WO2004030444A1

WO2004030444A1 - Modular container system for cultivating plants

Info

Publication number: WO2004030444A1
Application number: PCT/AT2003/000297
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heimo Zimmermann
Original assignee: Heimo Zimmermann
Priority date: 2002-10-04
Filing date: 2003-10-03
Publication date: 2004-04-15
Also published as: AU2003266807A1; AT6767U1; EP1545188A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular container system (1) for cultivating plants (10), said system comprising at least one first container (2) forming a root compartment (9), and at least one flexible capillary body (5) which penetrates the first container (2) in the region of the bottom (3) or the lateral wall (4) or can be inserted into at least one opening in the region of the bottom or the lateral wall, before or after a culture and/or sale phase. In an individual care phase following a culture and/or sale phase, the first container (2) can be suspended or placed in a second container (8) used as an outer pot. A water compartment (12) is formed between the bottom (3) of the first container (2) and the bottom (11) of the second container (8), and the capillary body (5) suspended in said water compartment (12) essentially extends over the height (h) thereof (12). The aim of the invention is to simplify the operation and reduce costs as much as possible in all phases of plant cultivation. To this end, the first container (2) can be positioned on or in a watering reservoir (7) of a group watering system (6) during the culture and/or sale phase, the flexible capillary body (5) being preferably supplied with a watering medium by means of a group watering system (6), and the capillary body (5) can be folded beneath the bottom (3) of the first container (2) during the culture and/or sale phase.

Description

Modular container system for the cultivation of plants

The invention relates to a modular container system for the cultivation of plants, with at least one first container forming a root space and at least one penetrating the first container in the region of the base or the side wall, or in at least one opening in the region of the base or the side wall before or after one Flexible capillary body that can be used in the rearing and / or selling phase, wherein in a single care phase following a rearing and / or selling phase, the first container can be hung or adjusted in a second container acting as an outer pot, with the bottom of the first container and the bottom of the second container, a water space is formed and the capillary body hanging in the water space extends essentially over the height of the water space.

It is known to use wick irrigation systems for plants in planters, on water dishes, in traffic lights or on glass fiber mats. Wick irrigation systems are known, for example, from DE 38 29 192 C2. DE 200 13 218 Ul further describes a capillary irrigation system for plants in vessels on wick-moistened mats of great capillarity for use on plant, nursery and sales tables, and on narrow, long plant shelves. Group irrigation systems of this type are particularly suitable for the simultaneous irrigation of groups of plants during the cultivation and sales phase. However, these irrigation systems are not suitable as irrigation systems for individual plants with their own location.

German utility model DE 86 14 288 Ul describes a mat irrigation device for potted plants with a horizontally supported fiber mat, which is immersed in a liquid supply located in a receptacle.

From WO 01/67845 AI a container system for the cultivation of plants with an inner container and an outer container is also known. The inner container forms a root space for the plant, the outer container a water space in which a capillary body is immersed.

A similar container system is also known from JP 09-37663 AI.

DE 200 01 566 Ul describes an area irrigation system for accumulation tables with a closed capillary system for plants. A water storage basin is provided, in which spacer moldings are inserted. In the Standformteile are mineral cubes, which are used as a capillary system for the water transport from the water reservoir to an overlying glass fiber fleece. The moisture is transferred from the glass fiber fleece to the underside of the pots placed on it.

Furthermore, an irrigation system for potted plants is known from US 4,434,577, which consists of a disk-shaped base for a plant pot. The feet of the riot plate are positioned in a plate-shaped container filled with water. Water is led from the container to a mat on the carrier disc via a capillary body. Plant pots with bottom openings are thus irrigated via this irrigation mat.

Furthermore, an irrigation system for plants with a container and a capillary mat and a cover surface is known from WO 99/51079 A2. The water is led from the tank to the top surface via the capillary mat. The water level in the tank is kept at a predefined level using a dedicated device.

