NL1043577B1 - Device for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants, comprising a vibration generator for mutual pollination of the greenhouse plants - Google Patents

Abstract

EXTRACT Device for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants, comprising a suspension system (1) for suspending plant parts (2) from horizontal crop wires (3) through vertical crop wire lowers (4) with their tops (4a) attached to the greenhouse. The device comprises a vibration generator (5) and a vibrating wire (6) transverse to the vertical crop wire lowers and coupled thereto (4b). In operation, the vibration generator induces a vibration (7a,7b) in the vibrating wire, which vibration is transmitted via the crop wire lowering units and the crop wires to the plants suspended therefrom. The vibrating wire is preferably a circumferential vibrating thread (6), both horizontal portions (6a,6b) of which extend transversely to the vertical crop thread lowers between two rotating or pivoting coupling members (8), of which circumferential vibrating thread has both ends. (6c) are connected to the same vibration generator. The vertical crop wire lowers are preferably alternately coupled to the one horizontal portion (6a) and the other horizontal portion (6b) of the circumferential vibrating wire (6). (FIG. 1) 1043577

Description

Short designation: Invention for the cultivation of fruit-bearing greenhouse plants, comprising a vibration generator for the purpose of mutual pollination of the greenhouse plants

DESCRIPTION The invention relates to an apparatus for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants such as tomatoes, peppers, etc., comprising a suspension system which is adapted to extend upwardly extending plant parts including blossoms by means of for this purpose to suspend suitable coupling means from horizontal crop wires extending into the greenhouse, which horizontal crop wires are at least largely suspended from vertical crop wire lowers which are connected to the greenhouse at their tops. From, inter alia, Japanese Patent Specification JP2019129766A discloses a device in which means are provided by means of which, in a device for cultivating fruit-bearing greenhouse plants indicated in the previous paragraph, the exchange of pollen between the blossoms of the different greenhouse plants is effected or promoted. To this end, JPZ01%12%9766A provides such a device which comprises a vibration generator, which is (directly) coupled to a horizontal crop wire (32}. The vibrations generated by the vibration generator are se-induced in the horizontal crop wire and thus in the suspended greenhouse plants, with the result that due to these vibrations the pollen in the plant blossoms is: vibrated loose and the pollen then attaches itself in its environment to the pistils of the blossoms of surrounding greenhouse plants, whereby the blossoms are thus fertilized and therefore in JP2019129766A, in addition to the vibrating generator {40} that vibrates a crop wire, a second vibratory generator {42} is used, which vibrates the cultivation bed (24),

| The drawback of the device known from JP2019129766A is, among other things, that a vibration generator is required per fixed wire, as a result of which many vibration generators are required for an entire greenhouse, which are all separately electrically fed and fed.

iS have to be controlled, The same also applies to the {appear- There necessary) second vibration generators that have to make the cultivation bed vibrate,

The present invention aims to provide an improved

the embodiment of such a device, in which a substantially better and more efficient distribution of the mechanical vibrations to the (large amount of} greenhouse plants is achieved than with the configuration as proposed in JPZO191Z9766A,

To this end, according to the invention, an in-

. direction for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants, comprising a suspension system adapted to extend plant parts upwards by extending them

binding with horizontal crop wires that are at least partly suspended from vertical crop wire lowers, the device comprising at least one vibration generator, and one or more vibrating wires connected thereto which extend substantially transversely of the vertical crop wire lowers and with at least a part thereof are head-mounted, all this arranged in such a way that during operation the at least one vibration generator induces a (mainly longitudinal ~ 3 nal) vibration in the one or more vibrating wires, which vibration is subsequently transmitted via the crop wire lowering units and the crop wires to the plants suspended therefrom, and wherein the one or more vibrating threads are formed by | 10 gen double, circumferential vibrating wire, comprising horizontal portions extending substantially transversely to the vertical gawag wire removers. Loops two, preferably rotating or pivoting coupling members to some extent, of which circumferential vibrating wire both ends are connected to (two, relative to vibrating terminals of) the same vibration generator. The invention is based on the insight that coupling of the vibrating generator and vibrating wires to the vertical crop wire lowers, sisters at a coupling point {for example approximately in the middle of} the top of the relevant crop thread lowering {where the crop rope lowers are, for example, attached to the roof trusses ) and the underlying (horizontal) crop wire, makes it possible to vibrate more than one crop wire by means of one vibration generator. This in contrast to the configuration shown in JF2019129766A, where vibrating each crop wire separately a vibration generator is required.

