NL2019392B1 - Disposable cultivation bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a disposable cultivation bag for culturing of organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout or seedling, held in the bag. According to the invention, the cultivation bag comprises a cultivation chamber, for holding the organic material, and a liquid chamber, for holding a volume of cultivation liquid. The liquid chamber is provided with a balloon member, which balloon member in an inflated condition occupies most of a volume of the liquid chamber. The balloon member can be inflated and deflated by feeding inflation gas into the balloon member and feeding inflation gas out of the balloon member respectively, and can thus be used for urging cultivation liquid from the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber by inflating the balloon member, and after a time interval, draining the cultivation liquid from the cultivation chamber by deflating the balloon member.

Description

Patent center

Θ 2019392 (2?) Application number: 2019392 (22) Application submitted: 4 August 2017

Int. CL:

A01G9 / 02 (2018.01)

0 Application registered: 0 Patent holder (s): February 21, 2019 Daklapack Europe B.V. in Lelystad. 0 Request published: - 0 Inventor (s): Dave Willem Klaassen in ERMELO. 0 Patent granted: Sander Jan van Ruitenbeek in AMSTERDAM. February 21, 2019 0 Patent issued: 0 Authorized representative: May 16, 2019 ir. J.C. Volmer et al. In Rijswijk.

54) Disposable cultivation bag

Invention) The invention relates to a disposable cultivation bag for cultivation of organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout or seedling, hero in the bag. According to the invention, the cultivation bag comprises a cultivation chamber, for holding the organic material, and a liquid chamber, for holding a volume or cultivation liquid. The liquid chamber is provided with a balloon member, which balloon member in an inflated condition occupies most of a volume of the liquid chamber. The balloon member can be inflated and deflated by feeding inflation gas into the balloon member and feeding inflation gas out of the balloon member respectively, and can thus be used for urgent cultivation liquid from the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber by inflating the balloon member, and after a time interval, draining the cultivation liquid from the cultivation chamber by deflating the balloon member.

NL B1 2019392

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P33275NL00

Title: Disposable cultivation bag

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable cultivation bag for cultivation of organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout or seedling, hero in the bag. The invention furthermore relates to a cultivation device including multiple cultivation bags and a method for cultivation of organic material.

In the technical field of plant growth and cultivation, the practice is that plants have been replanted multiple time during growth. Seeds and seedlings are transplanted from petri dishes and trays to cups or small plant pots and, after they have developed enough, are transplanted into larger holders and so on.

The prior art cultivation devices and processes have several drawbacks.

For example, efficiency in productivity requires that the size of the containers for holding the organic material should be kept to a minimum in relation to the stage of development or a plant in order to minimize use of space and costs associated therewith.

Besides the requirements regarding growth and space, there is the risk of contamination of the organic material. The glass or plastic culture containers such as test tubes, flasks or bottles, utilized in conventional culture technology have serious drawbacks. For example, it is customary to place a seedling in a glass or plastic jar, and after a suitable period of incubation, to transfer the plant from the jar to another container. Since it is necessary to prevent contamination from contact with microbes, the jars have been subjected to a rigorous sterilization process prior to being used to raise new plant material.

The labor and equipment cost to maintain the sterility of the containers; and the added cost of the facilities, equipment, and related conditions required to maintain a sterile growing environment, all represent major cost factors associated with the use of such containers in conventional culturing processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to obviate, or at least greatly reduce, the drawbacks described asabove. The invention therefore provides a new and improved cultivation bag for cultivating organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout, or seedling, that prevents cross contamination from occurring. More in particular, the invention relates to a disposable culture bag according to claim 1.

The invention provides a disposable cultivation bag for cultivation of organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout or seedling, hero in the bag. A cultivation bag according to the claimed invention comprises:

- a flexible front panel and a flexible rear panel, the flexible front panel and the flexible rear panel are sealed to each other such that the front panel and the rear panel delimit between them a cultivation chamber, for holding the organic material therein, and a liquid chamber, for holding a volume of cultivation liquid, eg water including nutritions, therein, growing cultivation the bag is a free standing bag and / or is provided with a support device, eg eye or hook, for supporting, eg hanging, the bag, in an upright position, in which upright position the cultivation chamber is located above the liquid chamber;

where a product barrier separates the cultivation chamber from the liquid chamber, which product barrier for example is formed by sealing the flexible front panel to the flexible rear panel or by providing an intermediate panel or second bottom, and which product barrier forms one or more liquid passages, which liquid passages extend between the cultivation chamber and the liquid chamber, which one or more liquid passages are dimensioned such that they allow for cultivation liquid to freely pass from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber and from the liquid chamber to the cultivation chamber , while they prevent the organic material from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber,

- a product entry opening, preferably a sealable product entry opening, for introducing the organic material into the cultivation chamber and optionally for removing the organic material from the cultivation chamber;

- a balloon member and a gas supply channel, the balloon member is located in the liquid chamber, and the gas supply channel has an inlet end and an outlet end, and is at the outlet end connected with the balloon member, and is at the inlet end configured for being connected with a pressurized gas source, eg a pump or pressurized container, to enable the balloon member to be inflated and deflated by feeding inflation gas into the balloon member and feeding inflation gas out of the balloon member respectively;

the balloon member in the inflated condition occupies most of the volume of the liquid chamber; and

- an aeration opening, the aeration opening is in fluid communication with the cultivation chamber, and preferably with the surroundings of the cultivation bag, to enable a gas, eg air, to flow into the cultivation chamber and out of the cultivation chamber, and to thus compensate for a pressure decrease or increase in the cultivation chamber as a consequence of respectively inflating and deflating the balloon member in the liquid chamber.

The cultivation bag according to the claimed invention comprises is a flexible bag type container that allows for a compact culturing environment for holding organic material. Furthermore, providing the cultivation container in the form of a plastic bag allows for low cost production and thus allowing single use of the container, thus, after the cultivating process is completed, the cultivation bag can be replaced with another bag, and the time consuming and laborious sterilization process to enable multiple use of the container is no longer required. Therefore, the cultivation bag allows for a more efficient cultivation process at reduced costs.

