WO2009048327A1

WO2009048327A1 - System, guide and method for the guiding of a plant

Info

Publication number: WO2009048327A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Karel Benjamin Quak
Original assignee: J.K.B. Quak Beheer B.V.
Priority date: 2007-10-08
Filing date: 2008-10-07
Publication date: 2009-04-16
Also published as: EP2203042A1; NL2001051C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a crop guide for the guiding of a plant, comprising: a spindle (10) which is embodied to guide a part of a plant (9) and to carry the part in question of the plant; a suspension element (12) with which the spindle can be suspended from a crop wire (4); wherein the suspension element is embodied for rotating the spindle during displacement along the crop wire and the spindle is embodied for moving the plant downward during such rotation. The invention also relates to a method for cultivating of plants, including: providing a spiral-shaped spindle (10) which extends substantially upward and has a suspension element (12); passing a plant (9) through the spiral-shaped spindle and causing the plant to project outside the spiral-shaped spindle in order to cause the spindle to carry the plant; suspending the spindle from a crop wire (4) using the suspension element; displacing the spindle along the crop wire, as a result of which the spiral-shaped spindle is rotated; preventing, as the spiral-shaped spindle rotates, the plant from rotating along with the spindle so that the plant undergoes downward displacement.

Description

SYSTEM, GUIDE AND METHOD FOR THE GUIDING OF A PLANT

The present invention relates to a crop guide for the guiding of a plant, in particular the guiding of a plant in the cultivation in a greenhouse or glasshouse of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers or peppers. The invention also relates to a system for the guiding of a plant of this type and to a method for the cultivating of plants of this type.

The cultivating and processing of fruiting vegetables have seen a large number of developments overrecent years. Important parts of the cultivation process t are automated, that is to say, auxiliary means can be employed at various locations in the working process in order to replace, to alleviate and/or to speed up work. The consequence is that- many of the cultivating operations which formerly occurred have been taken over by machines. However, there is still a considerable amount of manual work.

In what is known as high wire cultivation, the growth head of the plant is held at the top of the greenhouse or the glasshouse, so that the crop, or more accurately the stalk, has to be supported. The crop is then spun in, that is to say, a wire is spun around the crop and this wire is suspended. The crop can also be secured to a hanging wire of this type using clips. This wire is suspended from a single crop wire attached horizontally in the greenhouse, so that the crop hanging from the wire can continue to grow.

However, when the crop grows through further and further, the end of the crop eventually ends up at the level of the high wire. In order to be able to grow further, extra space has to be created for the plant. This is possible by displacing the secured free end of the plant in the lateral direction so that the distance between the free end and the position at which the plant is attached in the ground becomes greater, and by at the same time allowing the free end of the plant to fall somewhat. In order to simplify the displacing of the plant in the lateral direction and vertical direction, the aforementioned wire is sometimes wound around a bobbin. In order to give the plant more space, the bobbin has to be rotated once in a certain amount of time in order to allow the plant to fall over a given distance. In addition, the bobbin has to be suspended or displaced horizontally. Usually, the allowing of the plant to fall and the displacing of the cord take place in a single operation. For this purpose, the bobbin, having thereon the plant and the wire, are raised manually, the wire is unwound from the bobbin over a given distance and the bobbin is refastened to the crop wire at a laterally displaced position. This process of in each case allowing the plant to fall and displacing it is physically hard and burdensome for the operators who carry out this process. Repeated over a long period of time, this can lead to serious neck and shoulder injuries.

It is an object of the invention to find a solution for the outlined problems and to provide a system, guide and method with which the regular allowing to fall and displacing of the plant can be carried out easily and rapidly.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a system, guide and method wherein the physical burdening of the operators is reduced.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a system, guide and method allowing good cultivation of the plants.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the objects is achieved in a crop guide for the guiding of a plant, in particular in the cultivation in a greenhouse or glasshouse of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers or pepper, the crop guide comprising:

- a spiral-shaped spindle which in use extends substantially upright and is embodied to guide at the core thereof at least a part of a plant and to carry the part in question of the plant;

- a suspension element which is provided on the spindle and with which the spindle can be suspended from a crop wire; wherein^' the suspension element is embodied for rotating the spiral-shaped spindle during displacement along the crop wire and the spiral-shaped spindle is embodied for moving the plant downward during such rotation. In order again to give the plant space in order to continue growing through, the suspension element need merely be displaced laterally. After all, the lateral displacement of the suspension element automatically ensures that the plant is allowed to fall, said plant thus obtaining more space in order to grow. In addition, the application of a spindle has the advantage over the use of a wire for carrying the crop that less polluting of the environment need occur. . . . .