US 5,535,542 A discloses an outer container for holding a plurality of inner containers during the individual care phase. The inner container is suspended with its bulged container edge in a holding plate or directly in the container edge of the outer container. The inner container has irrigation wicks in the bottom area, which protrude into a water space of the outer container. In one version, circular outer containers are provided, which can only be equipped with individual inner pots. Another embodiment variant provides an outer shell for receiving several inner containers, which is not suitable for the cultivation phase. According to a further embodiment variant, a single container is provided in which the earth region is separated from the water region by an omega-shaped partition. The cultivation with substrate and plant does not take place here via exchangeable inner containers.

From EP 0 688 497 AI a container system with an outer container is known, in the cover plate of which an opening is provided, into which a plant pot is hung with its beaded edge. The plant pot has a wick penetrating the bottom of the pot, which protrudes into the water space of the irrigation container.

FR 2 632 487 A shows a container system with a three-part container, namely a lower part forming the water space, an upper part receiving the soil with the plants and a cover part. For irrigation, the upper part has a capillary mat that extends into the water space. The last three cited documents disclose container systems which are only suitable for the individual care phase following the rearing and sales phase. Plants are usually planted in their own containers during the growing and sales phase. These growing pots are watered on their own growing tables with a soil irrigation system during the growing and sales phase. The growing pots are generally not suitable as a long-term irrigation system for individual plants with their own location during the individual care phase. If long-term irrigation is desired by the consumer after purchasing the plant in the individual care phase, the plant must be transplanted from the growing pot into its own inner container of a long-term irrigation system. Such pottery work is time consuming and rather uncomfortable for buyers unfamiliar with gardening.

Known irrigation systems are therefore intended either for the rearing and / or sales phase, or for the individual care phase for the consumer following the purchase. During the growing and / or sales phase, plants are optimally supplied with water via their own more or less automatic irrigation systems. If the consumer wanted to use an irrigation system during the individual care phase after buying a plant, it has previously been essential to move the plant into its own container. This means an increased amount of work, which is associated with the formation of dirt, but also an increased financial outlay for the purchase of your own container system with an integrated irrigation system.

The object of the present invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to propose a container system and a method for growing and cultivating which can be used to save on repotting after the plant has been acquired.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the first container can be positioned on or in an irrigation trough of a group irrigation system during the rearing and / or sales phase, the flexible capillary body preferably being able to be supplied with an irrigation medium via a group irrigation system, and that the capillary body during the rearing process. and / or sales phase is foldable below the bottom of the first container. The flexible capillary body can already be installed in the first container or can only be inserted into it after the rearing or sales phase.

The flexible capillary body is preferably formed by at least one substantially rectangular irrigation mat. Any conventional irrigation method, for example flood mat irrigation, flow mat irrigation, gutter irrigation or pond irrigation, can be used for the group irrigation system.

The fundamental difference to previous systems is that the first container with integrated capillary irrigation can be used when the plants are being grown, even without the outer container, and can be hung or adjusted directly in the second container forming the outer container without changes or additions. This means that with a single system, the water supply in all phases of plant breeding, i.e. during the cultivation phase, sales phase and also in the individual care phase for the consumer, is optimally ensured.

The system can of course also be used for repotting plants that require a larger inner and outer container due to their root growth.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the entire system without the steps of cultivating outside the outer pot. The advantages are the flexible handling of the individual inner pots, which means that an exchange of the inner pots within an outer pot or in another outer pot is possible at any time and as often as required without any great effort and only by removing and reinserting or repositioning.

In a further embodiment of the invention it can further be provided that the second container is designed to accommodate a plurality of first containers. The first containers can be arranged in one or more rows in the second container. It is particularly advantageous if at least two first containers in the individual care phase can be replaced at least once, preferably as often as desired, within the second container by removing and reinserting or re-inserting them. Since the first containers are loosely hung or set in the second container, changing two first containers within a second container or exchanging the second container for one or more first containers is completely unproblematic.