As an unexpected outgrowth of this insight, the possibility arose of using, in place of a single vibrating wire, a, in a sense, multiple or "multi-layer® vibrating wire, operated by one vibration generator, especially by, as indicated above, a double, i.e. circumferential vibrating wire, both horizontal portions of which extend substantially transversely to the vertical crop wire lowers between two, preferably to some extent rotating or pivoting coupling members, of which circumferentially vibrating wire both ends are connected to {two connecting points vibrating with respect to each other of) the same vibration generator, whereby, preferably, the vertical crop wire lowers are coupled about 1 cm apart with the ens and the other horizontal part of the double, circumferential vibrating wire.

Preferably, the vibration generator, and both ends of the circumferential vibrating wire, are located at a location between both coupling members.

As a result, a symmetrical and therefore stable and robust configuration is obtained which, as a whole, is very low-vibration due to the symmetrical vibrations in mutual phase phase.

In this configuration, the vertical crop-wire lowers are preferably connected to one and the other horizontal part of the double, circumferential vibrating wire in such a way that the vertical crop-trailers hang slightly obliquely at rest, with their lower connection point slightly displaced in the righting of the location of the triimotor, in such a way that a horizontal tensile force {pre-tension} is exerted on the relevant piece of vibrating wire by the thus slightly sloping verticals in combination with the weight of the plants suspended from the horizontal crop wires between that (slightly moved) lower connection point and the connection point of the vibrating wire with the vibrating motor.

The effect of coupling the crop wire reducers and the vibrating wire in such a way that the crop wire reducers hang slightly obliquely (relative to absolute vertical), ie that the weight of the plants creates a horizontal pull force vector {pretension} in the vibrating wire, causing the vibrating wire. without additional means, remains well at tensile stress, so that the vibrations are efficiently and effectively passed on to the crop wires and the plants hanging therefrom, without loss of efficiency as a result of a weak vibrating wire or parts thereof. wire, generated by the vibration generator, the vertical crop wire lowering units are made to vibrate, causing the horizontal crop wires to which the plants hang also to vibrate, as a result of which the pollen in the Dloeiì5 sems is released from the plants: and the plants meet each other pollinator and moistened with it. By using the circumferential vibrating wire ("circulating wire"), the speed of the vibration can be better controlled and the process is more stable. By connecting the vibrating wire to the crop wire lowers it is possible to make it slightly oblique, for example about 3 cm towards the motor {it relative to absolutely vertical) so that dz tr effective forces make it possible to pollinate a larger number of plant rows by vibrating, so that the costs of the whole system according to the invention are very competitive, Due to the proposed double vibrating wire system with (for example) rotary switches or tumblers all wires have the same vibration.

The invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the figure description below.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device 3 according to the invention for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants such as tomatoes, peppers, etc., comprising a suspension system 1 with plant hooks 1a, which is designed to allow plant parts 2, including blossoms, to extend upwards through to suspend them by means of suitable coupling means lb from horizontal crop wires 3 extending into (the length or width of) the greenhouse, The horizontal crop wires 3 are largely (at their ends they are usually the most greenhouse wall frame connected) suspended from substantially vertical crop wire lowers 4 which are connected at their tops da to (the top frames of) the greenhouse.

The device according to the invention comprises a (at least the) vibration generator 5, for example a vibrating motor or vibrating magnet, and (on both sides) connected vibrating wire 6 with vibrating wire portions 6a (6a'/6a") and oly, which are located in extend substantially transversely of (the main direction of the) vertical crop wire lowers 4 and are coupled to at least a part thereof by means of couplings 4a.

Everything is set up in such a way that it is operational. the {at least one} vibration generator induces 5 sen (mainly longitudinal} vibration (see arrows 7a and 7h) in the vibrating wire portions 6a and Gb,

The vibrating wire sections 6a and Sb, which together form a circumferential vibrating wire 6, extend substantially transversely to the vertical crop wire lowers 4 between two, preferably to some extent rotating or pivoting coupling members.

ns 8, e.g. designed as circulating rollers or swing yokes, e.g. connected to the sides of the greenhouse, both ends of the vibrating wire & thus circulating in this way being connected to the same vibrating generator 5,

1G The vertical crop wire reducers 4 are, by means of couplings 4b, alternately with: one and the other Lrill wire section ba vesp. 6h, which together form a double, circumferential vibrating wire 6, coupled.

Due to the vertical

13 If you alternately couple the washing wire lowers 4 with one vibrating wire section fa and the other vibrating wire section Sb (which Lezamen thus form a double, circumferential vibrating wire &), the vertical crop wire lowers 4 situated next to each other vibrate and therefore also the horizontal crop wires suspended from them.

