US20230157221A1 - Growing systems and methods - Google Patents
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- US20230157221A1 US20230157221A1 US18/159,240 US202318159240A US2023157221A1 US 20230157221 A1 US20230157221 A1 US 20230157221A1 US 202318159240 A US202318159240 A US 202318159240A US 2023157221 A1 US2023157221 A1 US 2023157221A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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Landscapes
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- Mycology (AREA)
- Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
- Hydroponics (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
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- Mushroom Cultivation (AREA)
Abstract
A growing system is described where plants are grown in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit them at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing means, data logging means, growing means, water and nutrients.
Description
- The present invention relates to growing systems and methods. More specifically but not exclusively, it relates to lighting for a mechanized plant growing system.
- The present application claims priority from UK Patent Application No. GB 1615751.3 filed on 15th September 2016, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- Additionally, the subject matter of UK Patent Application Numbers GB1606678.9, GB1606684.7 and GB1606679.7 is hereby incorporated by reference.
- Conventional systems and methods for growing certain crops are well known. Most require large areas of land and need to be positioned in appropriate locations for the conditions required for the crops to be grown.
- More recently, advanced farming techniques such as hydroponics have led to the ability to grow high quality crops indoors with very high utilization of lighting, water and fertilizer. These systems have however been less efficient in terms of land use, capital and labor. The present invention describes a method for dramatically improving these efficiencies.
- Some commercial and industrial activities require systems that enable the storage and retrieval of a large number of different products. One known type of system for the storage and retrieval of items in multiple product lines involves arranging storage containers or containers in stacks on top of one another, the stacks being arranged in rows. The storage containers or containers are accessed from above, removing the need for aisles between the rows and allowing more containers to be stored in a given space.
- Methods of handling containers stacked in rows have been well known for decades. In some such systems, for example as described in US 2,701,065, to Bertel comprise free-standing stacks of containers arranged in rows in order to reduce the storage volume associated with storing such containers but yet still providing access to a specific container if required. Access to a given container is made possible by providing relatively complicated hoisting mechanisms which can be used to stack and remove given containers from stacks. The cost of such systems are, however, impractical in many situations and they have mainly been commercialized for the storage and handling of large shipping containers.
- The concept of using freestanding stacks of containers and providing a mechanism to retrieve and store specific containers has been developed further, for example as described in EP 0 767 113 B to Cimcorp. ‘113 discloses a mechanism for removing a plurality of stacked containers, using a robotic load handler in the form of a rectangular tube which is lowered around the stack of containers, and which is configured to be able to grip a container at any level in the stack. In this way, several containers can be lifted at once from a stack. The movable tube can be used to move several containers from the top of one stack to the top of another stack, or to move containers from a stack to an external location and vice versa. Such systems can be particularly useful where all of the containers in a single stack contain the same product (known as a single-product stack).
- In the system described in ‘113, the height of the tube has to be as least as high as the height of the largest stack of containers, so that that the highest stack of containers can be extracted in a single operation. Accordingly, when used in an enclosed space such as a warehouse, the maximum height of the stacks is restricted by the need to accommodate the tube of the load handler.
- EP 1037828 B1 (Autostore) the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a system in which stacks of containers are arranged within a frame structure. A system of this type is illustrated schematically in
FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. Robotic load handling devices can be controllably moved around the stack on a system of tracks on the upper most surface of the stack. - Other forms of robotic load handling device are further described in, for example, Norwegian patent number 317366, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are schematic perspective views of a load handling device from the rear and front, respectively, andFIG. 3 c is a schematic front perspective view of a load handling device lifting a container. - A further development of load handling device is described in UK Patent Application No 1314313.6 (Ocado) where each robotic load handler only covers one grid space, thus allowing higher density of load handlers and thus higher throughput of a given size system.
- In such known storage systems a large number of containers are stacked densely. The containers are conventionally used to store goods to supply online grocery orders picked by robots.
- Such a system may be used to grow plants and, indeed, other living organisms. Such a system is described in UK Patent Application No GB 1606678.9(Ocado Innovation Limited).
- The system therein discloses a storage-type vertical farming system that may be used to grow plants in individual containers, the sheer number of containers enabling such crops to be mass produced in a much smaller area of land than would be required using conventional growing techniques.
- The above-mentioned application also discloses the ability to provide services to the containers, either individually or via the framework of the system. Depending on the services provided in individual containers, the contents may be monitored for data relating to the contents of the container to be relayed to a central processing system. The data transmitted may provide information on the condition of the container, the contents of the container or may provide information on adjacent containers to condition monitor the entire storage system. Furthermore, in this way, the containers may be lit, heated or cooled as required by the specific contents of the container.