Furthermore, the cultivation bag according to invention provides a novel and inventive way to moisturize the organic material during the cultivation process. The cultivation bag comprises a cultivation chamber, for holding the organic material therein, and a liquid chamber, for holding a volume of cultivation liquid, e.g. water containing nutritions, therein. A product barrier separates the cultivation chamber from the liquid chamber and forms one or more liquid passages between the cultivation chamber and the liquid chamber. The one or more liquid passages are dimensioned such that they allow for liquid to freely pass from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber and from the liquid chamber to the cultivation chamber, while they prevent the organic material to pass from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber.

According to the claimed invention, the cultivation bag is provided with a liquid chamber which liquid chamber is provided with a balloon member. By inflating the balloon member, the balloon member can be used to urge cultivation liquid from the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber, and by deflating the balloon member it can be used to allow cultivation liquid to return, eg drain, from the cultivation chamber into the liquid chamber.

Thus, a cultivation bag according to the claimed invention allows for moisturizing, or more in particular partially or equally fully submerging, organic material with cultivation liquid during the cultivation process, without the requirements of a pump pumping cultivation liquid into and out of the container, ie the cultivation bag, holding the organic material. This allows for a simplified cultivation device.

It is submitted that cultivation containers are typically stacked in cultivation devices to enable controlled mass production of organic material, for example for growing seedlings or banana plants or potato plants. This cultivation proves requires regular moistening of the organic material, or equally temporarily submerging the organic material, with cultivation liquid. This is in particular the case when the organic material has not yet (fully) developed roots or similar. Thus, these cultivation devices are provided with reservoirs holding cultivation liquid, a hose system and one or more pumps to enable the cultivation liquid to be pumped into and out of the containers holding the organic material. This requires a complicated and therefore costly cultivation device. It has been submitted that a cultivation bag according to the invention only requires a pressurized gas to be provided to enable the organic material to be moisturized or even be submerged with organic liquid. It is submitted that providing a pressurized gas is less critical and costly compared to pumping cultivation liquid. Furthermore, the gas pumped into and out of the balloon does not come into contact with the content of the cultivation bag, and therefore does not need to be subject to stringent sanitation measures to prevent contamination of the organic material.

In an embodiment of a cultivation device according to the invention, a gas source configured for providing organic material with cultivation gas is also used for providing the balloon member with inflation gas. Thus, the cultivation gas is also used as inflation gas, and the gas source is used to both provide the product chamber of a cultivation bag with cultivation gas via one gas supply channel and provide the balloon member in the liquid chamber with inflation gas. There is no need for the cultivation device to be provided with an additional gas source for inflating the balloon member. Thus, the inventing allows for an efficient use of a gas source for providing cultivation gas in a cultivation device.

It has been submitted that the invention allows for the balloon to be inflated and deflated by pumping a liquid into the balloon instead of a gas. Even though this requires pumping of liquid, the liquid used does not need to be a cultivation liquid, because it will not come into contact with the product, and therefore does not need to be subjected to strict sanitizing measures to prevent contamination of the organic material . Thus, even when the balloon is inflated and deflated by pumping a liquid, this still allows for a more simplified and cost efficient culturing device compared to a culturing device pumping liquid into and out of cultivation containers holding organic material. The later device requires regular sanitation of the cultivation containers as well as the channels through which the cultivation liquid is pumped into and out of those cultivation containers.

To enable the balloon member to perform as set out above, the balloon member and the liquid chamber are dimensioned such that the balloon member, when inflated, occupies most of the volume of the liquid chamber and there is only little or no room left for cultivation liquid.

The gas supply channel is provided to enable the balloon member to be inflated and deflated by pumping a gas into or out of the balloon member. The gas supply channel has an inlet end and an outlet end. At the outlet end it is connected with the balloon member, and at the inlet end is configured for being connected with a pressurized gas source, e.g. a pump or pressurized container.

In an embodiment, the gas supply channel extends from inside the cultivation bag to outside the cultivation bag, for example is embodied as a tube that is partially sealed between the flexible front panel and the flexible rear panel of the cultivation bag such that it extends from the inside of the cultivation bag to the outside of the cultivation bag.

In an alternative embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with an insert, preferably an injection molded insert, for example sealed in the front or rear panel, preferably sealed between the front and rear panel, preferably at the top side of the cultivation chamber, which insert provides the cultivation bag with a pressurized gas supply aperture, and which gas supply aperture is connected with the gas supply channel on the inside of the cultivation bag, and which gas supply aperture is configured to be coupled with a pressurized gas source at the outside of the cultivation bag. For example, in an embodiment, the gas supply aperture is provided with a tube vote that connects with a tube style gas supply channel on the inside of the cultivation bag and is provided with a tube vote for connecting with a gas supply tube, for example connected to a pump, on the outside of the cultivation bag. Thus, the cultivation bag is provided with an aperture, insert, or similar that allows for the gas channel to be connected to a pressurized gas source.

In addition, the cultivation bag is also provided with a product entry opening, for inserting organic material into the cultivation bag, in particular into the cultivation chamber or the cultivation bag. Preferably this opening is a sealable opening, i.e. an opening that can be closed after the organic material has been inserted into the chamber. In an embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with an insert including the pressurized gas supply aperture and the aeration opening and / or the product entry opening.

In an embodiment, the product entry opening is part of an insert, which insert is sealed in the front or rear panel, or between the front and rear panel. For example, an insert can be provided with an opening configured to be closed with a screw cap. In addition, or as an alternative, the cultivation bag can be provided with zip-lock or similar type or closure along a side of the cultivation chamber. Such a zip lock may allow for a large entry opening, and thus enable removal of the grown organic material after the cultivation process has been completed through said opening.

