; and, - movement of the conveyor support for a determined period of time on a conveyor path until the next watering. 2) Method (500) of culture according to claim 1, wherein the emptying of the root chamber (210) is at least partial, during the emptying step (545). 3) Method (500) of culture according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a step of recovering part of the aqueous solution, during emptying, by a recovery system. 4) Method (500) of cultivation according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a pause between waterings; the duration of the break is determined so as to keep the roots moist. 5) Method (500) of culture according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the aqueous solution comes from a closed circuit. 6) A method (500) of culture according to claim 5, which comprises a step of admitting drinking water, coming from a drinking water network, into the closed circuit. 7) Method (500) of culture according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a step of adjusting the level of the aqueous solution in the closed circuit so as to compensate for the losses. 8) Culture method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the supply (510) of the conveying support (100) provides a conveying support (100) comprising a receiving housing (110) extending in a direction of extension transverse to a conveying direction and being configured to receive the plurality of containers (200). 1/5 950 905 -905 950 100 200