3 mutually in opposite phase so that the mutual vibrating amplitude doubles but, at the same time, the hellish vibrating system team, because of the mutual opposite phase symmetry, is more balanced and external vibrations are minimized,

In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1, the vibration generator 5 and both ends Go of the surrounding vibrating wire 6 are located at a location 9 between both coupling members 8. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the vibration generator 5 and both ends can be SC of the circumferential vibrating wire 8 are substantially at or near the location of one of the two coupling members 8 (for example on a side of the greenhouse). In that case, the vibration generator can form part of or be directly coupled to the relevant coupling member on that side of the greenhouse. The device further comprises control means which are {among other things} designed to ensure that the vibration generator(s) 5 can operate intermittently, for example once per hour max. 10 seconds. In the configuration shown in figure 1, preferably 18 the vertical crop wire lowering 4 so with one and the other horizontal part 6a resp. Sh of the double, looping vibrating wire 6 connected so that the vertical crop wire lowers 4 hang slightly obliquely at rest (dotted lines 4') (compare the vertical/perpendicular drawn in the figure; 4c, ie with their lower connection point and slightly (for example, about 3 cm) displaced in the direction of the location of the vibrating motor 5, all this in such a way that the vertical crop wire lowers 4 hanging slightly obliquely in this way, in combination with the weight of the plants 2 suspended from the horizontal crop wires 3 a horizontal tensile force uitge is applied to the respective piece of vibrating wire 6a resp. 6b between that lower connection point 4h and the connection point of the vibrating wire with the vibrating motor

5. The effect of coupling the crop wire reducers 4 and the vibrating wire 6 in such a way that the crop wire reducers 4 hang slightly obliquely {cen to absolutely vertical, see perpendicular 4cj, is that due to the weight of the plants 2 a horizontal tensile force vector ¥ in the tubing wire & is created, as a result of which the vibrating wire remains good and tensile stress, without additional means, whereby the vibrations are efficiently and effectively passed on to the wax wires 3 and the plants 2 hanging from them, without loss of yield due to a slack vibrating beam 6 or parts thereof,

Thus, by the present invention, there is provided an improved embodiment of an apparatus for growing fruit-demanding greenhouse plants, comprising a Lrillings genera.

tor Len for the underlining of the greenhouse plants, in which a substantially better and more efficient transfer and distribution of the mechanical vibrations to the greenhouse plants is achieved than was possible until now.

By using the circumferential vibrating wire {"circulating

wire"), the speed of the vibration can be better controlled and the process and the system are more stable. By slightly slanting the shading wire lowers, the vibrating wire is kept under (pre)tension and a greater number of plant rows can be vibrated are pollinated, so that the

The parts of the whole system according to the invention are very competitive and, moreover, the system works as a whole with low vibration.

Claims (7)

CONCLUSIONS 1. Device for growing fruit-bearing greenhouse plants, comprising a suspension system (1} which is designed to allow plant parts {2} to extend upwards by connecting them to horizontal crop wires {3} which are at least partly suspended from substantially vertical crop wire lowers (4), wherein the device comprises at least one vibration generator {5}, and one or more vibrating wires (8) connected thereto, which extend substantially transversely of the vertical crop thread lowers and with at least one part thereof are coupled (4b), all this arranged in such a way that during operation the at least one vibration generator induces vibration (Ta, 7b} in the one or more vibrating wires, which vibration then occurs via the crop wire lowering units and the crop threads is transferred to the plants suspended therefrom, and wherein the one or more vibrating threads are formed by a circumferential vibrating thread (6) of which both horizontal parts {6a, 6D} are substantially transverse s extend on the vertical crop wire lowers between two coupling members {8}, preferably rotating or pivoting to a certain extent, of which revolving vibrating wire both ends {6c) are connected to the same vibration generator. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertical wax wire agitators are alternately coupled to the one horizontal portion (6a) and the other horizontal portion (tk) of the circumferential vibrating wire {©}. il An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration generator and both ends of the revolving vibrating wire are located at a location (9) between the two coupling members. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration generator and both ends of the circumferential vibrating wire are located substantially at or near the location of one of the two coupling members. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the vibration generator functions as or forms part of or is directly coupled to the respective coupling member. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical crop wire lowers {4) are connected to the vibrating wires (6a rasp. 6b} in such a way that the vertical crop thread lowers hang slightly obliquely at rest, with their lower connecting pin (4b) slightly displaced in the direction of the location of the vibrating motor {5}, in such a way that the vertical crop wire lowering device hanging slightly obliquely in this way creates a horizontal pulling force (F) in combination with the weight of the plants suspended from the horizontal crop wires. }) is applied to the respective piece of vibrating wire {6a resp. ob} between that lower connection point and the connection point of the vibrating wire to the vibrating motor. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising control means arranged to cause the one or more vibration generators to operate intermittently,