The overall entity formed by the suspension element, spindle and plant in this case preferably does not have to be raised; lateral displacement is in itself sufficient, wherein the suspension element continues to rest on the crop wire. The physical burdening of the operator is therefore greatly reduced.

In specific preferred embodiments the crop wire is provided with a number of operating parts placed at a distance from one another and the suspension element is embodied, for example with a multivane head, to perform a rotation during displacement along an operating part of this type. In specific embodiments the operating parts are formed by cams provided on the crop wire. In these embodiments which usually involve a single crop wire, the cams ensure that the spindle, which tends λ to start to rotate under the influence of the plant hanging therefrom; ^obstructed. Only - on displacement of the suspension element along the wire and therefore along one or more cams can the spindle start to rotate and as a result displace the plant in the downward direction. In other embodiments the crop wire comprises a bottom crop wire and a top crop wire and the operating parts comprise a number of connecting parts connecting the top and bottom crop wire. In these embodiments, which Involve at least a double crop wire, the connecting parts ensure obstruction of the rotation of the spindle when the suspension element remains in its place and downward rotation of the spindle during the displacement of the suspension element in the lateral direction along the crop wire. The weight of the crop which is present causes the spindle automatically to start to rotate in the downward direction.

The rotation of the spindle ensures in turn that the crop is allowed to fall. By now selecting the aforementioned mutual distance between the operating parts, the degree to which the plant is allowed to fall can be set as desired as a function of the degree of lateral displacement.

In other embodiments use is not made of operating parts provided on the crop wire to bring about the rotation of the spindle, but a single, substantially smooth wire can be sufficient. In these embodiments the suspension element itself comprises the necessary technical measures to convert the displacement thereof along the crop wire into a rotation of the spindle.

In specific embodiments the suspension element comprises a disk which is provided in the circumferential surface with a groove to guide in the crop wire. The disk can as a result rest on a crop wire and be displaced along the crop wire. The shape of the groove will cause, during lateral displacement of the disk along the crop wire, the disk to be rotated, which rotation can be converted in one way or another into a rotation of the spindle. In a specific embodiment one or more recesses are formed for this purpose in the disk to receive therein an end of a vane. The recesses accordingly drive the rotation of the spindle, In other embodiments it is, by contrast, the operating parts (connecting parts, cams or the like) which are provided on the crop wire or crop wires which drive the rotation of the spindle.

As was stated hereinbefore, the suspension element comprises, in an advantageous embodiment, a multivane head. The head is preferably provided with three or four vanes, but more vanes are of course also possible. Use of fewer vanes is in principle also possible, but is less preferable. Each of the vanes can in this case be embodied to be obstructed during lateral displacement of the suspension element by an upright part of the crop wire and to cause the suspension element to rotate during further lateral displacement. Each time that a vane is obstructed and the suspension element is displaced further, this results in a rotation of the head and accordingly of the spindle. Since the rotation is in each case over a predetermined angle and the pitch of the spiral may be assumed to be known, it is possible to calculate how much a plant is displaced downward each time that an upright part of the crop wire is passed.

In a preferred embodiment a recess is provided on the underside of each of the vanes. The crop wire can be passed in this recess during the suspending of the ^• spindle. The recess ensures that the suspension element can rotate off, slide and twist less easily from the crop wire.

In a further preferred embodiment the vanes are formed for causing, during obstructing of a first vane, a second vane to raise the first vane. The second vane presses as it were, during the further displacement of the suspension element in the lateral direction, upward so that the crop wire is raised out of recess in the first vane. The suspension element can however also now not slide from the crop wire because the crop wire has at this moment already entered the recess in the second vane.