In an embodiment, the product entry opening is dimensioned to allow organic material to be inserted into the cultivation chamber, but is not dimensioned to remove the organic material from the cultivation chamber after completion of the cultivation process. In such an embodiment, since the cultivation bag is a single use bag, the cultivation bag can be cut or torn open to remove the grown organic material form the cultivation chamber.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with weakened areas, tear lines and / or similar devices, to promote and facilitate the bag along a side of the cultivation chamber, to thus enable removal of the content of the cultivation chamber. In a further preferred embodiment, the cultivation bag is configured to be open along a top side of those, such that, when the bag is in an upright position, the risk of spillage or cultivation liquid when the content of the cultivation chamber is removed from the cultivation bag is minimized.

In addition to an aperture, insert, or similar that allows for the gas channel to be connected to a pressurized gas source and the product entry opening, the cultivation bag is also provided with an aeration opening.

The aeration opening is in fluid communication with the cultivation chamber, and preferably with the surroundings, to enable a gas, eg air, to flow into the cultivation chamber and out of the cultivation chamber, and to thus compensate for a pressure increase or decrease in the cultivation chamber as a consequence of the balloon member being inflated or deflate respectively.

In an embodiment, the aeration opening is provided with a filter, to prevent contamination of the organic material by the inflow of environmental air. In an alternative embodiment, the aeration opening can be provided with a balloon member on the outside of the bag, which balloon member holds the gas expelled from the cultivation chamber when the balloon member in the liquid chamber is inflated, and which gas is allowed to flow bag into the cultivation chamber when the balloon member in the liquid chamber is deflated. In such an embodiment, the aeration opening allows for compensation of the pressure increase and decrease due to the balloon member being inflation and deflated respectively, without the need for providing communication between the cultivation chamber and the outside environment of the cultivation bag. This is for example beneficial when the cultivation chamber is filled with a gas, for example a gas having a high carbon dioxide content, which differs from the gas in the environment, for example breathing air.

In an embodiment, the aeration opening is configured, e.g. dimensioned, to also be used as the product entry opening. Thus, the aeration opening and the product entry opening are combined in a single opening, i.e. the product entry opening is not sealed after the organic material has been entered into the cultivation chamber, but remains at least partially open.

In an embodiment, the aeration opening is configured to be coupled with a gas source, preferably a gas source cultivation, for example is provided with a tube vote for coupling with a gas tubing. Thus, the cultivation chamber of the cultivation bag can be provided with a gas that promotes growth of the organic material in the cultivation chamber, but differs from the environmental gas, e.g. air. In a further embodiment, the gas source or configured to feed cultivation gas into and / or out of the cultivation chamber. In such an embodiment, the aeration opening and gas source can be used to propagate deflation or the balloon member in the liquid chamber by increasing the gas pressure in the cultivation chamber at the end of a moisturizing cycle.

In yet another embodiment, the aeration device is a one way valve that allows for gas to escape from the cultivation chamber when the balloon member in the liquid chamber is inflated, and the cultivation bag is provided with an additional opening connected with a gas source , the provides gas to the cultivation chamber when the balloon is deflated. In a further embodiment, that gas can be provided under pressure to promote deflation or the balloon member.

The cultivation bag comprises a flexible front panel and a flexible rear panel, preferably a bottom panel. Furthermore, the product barrier may be provided in the form of a product support panel. The panels preferably are all cut form of a flexible plastic material, eg PET PE material or PET NYLON material, preferably a multi-layer sheet material, ie a sheet comprising multiple layers of different material, each layer providing the sheet with particular product characteristics , for example regarding water resistance, strength, gas permeability, etc., and are sealed together eg by heat sealing or similar known techniques for production of flexible bags, to form the cultivation bag.

In a preferred embodiment, the cultivation bag is a free standing bag, i.e. a bag that can stand in an upright position on a support surface without requiring additional support in the form of for example a stand. In addition, or as an alternative, the cultivation bag is provided with a support device, e.g. eye or hook, for hanging the bag, in an upright position. In yet another embodiment, the cultivation bag is part of a cultivation system, including a cultivation device with multiple cultivation bag supports for each supporting a cultivation bag, for example an open jar or container dimensioned such that it can receive and support a cultivation bag, or a hook or clamp to support a cultivation bag in a hanging fashion.

When the bag is in an upright position, the cultivation chamber is located above the liquid chamber. Thus, when the bag is in the upright position, cultivation liquid present in the cultivation chamber may drain into the liquid chamber.

In an embodiment, the product barrier is formed by sealing the front panel to the rear panel. In an alternative embodiment, the product barrier is provided in the form of an intermediate panel, webbing or second bottom, which for example is sealed to the front and rear panel. In yet another embodiment, the cultivation chamber is provided in the form of a bag, which bag is sealed inside, and at a top end, or a second bag, which second bag thus comprises the first bag and forms the liquid chamber below the cultivation chamber. In such an embodiment, a bottom wall or panel of the first bag forms the product barrier between the cultivation chamber and the liquid chamber.

Such an intermediate panel may be provided with liquid passages in the form of apertures for letting through liquid and / or in the form of apertures provided between the intermediate panel and the front and the rear panel. The apertures are small enough to stop the organic material being cultivated to travel form the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber, but are large enough to allow liquid to travel form the liquid chamber to the cultivation chamber. Thus, the size of the apertures may depend on the type of organic material in the cultivation chamber. In an embodiment, the cultivation chamber is used for cultivating parts of lettuce material and the apertures have size in the range or less than 3 mm in diameter, for example have a dimeter or 2 mm. Preferably, the product barrier is provided with many apertures, thus reducing flow resistance and allow for quick filling and draining of the cultivation chamber. Providing a product barrier with aperture all over, allows for example for a short moisturizing cycle and / or for all the organic material to be exposed to cultivation liquid for substantially the same amount of time.

In an embodiment, the product barrier also forms an aperture for passing through the gas supply channel for the balloon member, located in the liquid chamber. In such an embodiment, the gas supply channel exits the cultivation bag via the cultivation chamber, and is for example connected with a gas supply aperture provided in the form of an insert sealed in the front or rear panel, or between the front or rear panel , and adjacent the cultivation chamber.