It is very advantageous if the first container can be suspended in at least one recess of a support plate of the second container, the recess being largely adapted to the shape of the first container. The support plate can be placed on or in the second container or can be formed in one piece with the second container. Different recesses can also be used to hang the first containers with different diameters or different layouts in the second container. A The support plate can either have a recess for a single first container or a plurality of recesses for a plurality of first containers. By combining support plates with different recesses, the first containers with different floor plans can be combined. The floor plan of the first and the second container is largely free to design. The first or second container can have, for example, an n-square plan with n> 2, a circular, oval or elliptical plan.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Show it

1 the container system according to the invention during the rearing and / or sales phase,

2 the container system during the individual care phase for the consumer or end user in a first embodiment variant,

3 shows the container system during the individual care phase in a second embodiment variant in a floor plan,

4 this container system in a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3,

5 shows this container system in a section along the lines V-V in FIGS. 3 and 4,

6 shows the container system during the individual care phase in a third embodiment variant in the floor plan,

7 this container system in a section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6,

Fig. 8 shows the container system during the individual care phase in a fourth embodiment variant in plan, and

9 shows this container system in a section along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

Parts with the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the exemplary embodiments.

The modular container system 1 for the cultivation of plants 10 has a first container 2 in the region of the bottom 3 or in the region of the side wall 4 penetrating capillary body 5. The capillary 5 can by a Wick or - particularly advantageously - be formed by a rectangular irrigation mat. During the rearing and / or sales phase shown in FIG. 1, the first container 2 is placed on an irrigation trough 7 having a group irrigation system 6. In order to accommodate as many first containers 2 as possible in the irrigation trough 7, the flexible capillary body 5 is folded below the base 3 of the first container 2, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 9, the container system 1 also has a second container 8 forming an outer container, in which at least one first container 2 forming the root space 9 for the plants 10 can be hung. The first container 2 and the second container 8 are dimensioned such that a water space 12 is formed between the bottom 3 of the first container 2 and the bottom 11 of the second container 8, in which the flexible capillary body 5 is immersed. Advantageously, the flexible capillary body 5 extends essentially over the entire height h of the water space 12. The water level is indicated by reference number 13. In order to use the total capacity of the free volume for the storage of water, the water level can at least briefly reach over the bottom 3 of the first container 2.

The fundamental difference to previous systems is that the first container 2 with integrated capillary irrigation, which forms the inner container, can be used even when the plants 10 are being grown, even without the second container 8 forming the outer container, and directly in the actual individual care phase without further changes or additions second container 8 can be hung or adjusted. This means that with one system the water supply is optimally ensured in all phases of plant breeding.

During the cultivation phase, the first container 2 with the system of capillary irrigation formed by the flexible capillary body 5 can be used in the rearing of plants 10 together with conventional group irrigation systems 6 such as flood mat irrigation, flow mat irrigation, gutter irrigation or pond irrigation. The functionality of the integrated capillary irrigation is ensured in this phase.

After a certain size of the plant 10 has been reached, the first container 2 can be suspended or set directly in the second container 8 without changes or additions. The capillary body 5 folded up to this point in time automatically takes on the position due to gravity that requires the functioning of the overall system. Intermediate storage of the first container 2 with the plants 10 over a longer period of time, for example for sales, can take place on moistened sales counters, since the plant 10 is also optimally supplied with water here by means of the flexible capillary body 5.

During the individual care phase following the cultivation or sales phase for the consumer, the first container 2 used in the first phases can be used without further measures, such as e.g. Repotting, simply hanging or setting in the second container 8, whereby the full functionality is immediately achieved. In particular, damage to the root areas can be avoided.

The first container 2 can have an n-angular (n 2 2), for example rectangular or square, layout, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. In addition, any shape for the first container 2 is possible. 6 to 9 show, for example, first containers 2 with a circular floor plan. In particular, if the cross-sectional shape of the first container 2 deviates from the cross-sectional shape of the second container 8, the use of a support plate 14 as a carrier for the first container or containers 2 is expedient. The support plate 14 formed in one or more parts with the second container 8 has at least one recess 15 designed according to the outline of the first container 2 to be inserted, into which the first container 2 can be inserted, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7 , The support plate 14 can be designed to receive one or more first containers 2. The variant with a support plate 14 per first container 2 is shown in FIG. 8 by dashed straight lines. If the support plate 14 is designed for a first container 2, different cross sections and sizes of individual first containers 2 can be accommodated in a common second container 8.