The spiral-shaped spindle also has in a further embodiment a substantially constant pitch. The selected pitch is dependent on how easily the crop can be carried by the spindle. In a further embodiment the spindle is provided with a number of projections set apart from one another, preferably molded parts fastened to the spindle and/or bulges of the spiral itself, for improving the carrying properties of the spindle. In other words, the material from which the spindle is formed does not have to be smooth over the entire length, but can form small projections such as bulges or areas of unevenness in the spiral foπned. The projections can also be formed by the positioning of small plastics material molded parts which can be fastened to the spiral at desired positions, for example by clicking said molded parts onto the spiral by sliding them over the spiral. The projections are provided at uniform intervals and/or at non-uniform intervals and serve to allow the branches of the crop to rest at a beneficial angle. If the crop in question has many branches of a main stem and these branches are positioned close to one another, a different pitch can be selected to that on application of a crop having few branches which are moreover set far apart from one another in order nevertheless to bring about a comparable "engagement" of the plant with the spindle. - The pitch is also dependent on the distance over which a crop is to be displaced downward during rotation of the suspension element, In practice, for example in the cultivation of tomatoes, a pitch of between 5 and 25 cm is conventional.

The spindle has preferably an internal space which is spanned by the spiral and is also referred to in the present document as the core, which internal space is a substantially cylindrical space. The radius of the cylindrical space can be selected as a function of the type of crop to be cultivated. In the cultivation of tomatoes it is preferable to use a radius of between 1 and 9 cm. In the cultivation of other crops these values can differ.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention at least a channel is formed in the interior of the spindle and the spindle wall is provided with one or more outlets of the channel. This allows a medium to be directed toward the plant via the channel and/or a medium to be discharged from the plant.

In a specific embodiment the crop guide comprises supply means which can be connected to the internal channel for supplying fluid and distributing the fluid over the plant via the outlets. This fluid can be gas and/or liquid. Air can for example be blown through the plants in order to influence the microclimate at the location of the plant, that is to say, at the location of the fruit and/or the leaf. However, it is also possible for liquid to be distributed, for example mixed with substances for combating diseases. That is the case in all instances, since the fluid is provided exactly where it is necessary, that is to say, close to or even "in" the plant. The consequence thereof is that the objective aimed at with the distributing can be achieved in many cases better and more efficiently than in the conventional manner of distributing. In another embodiment there are provided in the spindle wall one or more light-emitting elements, preferably LEDs, and integrated in or on the internal channel a feed line for the light-emitting elements. This allows the plant easily to be illuminated. Because, moreover, the illumination takes place precisely at a suitable location, that is to say, "in" the plant, little light and as a result little energy are lost.

According to another aspect of the invention a system is provided for the guiding of a plant, in particular in the cultivation in a greenhouse or glasshouse of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers or pepper, the crop guide comprising a substantially horizontally arranged crop wire and a number of crop guides, wherein each of the crop guides comprises:

- a spiral-shaped spindle which in use extends substantially upright and is embodied to guide and to carry a plant;

- a suspension element which is provided on the spindle and with which the spindle can be suspended from the crop wire; wherein the suspension element is embodied for rotating the spindle during displacement along the crop wire and the spindle is embodied to move the part of the plant that is located within the spiral shape of the spindle during rotation substantially vertically downward.

In a preferred embodiment the operating parts are embodied so as to be substantially U-shaped. As a result the distance (arm) in the lateral direction between the point of engagement of a vane of the suspension element and the axis of rotation of the spindle is relatively great, as a result of which the lateral force which is necessary to cause the spindle to rotate can be relatively low. This promotes the ease of operation of the system and benefits the working conditions.

According to another aspect of the invention a method is provided for the cultivating of plants, in particular of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers or pepper, the method including:

- providing a spiral-shaped spindle which extends substantially upright and has a suspension element;

- passing a part of a plant through the core of the spiral-shaped spindle and causing another part of the plant to project outside the spiral-shaped spindle in order to cause the spindle to carry the plant;

- suspending the spindle from a crop wire using the suspension element; - displacing the spindle along the crop wire, as a result of which the spiral- shaped spindle is rotated;

- substantially preventing, during rotating of the spiral-shaped spindle, the plant from rotating along with the spindle so that the plant undergoes downward displacement.