- Furthermore, the application discloses individual containers within the storage system being provided with services in addition to goods. Furthermore, individual containers within the storage system may not contain goods but may contain services for provision to other containers or to monitor the condition of the system.
- In order to use such a system for effectively growing crops or other living organisms, it may be necessary for the crops or organisms within the containers to be lit via suitable wavelength lighting.
- In known vertical farming systems, the crops being grown are typically grown in large trays with large lighting arrays mounted thereabove. In the densely packed system described above, the presence of the crops in a series of stacked containers prevents use of such large area lighting solutions.
- In a system utilizing vertically stacked bins, it is highly beneficial to be able to mount the lights adjacent to the bins and shine the light inside. The challenge is achieving uniform light distribution. By utilizing the walls of the growing bin and the bottom surface of the bin above, it is possible to achieve reasonable uniformity of light allowing consistent delivery of light to plants growing inside the bin. A cover, top or lid comprising lighting means may be provided for the topmost bin to reflect light back down onto the crop placed by the robots.
- According to the invention there is provided a growing system comprising: a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern comprising a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the grid spaces and within a series of uprights forming a framework; at least one load handling device disposed on the tracks, arranged to move laterally above the stacks, the or each load handling device comprising a lifting device arranged to lift at least one container, or part thereof, from a stack; in which the system comprises a series of lighting means, the lighting means being deployable from a first position adjacent a container in the stacks to a second position above the container, such that the light emitted by the lighting means is evenly distributed across the growing volume of the container.
- According to the invention there is further provided a growing system comprising: a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern comprising a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the grid spaces and within a series of uprights forming a framework; at least one load handling device disposed on the tracks, arranged to move laterally above the stacks, the or each load handling device comprising a lifting device arranged to lift at least one container, or part thereof, from a stack; in which each container comprises a plastics portion, said plastics portion comprising translucent material for transmitting light incident thereon to the growing volume of the container in an even distribution across the container.
- According to the invention there is further provided a method of growing organisms within a growing system according to any preceding claim comprising the steps of: providing growing means within a
storage container 110; positioning thecontainer 110 within a storage system; providing required light, water and nutrients; moving thecontainers 110 using at least one roboticload handling device 30 operable on a grid system above thecontainers 110; wherein the light is provided via lighting means deployable from a first position adjacent the sides of thecontainers 110 to a second position above thecontainers 110. - In this way, the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art lighting systems in stacking system vertical farms and provides a solution that ensures uniform light distribution in a stacked container system, ensuring increased yield of crops, increased efficiency in terms of lighting costs and producing crops unaffected by lighting directionality.
- The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a frame structure for housing a plurality of stacks of containers in a storage system; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of part of the frame structure ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are schematic perspective views, from the rear and front respectively, of one form of robotic load handling device for use with the frame structure ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , andFIG. 3 c is a schematic perspective view of the known load handler device in use lifting a container; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a known storage system comprising a plurality of load handler devices of the type shown inFIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c , installed on the frame structure ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , together with a robotic service device in accordance with one form of the invention. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of one form of growing system, the system comprising a series of stacks of containers located within a framework, individual containers being removable from the stacks by load handlers (not shown), the system further comprising robotic picking means for picking plants growing in the containers stored in the growing system; -
FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c are schematic perspective views of one form of container for use in the growing system ofFIG. 5 , the container comprising lighting means -
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the system ofFIG. 5 showing the uprights of the framework of the storage system, the uprights carrying a plurality of sliding panels moveably mounted on the uprights, the panels being moveable from a first inoperative position within the framework to a second operative position, wherein when in the second position the panels are located within individual containers; -
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the system ofFIG. 5 showing the uprights of the framework of the storage system with the containers stacked within the uprights, the panels ofFIG. 7 being in the second, operative position within the containers; -
FIG. 9 is a schematic, perspective, close-up view of one form of mechanism for moving the panels from the first position within the uprights to the second position within the container, the mechanism comprising a worm gear mechanism; and -
FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a further form of the invention showing lighting means capable of achieving uniform light distribution across each container within a stack within the system. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , stackable containers, known ascontainers 10, are stacked on top of one another to formstacks 12. Thestacks 12 are arranged in aframe structure 14 in a warehousing or manufacturing environment.FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of theframe structure 14, andFIG. 2 is a top-down view showing asingle stack 12 ofcontainers 10 arranged within theframe structure 14. Eachcontainer 10 typically holds a plurality of product items (not shown), and the product items within acontainer 10 may be identical, or may be of different product types depending on the application. - The
frame structure 14 comprises a plurality ofupright members 16 that supporthorizontal members horizontal members 18 is arranged perpendicularly to a second set of parallelhorizontal members 20 to form a plurality of horizontal grid structures supported by theupright members 16. Themembers containers 10 are stacked between themembers frame structure 14, so that theframe structure 14 guards against horizontal movement of thestacks 12 ofcontainers 10, and guides vertical movement of thecontainers 10. - The top level of the
frame structure 14 includesrails 22 arranged in a grid pattern across the top of thestacks 12. Referring additionally toFIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c and 4 , therails 22 support a plurality of roboticload handling devices 30. Afirst set 22 a ofparallel rails 22 guide movement of theload handling devices 30 in a first direction (X) across the top of theframe structure 14, and asecond set 22 b ofparallel rails 22, arranged perpendicular to the first set 22 a, guide movement of theload handling devices 30 in a second direction (Y), perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, therails 22 allow movement of theload handling devices 30 in two dimensions in the X-Y plane, so that aload handling device 30 can be moved into position above any of thestacks 12. - Each
load handling device 30 comprises avehicle 32 which is arranged to travel in the X and Y directions on therails 22 of theframe structure 14, above thestacks 12. A first set of wheels 34, consisting of a pair of wheels 34 on the front of thevehicle 32 and a pair of wheels 34 on the back of thevehicle 32, are arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the first set 22 a of rails 22. Similarly, a second set ofwheels 36, consisting of a pair ofwheels 36 on each side of thevehicle 32, are arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of thesecond set 22 b ofrails 22. Each set ofwheels 34, 36 can be lifted and lowered, so that either the first set of wheels 34 or the second set ofwheels 36 is engaged with the respective set ofrails - When the first set of wheels 34 is engaged with the first set of
rails 22 a and the second set ofwheels 36 are lifted clear from therails 22, the wheels 34 can be driven, by way of a drive mechanism (not shown) housed in thevehicle 32, to move theload handling device 30 in the X direction. To move theload handling device 30 in the Y direction, the first set of wheels 34 are lifted clear of therails 22, and the second set ofwheels 36 are lowered into engagement with the second set ofrails 22a. The drive mechanism can then be used to drive the second set ofwheels 36 to achieve movement in the Y direction. - In this way, one or more robotic
load handling devices 30 can move around the top surface of thestacks 12 on theframe structure 14 under the control of a central picking system (not shown). Each roboticload handling device 30 is provided with means for lifting out one or more containers or containers from the stack to access the required products. In this way, multiple products can be accessed from multiple locations in the grid and stacks at any one time. -
FIG. 4 shows a typical storage system as described above, the system having a plurality ofload handling devices 30 active on thestacks 12. -
FIGS. 1 and 4 show thecontainers 10 instacks 12 within a storage system. It will be appreciated that there may be a large number of containers in any given storage system. -
FIG. 5 shows a growing system based on the prior art storage system depicted inFIGS. 1 to 4 . In the growing system, growingcontainers 110 are adapted to be suitable for growing plants or other living organisms. For example, each growingcontainer 110 may comprise a growing medium. -
FIG. 5 shows a portion of the growing system described above. For clarity only a portion of the frame structure is shown with a representative number ofcontainers 110 shown in astack 12 within theframe structure 14. A portion of thecontainers 110 located within the system comprise growing means only in preparation for use. A portion of thecontainers 110 in the system comprise plants that have become too large for the spacing regime in which they were originally planted. - A
robotic picking device 100 may be provided to fully automate this task. However, it will be appreciated that the task may be performed manually by operatives at the service area of the growing system. - Each growing
container 110 may comprise acontainer 10 as shown inFIGS. 1 to 5 or alternatively may comprise a tray-like base with a supporting framework disposed above to enable the growingcontainers 110 to stack. Such growingcontainers 110 enable the growing canopy of the plant to be accessible through the sides of the container structure. - As the containers are stacked, it is the corner uprights of the container that carry the load of any containers stacked above any given container. Therefore, it is not necessary for the containers to have fixed or rigid sides. It will be appreciated that the growing
containers 110 may comprise sides or partial sides to prevent crops from growing out of the growingcontainer 110 volume. -
FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c show one form of a growingcontainer 110 adapted to be suitable for growing plants. The plants are grown on growingmeans 13 such as matting or soil located in thecontainers 110. Beneath thematting 13 the container may comprise a reservoir 54 (not shown) the reservoir containing water and/or plant food suitable for the plant being grown in the container. - The
containers 110 are held in stacks by co-operating surfaces onadjacent containers 110. Thecontainers 110 additionally comprise connection means 40 positioned at the intended co-operating surfaces of thecontainers 110. The connection means 40 may comprise electrically conductive layers deposited on the co-operating surfaces of thecontainers 10 or may comprise sprung-loaded contacts or springs as contacts or any other connection means capable of carrying power between two ormore containers 10. Furthermore, the connection means 40 may comprise carbon loaded rubber contacts capable of carrying signals between two or moreco-operating containers 10 in a stack. - The connecting means 40 shown comprise releasably latching connectors capable of carrying power, fluids (such as water and fertilizers) and other services or utilities required in the plant growing system