The easy interchangeability of individual first containers 2 in an outer container is also decisive for the easy handling of the overall system. 3 to 5 as well as FIGS. 8 and 9 each show a container system 1 with a second container 8 for receiving a plurality of first containers 2. The first containers 2 can be exchanged as desired within the second container 8. The first containers 2 can be arranged on the second container 8 in one or more rows.

Another advantage of the modular container system 1 is that individual parts of the system, such as the first or the second container 2, 8, can be easily replaced without the entire system having to be replaced.

Claims

1. Modular container system (1) for the cultivation of plants (10), with at least one first container (2) forming a root space (9) and at least one the first container (2) in the region of the bottom (3) or the side wall ( 4) penetrating, or in at least one opening in the area of the bottom or the side wall before or after a rearing and / or selling phase, flexible capillary body (5), with the first in a single nursing phase following a rearing and / or selling phase Container (2) can be hung or adjusted in a second container (8) functioning as an outer pot, a water space (12) being formed between the bottom (3) of the first container (2) and the bottom (11) of the second container (8) and the capillary body (5) hanging in the water space (12) extends essentially over the height (h) of the water space (12), characterized in that the first container (2) during the rearing and / or ver can be positioned on or in an irrigation trough (7) of a group irrigation system (6), the flexible capillary body (5) preferably being supplied with an irrigation medium via a group irrigation system (6), and the capillary body (5) during the rearing and / / or sales phase is foldable below the bottom (3) of the first container (2).

2. Container system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the group irrigation system (6) of the rearing and / or sales phase is a flood mat irrigation system, a flow mat irrigation system, a gutter irrigation system or a pond irrigation system.

3. Container system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible capillary body (5) is formed by at least one substantially rectangular irrigation mat.

4. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible capillary body (5) is formed by at least one wick.

5. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second container (8) is designed to accommodate a plurality of first containers (2).

6. container system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least two first containers (2) in the individual care phase at least once, preferably any number of times, can be exchanged within the second container (8) by removing and reinserting them.

7. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first container (2) can be suspended or adjusted in different second containers during the individual care phase.

8. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first container (2) in at least one recess (15) of a support plate (14) of the second container (8) can be suspended, the recess (15 ) is largely adapted to the shape of the first container (2).

9. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of first containers (2) in the second container (8) are arranged in one or more rows.

10. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first container (2) and / or the second container (8) has an n-square plan, where n> 2.

11. Container system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first and / or the second container (8) has a circular, oval or elliptical plan.

12. Method for growing and for the cultivation of plants (10), with a modular container system (1) with at least one first container (2) forming a root space (9) and at least one the first container (2) in the area of the soil ( 3) or the side wall (4) penetrating, or in at least one opening in the area of the bottom (3) or the side wall (4) before or after a rearing and / or sales phase, capillary body (5), one in the rearing - and / or sales phase subsequent individual care phase of the first container (2) is suspended or set in a second container (8) functioning as an outer pot, the capillary body (5) in a between the bottom (3) of the first container (2) and the Bottom (11) of the second container (8) formed water space (12) hangs, characterized in that the first container (2) during the rearing and / or sales phase on or in an irrigation tub (7) of a group e-irrigation system (6), wherein preferably the capillary body (5) is acted upon by an irrigation medium, and that the capillary body (5) is folded during the growing and / or selling phase below the bottom (3) of the first container (2).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that a plurality of first containers (2) are suspended or set in a second container (8).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that at least two first containers (2) in the individual care phase within the second container (8) are exchanged at least once by removing and reinserting them.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the first container (2) is suspended or set in different second containers (8) during the individual care phase.

2003 10 03 Fu / Ka J-