Preferably the method includes successively displacing the suspension element along one or more operating parts of the crop wire in order to displace the plant downward over a predetermined distance. As a result the plant again obtains space in order to continue growing. The predetermined distance is inter alia dependent on the mutual distance of the operating- parts, the pitch of the spiral and the number of- - vanes of the suspension element.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be clarified based on the subsequent description of certain preferred embodiments thereof. The description refers to the figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a greenhouse provided with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a crop wire according to a iirst embodiment or me invention;

Figure 3 is a cross section of the crop wire shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section of the crop wire shown in Figure 2, together with a suspension element and a spindle according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a suspension element according to a specific preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, taken from a position obliquely above, of the assembly formed by the crop wire, the suspension element and the spindle according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 A is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure SB is a cross section through the third embodiment, suspended from a crop wire; and

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a glasshouse of greenhouse 1 which is provided in a known manner with a number of parallel trusses 2. A crop wire is also attached in a known manner over the width or length of the greenhouse with the aid of suspension wires 3. However, the crop wire shown is no conventional wire. Whereas it is conventional to embody a crop wire in a single form, in the embodiment shown according to the invention the crop wire 4 is made up of a top crop wire 6, a bottom crop wire 5, and a number of upright connecting parts 7 between the top and the bottom crop wires 6, 5.

The double crop wire 4 is represented in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3. As-is represented in the drawings, the connecting parts 7 are each positioned at- substantially the same mutual distance (a) with respect to one another. Also represented in the drawings, in particular in Figure 3, is the fact that, although the connecting parts 7 can consist of straight connecting parts, the connecting parts 7 in the preferred embodiment shown are embodied so as to be substantially U-shaped.

Figure 1 shows a plant, the end 9 of which is passed through a spiral-shaped spindle 10. More specifically, a small thickening is attached to the underside of the spindle for the fastening of a short piece of cord (not represented in the figures) with which the connection of the new plant 9 to the spindle 10 is also established. This piece of cord is detached at the moment when the spindle starts to rotate for the first time once the end of the plant 9 has been passed through the elongated internal space of the spiral, also referred to as the core of the spiral. After having been passed into the aforementioned space, the plant is fastened to the spindle or at least carried by the spindle as a result of the fact that as the most important stalk or stem of the plant passes through the aforementioned space, a number of branches 11 of the plant protrude, in particular protrude past the limits of the spiral-shaped spindle. The branches ensure that the plant is to some extent entwined on the spindle. The branches thus prevent the plant from falling back downward. In a preferred embodiment not represented in the figures the spindle is provided with a number of projections attached at a distance along the spindle, which projections ensure that the plant is entwined even more effectively on the spindle. This reduces the risk of the plant falling downward along the spindle. These projections, also referred to in the present document as areas of unevenness, can be formed as bulges on the spiral itself and even form part thereof or can be formed by plastics material molded parts which can be fastened to the spindle at the desired positions, Fastening can for example take place by sliding the molded parts over the spindle or by clicking the molded parts onto the spindle.

The spiral contains space through which the plant can grow and the plant will as it were grow upward via the center of the spiral. By selecting the dimensions, in . particular the radius, of the aforementioned core of the spiral correctly, good growth of the plant can be ensured without the stalk or stem of the plant being constricted under the influence of its own weight, such as is the case when a wire wound around the plant is used to suspend the plant from the crop wire.

The spindle 10 is suspended from the bottom crop wire 5 by means of a suspension- element 12. The-suspension element 12 is represented in greater-detail in Figures 4-6. The suspension element is made up of a head 13 which is fastened to the end of the spindle 10 and to which a number of vanes 14 are attached. In the embodiment shown three vanes are attached to the head 13, but this number can differ in other embodiments. Tests have revealed that the number of vanes is preferably 3 or 4.