In an alternative embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with a gas supply aperture provided in the form of an insert sealed in the front or rear panel, or between the front or rear panel adjacent the liquid chamber. Thus the gas supply channel does not have to extend into the cultivation chamber.

The cultivation liquid typically is a water based liquid including nutritions, e.g. glucose. In an embodiment the cultivation bag is configured to include a volume or cultivation liquid sufficient for the cultivation process. In an alternative embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with one or more apertures for adding cultivation liquid during the cultivation process. For example, an insert can be sealed between the front and rear panel adjacent the cultivation chamber, preferably at the top of the cultivation chamber, that is provided with an aperture and a tube vote for connecting a liquid provision tube to the cultivation bag. Thus, the bag can be connected with a cultivation supply tubing or a cultivation device to receive additional cultivation liquid during the cultivation process.

In an embodiment of a cultivation bag according to the invention, the balloon member in an inflated condition occupies a volume substantially similar to the volume of the liquid chamber. Thus, by inflating the balloon member, all, or almost all the cultivation liquid present in the liquid chamber can be urged into the cultivation chamber.

The invention furthermore provides a cultivation bag according to the invention, according to the cultivation bag comprises a volume or cultivation liquid that is substantially similar to the volume of the liquid chamber.

The invention furthermore provides a cultivation bag according to the invention, according to the cultivation bag comprises organic material and a volume of cultivation liquid, which volume of cultivation liquid is preferably substantially similar to a volume of the liquid chamber. Thus, the cultivation bag is ready for use, i.e. can be provided with organic material to be cultivated and connected to a cultivation device. In such an embodiment, the opening and apertures of the bag are sealable opening. After the cultivation bag has been filled with the appropriate volume of cultivation liquid, the one or more opening, apertures, etc. are sealed, and the bag is ready for transport or temporary storage. Thus the bag is ready for use.

To use the cultivation bag, the product entry opening is opened, the organic material to the cultivated is inserted into the cultivation chamber and the bag is connected to a cultivation device.

The invention furthermore provides a cultivation device, including the cultivation device:

- multiple disposable cultivation bags according to claim 1, the cultivation bags including organic material and a volume of cultivation liquid, which volume or cultivation liquid preferably is substantially similar to a volume of the liquid chamber of the cultivation bags; and

- at least one pressurized gas source, eg an air pump, which gas source is connected via a tubing manifold with one or more of the disposable cultivation bags, more in particular with the gas channel or the balloon member or one or more of the disposable cultivation bags.

The invention furthermore provides a method for cultivating organic material using a cultivation bag according to the invention, preferably using a cultivation device according to the invention, the method including the steps:

- filling the cultivation bag with a volume of cultivation liquid, preferably with a volume of cultivation liquid substantially similar to a volume of the liquid chamber;

- inserting organic material in the cultivation chamber; and

- repeated moisturizing, preferably submerging, the organic material in the cultivation chamber by inflating the balloon member, urgent cultivation liquid form the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber through the liquid passages, and after a time interval, draining the cultivation liquid from the cultivation chamber by deflating the balloon member.

Thus, the cultivation device according to the claimed invention is configured for at intervals inflation and deflating the balloon members or multiple cultivation bags, to thus enable cultivation or organic material hero in those cultivation bags.

In an embodiment, the cultivation bag according to the invention is a disposable cultivation bag, preferably is a single use disposable cultivation bag, ie by providing a cultivation bag that can be produced at low costs, the invention allows for discarding the bag after a single use, ie after completing a single cultivation process. Thus, when the organic material has been cultivated, and has been removed from the cultivation bag, the cultivation bag can be replaced with a new and unused, thus still clean, cultivation bag.

It is submitted to a cultivated bag according to the claimed invention can be used to cultivate all types of organic material, e.g. tissue or seedlings, and is particularly suited for cultivating plant material, e.g. for fruit or vegetable plants. The invention furthermore provides a cultivation bag for uses other than cultivating, for example as a device for submerging non-organic material hero in the cultivation chamber, for example to impregnate a material, for example a granular material, with a liquid, for example a conservation liquid, by repeated submerging said material. Thus, the bag can also be used in an industrial or medical environment for temporarily, preferably at regular intervals, subjecting a solid material to a liquid, etc.

It is submitted that a cultivation bag according to the claimed invention is preferably made of transparent material, to enable external grow lights to promote the cultivating process or the organic material in the cultivation chamber.

It has been submitted that the balloon member is preferably made of a resilient material, for example a silicone or rubber material, such a pressurized gas is applied to inflate the balloon member, and removal of the pressure causes the balloon member to deflate. In addition or as an alternative, gas can be actively pumped out of the balloon member, via the gas supply channel or alternative channel, to deflate the balloon member. Thus, the balloon member can also be made from a non-resilient material. In such an embodiment, the balloon member is deflated by pumping gas out of the balloon member and / or by raising the pressure in the cultivation chamber, for example by pumping gas into the cultivation chamber through the aeration opening.

In an embodiment, the balloon member and the gas supply channel are an integral component,

i.e. the gas supply channel and the balloon member are made from the same material. In another embodiment, the gas supply channel is an integral component of the bag, ie is formed from the sheet material that is also forms the bag, eg a flexible sheet of PET material, and the balloon member is made from a resilient material, eg a rubber material, and is connected to that gas supply channel.

The balloon member is provided with at least one gas supply channel. In an embodiment, the balloon member is for example provided with a first and a second gas supply channel, and the first gas supply channel is used to pump gas into the balloon member to inflate the balloon member and the second gas supply channel is used to removed remove gas from the balloon member.

The balloon member of a cultivation bag according to the claimed invention is inflated by pumping gas into the balloon member via the gas supply channel. To provide the gas, the gas supply channel is connected to a pressurized gas source, for example a pump, for example a hand held bellow pump, or a pressurized canister. Etc. to deflate the balloon member, the gas supply channel may be used to remove the gas from the balloon member, for example vent the pressurized gas into the surrounding of the cultivation bag. For example, the gas supply channel can be connected with a manifold that can connect the gas supply channel with a pressurized gas source for inflation the balloon member and with a gas outlet to deflate the balloon member. Such a manifold may be an electronically controlled manifold and may be a component or a cultivation device.