-
Individual containers 110 may comprise power supply means for supplying power to, for example, heating means, cooling means, data logging means, communication means and/or lighting means 60. Eachindividual container 110 may further comprise power control means for controlling the power to the or each service and controlling the power toother containers 10 in thestack 12 if power is to be transmitted toadjacent containers 10 in thestack 12. It will be appreciated thatcontainers 10 comprising power control and control means are not limited to powering heaters, coolers or lights. Anything requiring power may utilize the power supply means. The power supply means may comprise batteries or may comprise means for transmitting power from an external power source through connection means 40 on thecontainers 10 or via theupright members 16 of the frame structure. Non-contacting methods of power transmission may also be used, for example magnetic induction or RF induction and optical methods. -
FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c show in detail acontainer 10 suitable for growing plant means. Thecontainer 10 comprises lighting means 60 which may radiate light of a predetermined wavelength suitable for growing a desired crop. Furthermore, thecontainer 110 comprises fluid supply means 52 which when activated, may sprinkle a predetermined amount of water on the crops growing in thecontainer 110. The power to the lighting means 60 and the fluid supply to the sprinkling means 52 are routed through thecontainer 10 via routing means 17 that run along one side of thecontainer 10. Thecontainer 110 is further provided with connectingmeans 40 to enable services to be routed up astack 12 ofcontainers 10 when thecontainers 10 are located in the growing system. - It will be appreciated that although in
FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c the routing means are shown as mounted on thecontainer 10, it is possible to form acontainer 10 such that the container comprises mouldings suitable to act as routing means 17. -
FIGS. 6 a to 6 c show a further forms ofcontainer 110 from thestack 12, thecontainer 10 comprising various configurations of lighting means 60. As shown inFIGS. 6 a and 6 b , the lighting means 60 may comprise a lid containing suitable bulbs, LEDs or any other suitable form oflighting 60. The lid may be removably attached to thecontainer 10 and fold away during removal of thecontainer 10 from thestack 12. - Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 6 c the lighting means 60 may be provided in the base of acontainer 110 to light thecontainer 110 below in thestack 12. -
FIG. 7 shows an alternative form of lighting arrangement in accordance with the invention.FIG. 7 shows a portion of the growing system comprising uprights of theframe structure 14. Located within theframe structure 14 arestacks 12 of growingcontainers 110. The growingcontainers 110 are of the type comprising a tray-like base and a box-type supporting framework mounted above to form a support for the growingcontainer 110 in thestack 12. - It will be appreciated that the box-type framework of the growing
container 110 may comprise a separate structure fixedly mounted on to the tray or may comprise an integrally formed structure with the tray-like base. - The growing
container 110 further comprises aguide portion 114 on theupright members 16 positioned along two of the short sides of the growingcontainer 110 at the top of the box-type support structure. Theupright members 16 of the growingsystem frame structure 14 further comprise aguide portion 114′ on the growingcontainer 110 running substantially parallel to theupright members 16. Theguide portion 114 and theguide portion 114′ are positioned such that when a growingcontainer 110 is located within astack 12 within theframe structure 14, the twoguide portions guide portions guide portion 114 on the uprights. - A plurality of
panel members 113 are disposed within theguide portions guide portions 114 on the uprights and into theguide portions 114′ within thecontainer 110. Thepanel members 113 comprise lighting means 60 that may emit light of suitable wavelengths for the crop or plant in the growingcontainer 110. -
FIG. 7 shows thepanel members 113 comprising lighting means 60 located within theguide portion 114 on the uprights. Thepanel members 113 inFIG. 7 are positioned in a first position in which the surface of each of thepanel members 113 comprising the lighting means 60 is substantially parallel to a long side of a growingcontainer 110. The lighting means 60 may be inoperative when in this position. Alternatively, if the lighting means 60 are operative in this position, the growingcontainers 110 may be lit from the side in the case where the growingcontainers 110 do not comprise fixed or opaque sides. - The uprights further comprise a driven
mechanism 115 such as, for example only, a worm gear mechanism. The worm gear mechanism comprises a threadedrod 116 mounted on the uprights and engaging means for engaging the panel members when located in theguides 114 on the upright. The engaging means is moved via the worm gear to move thepanels 113 comprising the lighting means 60 from the first position within theguide portion 114, substantially parallel to the uprights, to the second position within thecontainer 110 where the panel means 113 comprising the lighting means 60 are substantially perpendicular to the uprights of theframe structure 14. Themechanism 115 is shown in greater detail inFIG. 9 . - In use, the
panel members 113 comprising the lighting means 60 are moved from the position shown inFIG. 7 to the position shown inFIG. 8 by driving the worm gear mechanism. Themechanism 115 engages ribbon means (not shown) located within theguide portions panels 113 are mounted and acts so as to move the panels upwardly in theguide 114 on the uprights, round the radius and along theguide 114′ located within the growingcontainer 110. When thepanel members 113 are located in theguides 114′ within the growingcontainer 110 as shown inFIG. 8 , the emitting surfaces of the lighting means 60 are disposed towards the growingvolume 122 of thecontainer 110. In this second position, the lighting means 60 are activated and act to light the plants or crops contained within the container volume in an even manner. - The