Each of the vanes 14 of the suspension element 12 is provided on the underside thereof with an elongated recess 15. The recess 15 is formed in such a way that the bottom crop wire 5 can be received therein. Figure 4 for example clearly shows that the suspension element 12, more particularly one of the vanes 14, rests on the crop wire 5 and that the vane 14 continues to rest on the crop wire because the crop wire is . received in the aforementioned recess 15 provided on the underside of the vane 14. In the stationary state the overall entity formed by the suspension element 12 and the spindle 10 fastened thereto hangs from the bottom crop wire 5 via the recess 15.

Initially the crop can in the state shown continue to grow. Once however the top end of the spindle has been reached, the plant must obtain more space in order to grow. In order to give the plant more space, the end thereof is displaced in the lateral direction, in such a way that the distance to the initial piece of the plant becomes greater. The end of the plant is also displaced downward somewhat. This displacing of the plant takes place as follows.

An operator uses his hand to press the spindle and/or the suspension element 12 aside, such as is represented for example in Figure 1, Which, direction the spindle is slid aside in is dependent on whether the spindle turns to the right or turns to the left. On displacement of the spindle, the suspension element also slides via the recess 15. During a lateral displacement (direction 20, Figure 1), one of the vanes 14 of the suspension element 12 will at a given moment reach an upright connecting part 7 of the crop wire 4 and be obstructed thereby. During further lateral displacement in the same direction, the head 13, and accordingly also the spindle 10 attached thereto, will now start to rotate as a result of the fact that one of the vanes 14 is obstructed by the upright connecting part 7. The force which is required to cause the spindle to rotate is dependent inter alia on the arm (b, see Figure 4) between the axis of rotation of the spindle 10 and the upright part 25 of the connecting part 7 against which the vane 14 in question rests. In the case of a large arm merely a small force will be necessary, whereas in the case of a smaller arm that force is greater. However, in all cases^-a rotational movement of the spindle can be brought about merely by manually moving the spindle sideways. If, during the rotation of the spindle itself, the plant does not also rotate or hardly also rotates, for example as a result of the fact that the plant is in some way obstructed, the plant will experience a descending movement.

In addition, as a result of the special shape of the vanes 14 (represented in Figures 4 and 5) of the suspension element 12, the obstructed vane 14 is raised somewhat, so that the bottom crop wire 5 can shoot out of the aforementioned recess thereof. For this purpose the vanes are embodied as turbine blades, that is to say that each vane 14 comprises a high part h, a low part I and an intermediate part; this is represented in Figure 6. The intermediate part ensures a gradual transition between the high part h and the low part 1. If now the spindle is displaced laterally by the operator, the high part of a following vane 14 will be placed with its underside against the bottom crop wire 5. During further lateral displacement the crop wire 5 of the highest part 4 is displaced to the lowest part via the intervening part, resulting in the head IS being raised somewhat. This raising of the head 13 results in the vane 14, which is obstructed by the connecting part 7, being raised somewhat and in this way the crop wire 5 being raised out of the recess thereof. However, before the crop wire has become fully detached from the aforementioned vane, the crop wire has already reached a further position in a corresponding recess 15 of the following vane In this way the connecting part 7 is as it were "bridged over" and the suspension element 12 will be . secured at all times in at least one of the recesses on the underside of the vanes.

Once the suspension element 12 has passed an upright connecting part 7, the head 13 of the suspension element is therefore rotated over a predetermined angle. This angle is of course dependent on the number of vanes. On application of a three-λ'ane suspension element the spindle will be rotated over 1/3 of a turn, that is to say, over an angle of approximately 120 degrees. Depending on the pitch of the spindle, the plant is displaced downward to a greater or lesser extent. If the link distance is for example 6.6 centimeters, the plant will be displaced 20 centimeters downward once the spindle has passed an upright connecting part 7 three times.