Advantageous of the cultivation bag according to the invention, or a cultivation device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention are disclosed in the sub claims and in the description, in which the invention is further illustrated and elucidated on the basis or a number or exemplary exponent, or which are shown in the schematic drawing.

In the figures, components corresponding in terms of construction and / or function are provided with the same last two digits or the reference numbers.

LETTER DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a cultivation bag according to the invention with a deflated balloon member;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cultivation bag or Fig. 01 with the balloon member deflated;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cultivation bag or Fig. 01 with the balloon member inflated balloon member;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view or a second example of a cultivation bag according to the invention with a deflated balloon member;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the cultivation bag or Fig. 04 with the balloon member deflated;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view or an insert for use in the cultivation bag or Fig. 1;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment or a cultivation device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a cultivation bag 01 according to the invention. The disposable cultivation bag 01 is configured for cultivation of organic material, in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, sprout or seedling.

The cultivation bag 01 comprises a flexible front panel 02, a flexible rear panel 03 and a product barrier 04. The flexible front panel 02 and the flexible rear panel 03 are sealed to each other such that the front panel and the rear panel delimit between them a cultivation chamber 05, for holding the organic material 07 therein, and a liquid chamber 06, for holding a volume of cultivation liquid, eg water containing nutritions 08, therein.

The product barrier 04 separates the cultivation chamber 05 from the liquid chamber 06. The product barrier 04 forms multiple liquid passages 11 between the cultivation chamber 05 and the liquid chamber 06, The liquid passages 11 are dimensioned such that they allow for liquid to freely pass from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber and from the liquid chamber to the cultivation chamber, while they prevent the organic material from the cultivation chamber to the liquid chamber.

In the embodiment shown, the product barrier 04 is formed by sealing an intermediate panel 10, in the embodiment shown a perforated second bottom panel, between the flexible front panel 02 and the flexible rear panel 03. In an alternative embodiment, the product barrier for example is formed by sealing the front panel to the rear panel or by an injection molded insert sealed between the front panel and the rear panel.

The exemplary embodiment shown furthermore comprises a bottom panel 09, which is sealed between the front panel 02 and the rear panel 03, such that the bag 01 is a free standing bag that can stand in an upright position on a surface without additional support.

In an alternative embodiment, front panel and rear panel are sealed directly to each other forming a pillow like bag. In another embodiment, the front panel and the rear panel are sealed to each other, and part of the front panel and / or part of the rear panel form a bottom panel. In another embodiment, a single sheet or folded material forms both the front panel and the rear panel and optionally also a bottom panel. Other configurations and combination of flexible sheet material are also possible to form a cultivation bag according to the invention.

In an embodiment, in addition or as an alternative, the cultivation bag is provided with a support device, eg eye or hook, for supporting, eg hanging, the cultivation bag in an upright position, in which upright position the cultivation chamber is located above the liquid chamber.

According to the claimed invention, the cultivation bag is provided with a balloon member 14 in the liquid chamber 06 to urge cultivation liquid from the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber.

To enable inflation of the balloon member 14, the balloon member is provided with a gas supply channel 15. The gas supply channel 15 has an inlet end 16 and an outlet end 17. At the outlet end 17 the gas supply channel 15 is connected with the balloon member 14. At the inlet end 16 the gas supply channel 15 is configured for being connected with a pressurized gas source.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cultivation bag 01 is provided with the insert 18, shown in isolation in figure 6. The insert 18 is sealed between the front and rear panel and provides the cultivation bag with a gas supply aperture 21. In the preferred embodiment shown, the insert is an injection molded component. The insert is connected with the gas supply channel 15 on the inside of the cultivation bag, and is configured to be coupled with a pressurized gas source on the outside of the cultivation bag. For example, the insert shown, the insert 18 has a gas supply aperture 21, that is on the inside of the cultivation bag provided with a tube voice 22 that connects with the gas supply channel 15, and, on the outside of the cultivation bag, is provided with a tube vote 22 for connecting with a gas supply tube, for example connected to a pump, to provide pressurized inflation gas for inflating the balloon member.

Thus, the cultivation bag is provided with an insert 18 that allows for the gas supply channel 15 to be connected to a pressurized gas source, which allows the balloon member 14 to be inflated and deflated by feeding an inflation gas into or out of the balloon member.

The intermediate panel shown in the figure 10 is provided with liquid passages 11 for letting through cultivation liquid 08. The apertures are small enough to stop the organic material 07 to travel form the cultivation chamber 05 to the liquid chamber 06, but are large enough to allow the cultivation liquid to travel form the liquid chamber to the cultivation chamber.

In the embodiment shown, the product barrier 04 also forms an aperture for passing through the gas supply channel 15 for the balloon member 14. The gas supply channel 15 thus passing from the liquid chamber, through the product barrier and into the cultivation chamber 05, and is connected with the gas supply aperture provided in the form of an insert 18 sealed between the front panel and the rear panel of the cultivation bag. The insert 18 is shown in isolation in Figure 06.

Figure 02 shows a side view of the cultivation bag 01 with the balloon member 14 deflated and the cultivation liquid 08 in the cultivation chamber 05. Figure 03 shows a side view of the cultivation bag 01 with the balloon member 14 inflated and the cultivation liquid 08 urged into the cultivation chamber 05. In the inflated condition, the balloon member 14 occupies most of the volume of the liquid chamber 06, such that most, preferably all of the cultivation liquid is transferred into the cultivation chamber.

Thus, the cultivation bag 01, according to the claimed invention, allows for moisturizing, or more in particular partially or equally fully submerging, organic material during the cultivation process, without the requirements of a pump pumping cultivation liquid into and out of the container, ie the cultivation bag, holding the organic material. This allows for a simplified cultivation device and furthermore reduces the risk of contamination since the cultivation liquid, which contacts the organic material, does not leave the cultivation bag.