mechanism 115 may be operable in response to a signal received from a load handling device (not shown) positioning itself above a givenstack 12 of growingcontainers 110. Alternatively, the mechanism may be driven by theload handling device 30 via suitable locating and driving means 118 located on the top of the uprights. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that themechanism 115 may be operable under remote control from a control center (not shown). - In this way, the growing
containers 110 may be lit from above to facilitate uniform distribution of light and to enable the crops and plants to grow in a substantially upright manner, thereby eliminating the problem of crops and plants growing unevenly or at an angle to the upright caused by the directionality of the lighting. Additionally, the lighting means 60 are deployable when needed and may be returned to a storage position within theguides 114 on the uprights when not required. More particularly, the lights may be returned to this storage position when a growingcontainer 110 is to be removed from a stack by aload handling device 30 operating on the tracks positioned above theframe structure 14. - It will be appreciated that whilst the above example and the Figures are described with the
panel members 113 and lighting means 60 being positioned adjacent the long edge of thecontainer 110, the system will work in a similar manner with the lighting means 60 positioned along the short edge of thecontainer 110. Indeed the system will work if thecontainers 110 have a square cross section and the panel members and lighting means are positioned on either edge. - It will further be appreciated that the lighting means 60 need not comprise discrete lighting means on a series of
panels 113, but may comprise a single light means on a flexible plate-type structure. - In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in
FIG. 10 the growingcontainer 110 comprises a tray like base having a box-type support structure mounted thereon. The box-type structure together with the tray-like base defines a growingvolume 122 in which the plant canopy forms. Each growingcontainer 110 comprises a top orlid structure 120 comprising plastics material capable of internal reflection or refraction of light therein. For example, the top orlid structure 120 may comprise PMMA, Polycarbonate or Polystyrene or any other suitable material. The top orlid structure 120 may be positioned on top of each growing container or alternatively may form the base of each growingcontainer 110 thereby being capable of lighting the growingcontainer 110 below. It will be appreciated that a top orlid structure 120 may be independently removable from thetop container 110 by theload handling device 30, particularly in the example where the base of thecontainers 110 comprises the lighting means 60. In this example, the topmost container 110 would require an individual top orlid structure 120 to perform the lighting function. - It will be appreciated that the top or
lid structure 120 may be independently removable from the topmost container 110 by a firstload handling device 30, a secondload handling device 30 being subsequently used to lift the top most growingcontainer 110 from the stack. However, individualload handling devices 30 may be provided with lifting means suitable for first lifting a top orlid structure 120 thereby disconnecting the lid and light array from any power supply, the lifting means subsequently lifting the growingcontainer 110. Additionally, it will be appreciated that individualload handling devices 30 may be provided with lifting means suitable for lifting thecontainer 110 with the top orlid structure 120 in situ, in this example, theload handling device 30 being provided with means for powering the lighting array in the top orlid structure 120 to maintain continuity of lighting if required. - Whilst the example shown in
FIG. 10 shows a top orlid structure 120 of rectangular cross section, it will be appreciated that a shaped structure may improve the reflection properties and enable more light to be reflected and less to be scattered out with the structure. Advantageously, the provision of a transparent top orlid structure 120 enables the content of the growingvolume 122 to be inspected either visually by an operator or via camera on a load handling device or within the growing system. - It will be appreciated that the top or
lid structure 120 may comprise a mirrored surface (not shown) such that all the radiation incident thereon is reflected back towards the growingvolume 122. - Lighting means 60 such as LEDs emitting light of a predetermined wavelength or a plurality of predetermined wavelengths are mounted aside the lid or base structures such that the radiation emitted is incident on the plastics top or
lid structure 120 and lights the edges of the material, the light being refracted and reflected and emitted in a uniform manner over the growing canopy of the plants or crops. - In this way, uniform lighting distribution is achieved whilst maintaining a fixed lighting position on the side of the growing
container 110. - In combination with the lighting mechanisms described above,
individual containers 110 may further comprise other services, for example data logging means and communication means 207 for transmitting data recorded to a remote centraldata logging device 201. The data logging means 203 comprisessensors 205 suitable for monitoring the conditions in thecontainer 10, for example the temperature, any gas emission, for example as a result of decomposing fruit, and humidity. The data logging means 203 and communicatingmeans 207 enable the content and condition ofindividual containers 10 to be monitored. Furthermore, knowing information aboutspecific containers 10 in thestacks 12 in the system enables the condition of the storage system as a whole to be monitored. It will be appreciated that the type and method of communication may be but need not be limited to WiFi. Any suitable form of communication protocol or method may be used. -
Individual containers 110 in thestack 12, may further comprise heating and/or cooling means 211 and temperature monitoring means 213 for monitoring the temperature in thecontainer 10. The heating means may comprise flow of hot fluid via direct means, for example hot air, or indirect means, for example radiator means or may further comprise electrical heaters or electromagnetic induction heaters. - The cooling means may comprise Peltier coolers or may comprise flow of cold fluid via direct means, for example cold air or via indirect means, for example radiator means, including ice slurry compressor driven.