The cultivation bag 01 is provided with a product entry opening 19, for introducing the organic material 07 into the cultivation chamber 05.

In the embodiment shown, the product entry opening 19 is part of the insert 18, which insert is sealed between the front and rear panel. The insert 18 is provided with a central opening, in the embodiment shown the product entry opening, configured to be closed with a screw cap. On opposite sides of the product entry opening, the insert is provided with additional opening provided with a tube of voice.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, organic material is introduced into the cultivation chamber through the product entry opening 19. In the embodiment shown, the cultivation bag is furthermore configured to be open to remove the grown, ie the cultivated, organic material from the cultivation chamber 05 at the end of the cultivation process. The cultivated organic material can then be subjected to another process step, for example can be transferred to another cultivation container, for example a larger sized cultivation bag.

To enable tearing open the cultivation bag, shown in the exemplary embodiment, the cultivation bag is provided with weakened areas 12 and tear lines, to promote and facilitate tearing the bag along a side of the cultivation chamber, to thus enable removable of the content or the cultivation chamber. In the preferred embodiment, shown, the cultivation bag 01 is configured to be open along a top side or after, when the bag is in an upright position, to reduce the risk of spillage or cultivation liquid when the content of the cultivation chamber is removed from the cultivation bag.

The cultivation bag is furthermore provided with an aeration opening 13, The aeration opening 13 is in fluid communication with the cultivation chamber 05, and, when the cultivation bag is connected with a cultivation device, with a gas source, to enable a cultivation gas, eg air, to flow into the cultivation chamber and out of the cultivation chamber, and to thus compensate for a pressure increase or decrease in the cultivation chamber as a consequence of the balloon member being inflated or deflate respectively.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the aeration opening 13 is configured to be coupled with a gas source, more in particular is provided with a tube vote for coupling with a gas tubing. Thus, the cultivation chamber of the cultivation bag can be provided with a gas that promotes growth of the organic material in the cultivation chamber, i.e. a cultivation gas, which gas differs from the environmental gas, e.g. air. Furthermore, the cultivation chamber can also be connected to a gas source that allows active feeding gas into and / or out of the cultivation chamber, e.g., by pumping gas into and out of the cultivation chamber. In such an embodiment, the aeration opening and gas source coupled therewith can be used to propagate deflation of the balloon member in the liquid chamber by increasing the gas pressure in the cultivation chamber at the end of a moisturizing cycle.

In an alternative embodiment, the aeration opening is in fluid communication with the cultivation chamber on the inside of the cultivation bag, and with the surroundings on the outside of the cultivation bag to enable a gas, eg air, to flow from the immediate surroundings of the cultivation bag into the cultivation chamber and out of the cultivation chamber into the immediate surroundings of the cultivation bag, to thus compensate for a pressure increase or decrease in the cultivation chamber as a consequence of the balloon member being inflated or deflate respectively. Thus, in such an embodiment, the environment of the cultivation chamber is in direct communication with the environment in which the cultivation bag has been set up, eg the controlled atmosphere of a cultivating room in which a cultivation device has multiple cultivation bags has been set up .

In an embodiment, the aeration opening is provided with a filter, to prevent contamination of the organic material by the inflow of a gas, e.g. environmental air from the immediate surroundings of the cultivation bag.

In an embodiment, the aeration opening and the product entry opening are combined in a single opening, ie the product entry opening is not sealed, or not fully sealed, after the organic material has entered into the cultivation chamber, but remains at least partially Open. For example, shown in the illustration, the product entry can be left open after the organic material has been inserted into the cultivation chamber, or can be reopened once the bag is installed in a cultivation device, to bring the cultivation chamber in fluid communication with the direct surroundings or the cultivation bag.

In yet another embodiment, the aeration device is a one way valve that allows for gas to escape from the cultivation chamber when the balloon member in the liquid chamber is inflated, and the cultivation bag is provided with an additional opening connected with a gas source that provides a cultivation gas to the cultivation chamber, at least when the balloon is deflated. In a further embodiment, the cultivation bag can thus be configured to keep the inside of the cultivation bag at an overpressure compared to the environmental pressure, thus creating a balloon effect, which prevents the front and rear panel from lying adjacent each other and providing the product chamber and liquid chamber with volume. Also, the gas can be provided under pressure, i.e. a pressure higher than the pressure in the cultivation bag, to promote deflation or the balloon member.

The exemplary embodiment of the cultivation bag 01 according to the claimed invention that is shown in figures 1-3 is a flexible bag type container that allows for a compact culturing environment for holding organic material. Providing the cultivation container in the form of a plastic bag allows for low cost production and thus allows single use of the container. After the cultivating process is completed, the cultivation bag is replaced with another bag, and the laborious sterilization process to enable multiple use or the container is no longer required. Thus, the cultivation bag allows for a more efficient cultivation process at reduced costs.

It is submitted that cultivation containers are typically stacked in cultivation devices to enable controlled mass production of organic material, for example for growing seedlings or banana plants or potato plants. This type of cultivation requires regular moistening of the organic material, or just submerging the organic material, with cultivation liquid. This is in particular the case when the organic material has not yet (fully) developed roots or similar.

The invention furthermore provides a cultivation device. An exemplary embodiment of a cultivation device 31 is shown in Figure 7. The cultivation device 31 comprises multiple cultivation bags 201 according to the claimed invention. Shown in the embodiment, the cultivation bags 201 are hung, by support devices in the form of eyes 220, in an upright position.

The cultivation bags 201 are each provided with a cultivation chamber 205 located above a liquid chamber 206, and separated by a product barrier 210. The cultivation bags 201 are furthermore provided with a combined product entry opening and aeration opening 213/219 at the top of the product chamber. According to the claimed invention, a balloon member 214 is provide in the liquid chamber.

The cultivation bags 201 comprise organic material 207 and a volume of cultivation liquid 208, which volume of cultivation liquid is substantially similar to a volume of the liquid chamber or the respective cultivation bag.

The balloon member 214 is provided with a first gas supply channel 215 for feeding gas into the balloon member, and thus to inflate the balloon member, and a second gas supply channel 215 for feeding gas out of the balloon member, to enable an inflated balloon member to deflate.

The cultivation device 31 further comprises a pressurized gas source 32, eg a pump or pressurized container, which gas source is connected via a tubing manifold 33 with the disposable cultivation bags, more in particular with the gas supply channel 215 of the balloon members 214 or the disposable cultivation bags to enable inflation of the balloon members.

In the particular embodiment shown, the pressurized gas 32 source is connected via a second tubing manifold 34 with the disposable cultivation bags 201, more in particular with the gas supply channel 215 'or the balloon members 214 of the disposable cultivation bags 201 to enable deflation of the balloon members. Thus, the gas provided by the pressurized gas source to be inflation the balloon members is recycled to the pressurized gas source to be reused.

In the embodiment shown, the pressurized gas source 32 is provided with valves connected to a control system, which control system controls the inflation and deflation of the balloon members.

The cultivation device 31 furthermore comprises a frame 35 to support the cultivation bags and the tubing manifolds 33.34. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the frame furthermore supports light sources 35 configured to provide the organic material with light and thus promote the cultivation process.

It is submitted that a cultivation bag according to the claimed invention is preferably made of transparent material, to enable external grow lights to promote the cultivating process or the organic material in the cultivation chamber.

It has been submitted that a cultivation bag according to the invention only requires a pressurized gas to be provided to enable the organic material to be moisturized or even be submerged with organic liquid. It is submitted that providing a pressurized gas is less critical and costly compared to pumping cultivation liquid. Furthermore, the gas pumped into and out of the balloon does not come into contact with the content of the cultivation bag, and therefore does not need to be subject to stringent sanitation measures to prevent contamination of the organic material.

The invention furthermore provides a method for cultivating organic material using a cultivation bag according to the invention, preferably using a cultivation device according to the invention, the method including the steps:

- filling the cultivation bag with a volume of cultivation liquid, preferably with a volume of cultivation liquid substantially similar to a volume of the liquid chamber;

- inserting organic material in the cultivation chamber; and

- repeated moisturizing, preferably submerging, the organic material in the cultivation chamber by inflating the balloon member, thus urgent cultivation liquid form the liquid chamber into the cultivation chamber through the liquid passages, and after a time interval, draining the cultivation liquid from the cultivation chamber by deflating the balloon member.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second example of a cultivation bag 101 according to the invention with a deflated balloon member 114. Figure 5 shows a side view of the cultivation bag 101.

The cultivation bag 101 comprises a flexible front panel 102 and a flexible rear panel 103, a product barrier 104 in the form of an intermediate panel 110, a bottom panel 109 in the form of an insert 118, a aeration opening 113 and a product entry opening 119.

The cultivation bag 101 further comprises a cultivation chamber 105 and a liquid chamber 106. In the embodiment shown, the cultivation chamber 105 is provided with organic material 107, and the liquid chamber 106 is provided with cultivation liquid 108.

According to the claimed invention, the cultivation bag 101 further comprises a balloon member 114, located in the liquid chamber 106.

The cultivation bag 101 is provided with support devices, shown in the exemplary embodiment in the form of eyes 120 for hanging the bag, in an upright position.

Shown in the exemplary embodiment 101, the product entry opening 119 for introducing the organic material into the cultivation chamber 105 is embodied in the form of a zip lock along a top side of the cultivation chamber 105. The zip lock entry opening allows for a large entry opening, and thus allows removal of the grown organic material after the cultivation process has been completed through said opening. Known prior art alternatives for zip locks may also be used for sealing the product entry opening. In an embodiment, the product entry opening is configured to be permanently sealed once the organic material has been introduced into the cultivation chamber, for example comprises a flap provided with a sticky material, similar to an envelope, to seal the entry opening after use.

The balloon member 114 is with the gas supply channel 115 connected to an opening in the insert 118, which insert forms the bottom of the liquid chamber 106. On the outside, ie outside the cultivation bag 101, the insert 119 is configured for coupling with a gas supply source that allows inflating and deflating the balloon member, eg to be coupled via a tube to an air pump or pressurized container.

The aeration opening 113 is provided in the form of an insert that is sealed in the flexible front panel 102 or the cultivation bag 101. The aeration opening 113 is provided with a filter, and allows air to flow, via the filter, from the environment into the cultivation chamber 105 and out of the cultivation chamber. Thus, the cultivation chamber 105 is in fluid communication with the surroundings or the cultivation bag, and allow the outflow and inflow of gas to compensate for a pressure increase or decrease in the cultivation chamber as a consequence of the balloon member being inflated or deflate respectively .

Reference signs first example of a cultivation bag flexible front panel flexible rear panel product barrier cultivation chamber liquid chamber organic material cultivation liquid bottom panel product barrier (intermediate panel) 11 liquid passages weakened area I tear line aeration opening balloon member gas supply channel inlet end outlet end insert connected with balloon member product entry opening gas supply aperture tube voice cultivation device pressurized gas source first tubing manifold second tubing manifold frame light source

101 second exemplary embodiment of a cultivation bag

102 flexible front panel

103 flexible rear panel

104 product barrier

105 cultivation chamber

106 liquid chamber

107 organic material

108 cultivation liquid

109 bottom panel

110 product barrier (intermediate panel) 111 liquid passages

112 -

113 aeration opening

114 balloon member

115 gas supply channel

116117-

118 insert connected with balloon member

119 product entry opening

120 support device

121 -

122 tube voice

201 cultivation bag

205 cultivation chamber

206 liquid chamber

207 organic material

208 cultivation liquid

210 product barrier

213/219 aeration opening

214 balloon member

215 first gas supply channel

215 ’second gas supply channel

220 eyes

Claims (13)