- In this way, the temperatures of
individual containers 110 may be controlled and varied depending on the content of theindividual container 110. If the contents of the container need to be chilled, then the individual container can have a temperature of 5° C. maintained rather than requiring a portion of thestacks 12 in the storage system to be maintained at a predetermined temperature by space heaters and coolers. It will be appreciated that these are examples only and any suitable form of heater or chiller may be used to achieve the desired effect. - It may be preferable for air to be blown across the
containers 10 within thestacks 12 of the plant growing system. This may be achieved by generating an airflow throughout the system either utilizing fans or other airflow means. - It will be appreciated that the
upright members 16 of the grid of the growing system may carry any of the services referred to herein or alternative services for onward transmission to thecontainers 10 by wires, cables or pipes or any other suitable means. - UK Patent Application Numbers GB1606678.9, GB1606684.7 and GB1606679.7 detail systems and methods of routing services through
containers 10 andframe structure 14, and are hereby incorporated by reference. - Given the highly automated and controlled nature of the system a large number of uses are envisaged. Some of these are described below but should not be considered limiting.
- The system may be used for development of new variants of plants, for example, or if optimal growing conditions for given variants are being established then the use of the system will require continual monitoring and all conditions within each container will require separate parameters to be checked and the contents regularly inspected. The amount of water, nutrients and light will need to be closely monitored and varied accordingly. This will require many containers to be removed, inspected and replaced at intervals. Advantageously, this can be achieved in the present system as the process of sensing, monitoring and removal of
containers 10 from the system is highly automated. - If the system is to be used for mass production of given plants or crops, the cost of production needs to be minimized and therefore the required parameters for optimum growth will have previously been established. Therefore, the lighting, water, nutrients and temperature required for each plant or crop variety will be fixed at the beginning of the growth cycle. The containers will only be removed from the storage system every 3 to 10 days for the seedlings to be re-spaced and then ultimately harvested and the
containers 10 re-seeded. - Advantageously, it is possible for both types of uses to be accommodated in a single storage system. A portion of the
containers 10 may contain crops for mass production, a portion of the containers may contain products under development or new variants being monitored and optimal growth protocols being established. - It will be appreciated that a portion of the system may be partitioned by suitable partition means
- In the examples described herein, it will be appreciated that not all
containers 110 comprise all the services described. Furthermore, some containers, particularly if used for mass production, may not require any services other than the appropriate levels of light, water and nutrients. Conversely, forcontainers 110 being utilized in research and development or trials, more of the sensing and monitoring means may be required in each container. - In the case of a research and development container, at regular intervals the container or
containers 10 are removed from thestacks 12 by theload handling device 30 and taken to an inspection port within the system. The condition of the plants is checked and nutrients or water added to the container as required. If the plants within the container still require time to achieve maturity, thecontainer 10 is returned to thestacks 12. If the plant has grown sufficiently and the crop is ripe, the plants or crops are removed and thecontainer 10 is cleaned and replanted and then returned to thestacks 12. - In the case of mass production, the
relevant containers 10 may not be removed for inspection, but may only be removed when the crop is expected to have reached maturity. - The sensor means provided within the
containers 10, monitor the condition of the plants growing therein. Whilst a schedule of maintenance of the plants in thecontainers 10 may be used, it will be appreciated that the sensors may trigger acontainer 10 being removed from thestacks 12 outside of the maintenance schedule. For example, if acontainer 10 contains growing mushrooms but the mushrooms are over ripe a sensor may detect a gas associated with food ripening and thecontainer 10 may be removed outside of the maintenance schedule for inspection. - Certain greenhouses operate in an atmosphere with elevated levels of CO2. It will be appreciated that in these situations, suitable gas sensing means would be able to monitor and control the levels of CO2 accordingly.