CONCLUSIONS A disposable cultivation bag (1; 101) for cultivating organic material (7; 107), in particular plant material, e.g. plant cells, shoots and seedlings, kept in the cultivation bag, said cultivation bag comprising: - a flexible front panel (2; 102) and a flexible rear panel (3; 103), wherein the flexible front panel (2; 102) and the flexible rear panel (3; 103) are sealed to each other such that the front panel and the rear panel between them define a cultivation chamber (5; 105) for holding the organic material (7; 107) therein, and a liquid chamber (6; 106), for holding a volume of cultivation fluid (8; 108), eg water containing nutrients therein , wherein the cultivation bag (1; 101) is a free-standing bag and / or is provided with a support means (120), eg an eye or a hook, for supporting, eg hanging, the cultivation bag, in an upright position, in which upright position the cultivation chamber (5; 105) is located above the fluid chamber (6; 106), a product barrier (10; 110) separating the cultivation chamber (5; 105) from the fluid chamber (6; 106), which product barrier is, for example, formed by sealing the flexible front panel (2; 102) a on the flexible rear panel (3; 103) or by providing an intermediate panel or second bottom, and which product barrier forms one or more fluid passages (11; 111), which fluid passages extend between the cultivation chamber and the fluid chamber, which one or more fluid passages (11; 111) are such dimensioned to allow cultivation fluid (8; 108) to flow freely from the cultivation chamber (5; 105) to the fluid chamber (6; 106) and from the fluid chamber (6; 106) to the cultivation chamber (5; 105); while preventing the organic material (7; 107) from passing from the cultivation chamber (5; 105) to the liquid chamber (6; 106), - a product entry opening (19; 119), preferably a closable product entry opening, for introducing organic material (7; 107) into the cultivation room (5; 105) and optionally for removing organic material (7; 107) from the cultivation room ; - a balloon element (14; 114) and a gas supply channel (15; 115), wherein the balloon element (14; 114) is located in the liquid chamber (6; 106), and wherein the gas supply channel (15; 115) has an inlet end (16) ; 116) n has an outlet end (17; 117), and is connected at the outlet end (17; 117) to the balloon element (14; 114), and at the inlet end (16; 116) adapted for connection to a compressed gas source , eg a pump or a pressure vessel, to make it possible to inflate and deflate the balloon element (14; 114) by introducing gas into the balloon element and discharging gas from the balloon element, respectively; wherein the balloon element (14; 114) occupies the majority of the volume of the fluid chamber (6; 106) in the inflated state; and - a vent opening (13; 113), wherein the vent opening (13; 113) is in fluid communication with the cultivation chamber (5; 105), and preferably with the environment of the cultivation bag (1; 101), around a gas, for example air, to flow into the cultivation chamber (5; 105) and to flow out of the cultivation chamber (5; 105) and thus to compensate for a pressure decrease or pressure increase in the cultivation chamber (5; 105) as a result of the inflating and deflating the balloon element (14; 114) in the fluid chamber. A cultivation bag according to claim 1, wherein the balloon element (14; 114) occupies a volume in an inflated state that substantially corresponds to the volume of the fluid chamber (6; 106). A cultivation bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cultivation bag (1; 101) is a free-standing bag and has a bottom panel (9; 109) that is sealed between the flexible front panel (2; 102) and the flexible rear panel (3; 103) ). A cultivation bag according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation bag (1; 101) is provided with an insert (18; 118) sealed between the flexible front panel (2; 102) and the flexible rear panel (3; 103) preferably at the top of the cultivation bag (1), which insert comprises the vent opening (13; 113) and optionally comprises the product entry opening (19). The cultivation bag according to claim 4, wherein the venting opening (13) is configured, e.g., dimensioned, to be used also when the product entry opening is (19). Cultivation bag according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the vent opening (13) is provided on the outside of the cultivation bag (1) with a hose stem (22) for connecting the cultivation bag (1), more in particular the cultivation chamber (5) ) of the cultivation bag, with a gas source, preferably a compressed gas source, to provide a cultivation gas. A cultivation bag according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation bag is provided with an insert (18; 118) sealed between the flexible front panel (2; 102) and the flexible rear panel (3; 103), preferably on an upper side of the cultivation chamber (5), which insert (18; 118) comprises a pressurized gas supply opening (21), which pressurized gas supply opening (21) is connected on the inside of the cultivation bag (1; 101) to the gas supply channel (15; 115) of the balloon element (14; 114), and which pressurized gas supply opening (21) on the outside of the cultivation bag (1; 101) is adapted for connection to a pressurized gas hose, to provide the balloon element with inflation gas. A cultivation bag according to claim 7, wherein the insert comprising the pressurized gas supply opening (21) also comprises the venting opening (13) and / or the product entry opening (19). 9. Cultivation bag according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation bag is provided with a pressure relief valve. Cultivation bag according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation bag (1; 101) comprises a volume of cultivation fluid (8; 108) that is substantially equal to the volume of the fluid chamber (6; 106). Cultivation bag according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation bag (1; 101) comprises organic material (7; 107), and comprises a volume of cultivation fluid (8; 108) which is preferably substantially equal to the volume of the fluid chamber (6; 106). 12. Cultivation device comprising: a plurality of disposable cultivation bags according to claim 11, and - at least one pressure gas source, e.g. a pump or a pressure vessel, which gas source is connected by hoses to one or more of the disposable cultivation bags, more in particular to the gas supply channel of the balloon element of the one or more disposable cultivation bags. A method for cultivating organic material using a cultivation bag (1; 101) according to one or more of claims 1-9, preferably using a cultivation device according to claim 12, the method comprising the steps of: - filling the cultivation bag (1; 101) with a volume of cultivation fluid (8; 108), preferably with a volume of cultivation fluid substantially equal to a volume of the fluid chamber (6; 106); - introducing organic material (7; 107) into the cultivation room (5; 105); and - repeatedly wetting, preferably immersing, the organic material (7; 107) in the cultivation chamber (5; 105) by inflating the balloon element (14; 114), thus the cultivation fluid (8; 108) of the fluid chamber (6) ; 106) force into the cultivation chamber (5; 105) via the fluid passages (11; 111), and after a time interval, cause the cultivation fluid (8; 108) to drain from the cultivation chamber (5; 105) by deflating the balloon element (14; 114). 00 q · 101