- It will be appreciated that many crops may be grown in such mechanized greenhouses. These include but are not limited to mushrooms, chillies, herbs, and lettuce. In some places, where energy is abundant but water scare this kind of system could also be used to grow cereal crops and other living things. Whilst the embodiments described here refer mainly to plant growth either for mass production or research and development purposes, it will be appreciated that any living organism, plant, animal or fungi could be grown in such a storage system. For example, the storage system could be used for the growth of fish, chickens, oysters, and lobsters. Additionally, the system could be used for GM trials, pharmaceutical trials, the storage of wine that needs specific maturing conditions, or cheese that need careful temperature and humidity control.
- It is an advantage of this system of growing crops, that multiple crops may be grown in a single location, as
different containers 10 may contain different crops. Furthermore, growing the plants incontainers 10 prevents the spread of disease through a large crop as disease, blight, fungus or other plant related problems will be confined toindividual containers 10. Whilst it should be possible to limit the infestation from the outside environment through filters in the system warehouse, any breach of this could be contained in individual containers, such that “plant related problems” could be minimized. - It will be appreciated that the growing system comprises a large number of
containers 10 arranged instacks 12. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage system comprisescontainers 10 of different categories dispersed within the system. For example, there may beempty containers 10,containers 10 growing plants,containers 10 containing goods to be stored, containers containing services such as power supplies or communications means,containers 10 comprising heating means,containers 10 comprising cooling means,containers 10 comprising goods requiring liquids and/or light. - It will be appreciated that some
containers 10 may contain one or more of the services or devices referred to above. For example acontainer 10 with a reservoir 54 may also be provided with lighting means 60. - The lighting means 60 may take the form of LED lights or fluorescent tubes or any other suitable form of lighting.
- The provision of data logging and condition monitoring means in
containers 10 within thestacks 12 enables a map of the condition and topography of the system to be generated that would not otherwise be possible unlessspecific containers 10 were removed and examined. - Furthermore, providing services to specific
individual containers 10 either via theupright members 16 or via container-to-container contacts, enables goods having different requirements to be stored within the same storage system without resorting to portioning the system and separating goods with different requirements in to separate sections of the grid. - Additionally, connections between
containers 10 and communications betweencontainers 10 and stacks 12 will generate a knowledge base of the storage system in real time that will assist in the event of a power outage for example, that will aid in possible disaster recovery. The alternative would be to empty all the containers and rebuild the stack which would be inefficient and costly. - It will be appreciated that all
containers 10 may be removed from thestacks 12 by theload handling devices 30. Nocontainer 10 is fixed in a position and all contacts are makeable and breakable between thecontainers 10. Furthermore,containers 10 requiring services being passed through theupright members 16 are not fixed to theupright members 16 in any way. Any suitable make and break connection may be used. - It will further be appreciated that individual containers may be provided with one service, a selection of services or all service described. Furthermore, the services listed should not be regarded as limiting. Any form of service that is capable of being carried or transmitted to a
container 10 may be envisaged. - In one embodiment of the invention, given for example only, the
containers 110 comprise trays on which the plants are grown. The trays are approximately 1000×1400 mm. The trays comprise a frame, tall enough to allow the plants to grow to their natural harvesting height. In the specific embodiment, trays are stacked up to 20 m tall or more. Each tray is lit, either from lights attached to the top frame of the tray, from the base of the tray above or from lights in the grid as shown in example form only inFIGS. 6 a to 6 c above. All processing (planting, harvesting, pruning, spraying and potentially watering) is undertaken at specialized work stations with good ergonomics and potentially robots or other automation. - It will be appreciated that a plurality of different lighting arrays may be used. For example different arrays may be used during the early part of the plant’s growth than to the end of plant growth. In the beginning stages, focusing all light on the plant and reducing the waste of lighting the surrounding soil would be preferable. Separate arrays may be utilized or a portion of lights may be switched off. Therefore, the lighting means 60 may be moveable with reference to the crop growing in the
container 10. For example, should the crop grow in height, the level of the lighting means 60 may be raisable and lowerable relative to the height of the crop in thecontainer 110. Furthermore, the growingcontainers 110 may be provided with spacer collars to enable the growing volume of the growingcontainer 110 to be increased. It will be appreciated that the top orlid structure 120 may be suitable formed to co-operate with such spacer collars or vice versa, the lighting means being separable from the spacer collars and replaced on growingcontainers 110 if required. It will be appreciated that spacer collars may stack on growingcontainers 110 and vice versa and that top orlid structure 120 may fitcontainers 110 or spacer collars. - It will also be appreciated that multiple wavelengths of light may be used at any one time or discrete wavelengths maybe used in a predetermined sequence. In both of the examples above, the lighting means 60 may comprise multiple individual light sources in an array or may comprise lighting means that are interchangeable during use.
- In a further embodiment, the plants may be grown upside down and lit from below. Advantageously, this would reduce the energy expended by the plant to move water and nutrients against gravity and may make some species grow faster.
- Many variations and modifications not explicitly described above are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (18)
1. A growing container for use in a growing system, the growing system including a plurality of containers arranged in stacks where at least one of the containers is a growing container, wherein the stacks are arranged within a series of uprights forming a framework, and beneath a load handling track grid, in which the system has a series of lights, the lights being deployable from a first position adjacent a growing container in the stacks to a second position above the growing container, such that the light emitted by the lights is evenly distributed across the growing volume of the container, the growing container comprising:
a tray-like base;
a box-type supporting framework mounted above the tray-like base to form a support for arranging the plurality of growing containers in a self-supported stack; and
a first guide portion positioned along opposing sides at the top of the box-type support structure for guiding the lights between the first position and the second position.
2. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the lights are moved from the first position to the second position along the first guide portion by a mechanism located on the uprights of the framework.
3. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the box-type framework is:
fixedly mounted on the tray-like base; or
an integrally formed structure with the tray-like base.
4. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the emitting surfaces of the lights are disposed towards a growing volume of the container.
5. A growing container according to claim 1 , comprising:
a lid structure formed of a material configured for internal reflection or refraction.
6. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the lid structure is independently removable.
7. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the base is formed of material configured for internal reflection or refraction.
8. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the lights are configured to emit light of a wavelength or range of wavelengths suitable for the cultivation, control or maintenance of living organisms.
9. A growing container according to claim 1 , comprising one or more additional services.
10. A growing container according to claim 1 , wherein the first guide portion is positioned such that when the growing container is located within a stack within the framework, the first guide portion aligns with a second guide portion of the framework.
11. A growing container according to claim 10 , wherein the first guide portion and the second guide portion are joined by a radius portion.
12. A growing container according to claim 10 , wherein the lights comprise a panel member disposed within the first and second guide portions and configured to be moveable along the first and second guide portions.
13. A growing container according to claim 12 , wherein the panel member is configured to be movable between a position substantially parallel to uprights of the framework and a position substantially perpendicular to the uprights of the framework.
14. A growing system, comprising:
a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern including a plurality of grid spaces;
a plurality of containers arranged in stacks where at least one of the containers is a growing container, wherein the stacks are arranged within a series of uprights forming a framework, and beneath the first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and the second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks; in which the system has a series of lights, the lights being deployable from a first position adjacent a growing container in the stacks to a second position above the growing container, such that the light emitted by the lights is evenly distributed across the growing volume of the container;
a plurality of the growing containers, each growing container comprising:
a tray-like base;
a box-type supporting framework mounted above the tray-like base to form a support for arranging the plurality of growing containers in a self-supported stack;
a first guide portion positioned along opposing sides at the top of the box-type support structure for guiding the lights between the first position and the second position, arranged in stacks, located beneath the grid spaces and within a series of uprights forming a framework; and
at least one load handling device disposed on the tracks, arranged to move laterally above the stacks, the at least one load handling device including a lifting device arranged to lift at least one container, or part thereof, from a stack.
15. A growing system according to claim 14 , wherein the lights are configured to be deployed in response to a signal received from the at least one load handling device.
16. A growing system according to claim 14 , wherein the lights are configured to be deployed by a load handling device located on top of the uprights.
17. A growing system according to claim 14 , wherein the lights are configured to be deployed by remote control from a processor in a control center.
18. A method of growing organisms within a growing container, the growing container including a tray-like base, a box-type supporting framework mounted above the tray-like base to form a support for arranging the plurality of growing containers in a self-supported stack, and a first guide portion positioned along opposing sides at the top of the box-type support structure for guiding lights between a first position and a second position, the method comprising:
providing growing means within the growing container;
positioning the growing container within a storage system;
providing required light, water and nutrients; and
moving the growing container using at least one robotic load handling device operable on a grid system above the growing container;
wherein the light is provided by deploying the lights from the first position adjacent the sides of the growing container to a second position above the growing container.
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JP7147006B2 (en) | 2022-10-04 |
CN115005085A (en) | 2022-09-06 |
JP6891270B2 (en) | 2021-06-18 |
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