In the embodiment shown the crop spindle is made up of a galvanized wire having a length of about 1.5 - 3 meters, but use of a hollow, U-shaped wire or spindles made of plastics material is also possible. The crop wire can be made up of a 1.6 millimeter steel wire and the link distance (a) can be set to 6.6 centimeters; It is clear that, depending on the specific application and requirements, other values and other materials can be used. These are all within the grasp of a person skilled in the art. The spindles are preferably made of a material allowing them to be reused. Since almost no wear occurs, the service life of the crop guide can be very long. In addition, as a result of the fact that use is made of a spindle made of relatively inflexible material, it is possible to ensure that the plant is not excessively constricted compared to the conventional wires which are after all very flexible. This has a positive influence on the growth of the plant.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a suspension element 22 which is suspended from a crop wire 5. The crop wire is of the single type as was previously described. The suspension element 22 comprises in the embodiment shown an upright * disk 23 to which the spindle 10 is fastened The spindle and accordingly the disk will, as a result of the weight of the crop, tend to remain upright and further supporting is therefore not necessary.

A groove 24 is provided in the circumferential surface or running surface of the disk 23. The groove 24 is substantially V-shaped in cross section and ensures that in the event of a lateral displacement of the disk, said disk starts to rotate about its center point. The disk 23 has one or more recesses 25 on the flat side thereof. In the case of two or more recesses, said recesses are preferably provided at the same distances from another (for example about 6.6 cm). Vanes 29 are attached to the right end of the spindle 10, which extends parallel to the disk and to well above the center point thereof, in a clamped manner. The spindle 10 is rotatable with respect to a connecting piece 26 coupled to a horizontal shaft 27 through the center of the disk 23. In the interior of the connecting piece 26 the upright spindle 10 can rotate as a shaft. The upright spindle 10 is made to rotate by causing the vanes 29, which are attached in a clamped manner above the end of the connecting piece 26, to rotate. In the embodiment shown three vanes are present, but more or fewer vanes 29 can also be used.

If none of the recesses 25 is in contact with a vane 29, the vanes serve, since the spindle tends, as a result of the downward force exerted by the crop on the spindle, to start to rotate, as a block to prevent the spindle from twisting off. Only at the moment when a vane 29 falls in a recess 25 in the disk 23 can the spindle 10 start to rotate with the disk 23. In the case of three vanes the spindle will rotate in each case over 1/3 of a turn (more generally, in the case of n vanes, the spindle will rotate^ over 1/n of a turn, wherein n is a natural number).

When the disk 23 is displaced on the wire 5 in the horizontal direction, the disk will, as a consequence of the friction between the running surface and the wire, in particular as a consequence of the specific form of the running surface of the disk, start to rotate and at a given moment, when a vane 29 enters a recess 25, drive the spindle, so as downwardly to displace the crop hanging in the spindle 10.

In certain cases the crop wire 5 is suspended from suspension wires 3. At the locations where the suspension wires 3 are fastened to the crop wire 5, the suspension wire forms a stop for the suspension elements. In order to prevent this, a fastening clip 30 can be used in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the suspension. An embodiment of this fastening clip is represented in Figures 7, 8A and SB. The clip 30 comprises a support 31 to which a suspension wire 3 can be fastened, an upright part 32, a horizontal part 33 and a lip 34. The components 31-34 jointly form a substantially L-shaped profile which is embodied in such a way that a suspension element 22 as described hereinbefore can pass the clip 30 without difficulty. The lip 34 is embodied in such a way that said lip can act on the underside of a crop wire 5 (or wire 6 in Figures 8A and 8B), whereas the horizontal part 33 has dimensions such that during the passing of a suspension element 22 the intermediate space between the upright part 32 and the side edge of the suspension element 22 is sufficiently large. ^•

Figures 8 A and 8B show a third embodiment of a suspension element 42 according to the- invention. The suspension element is in this case suspended from a crop wire 4 of double embodiment, consisting of a bottom crop wire 5, an upper crop wire 6 and a number of connecting parts 7. The suspension element 42 comprises in the embodiment shown an upright disk 43 which acts as a guide and suspension for a spindle 10 of the type mentioned hereinbefore. The spindle and accordingly the disk will, as a result of the weight of the crop, tend to remain upright and further support is not necessary in this embodiment either.

A groove 44 is provided in the circumferential surface or running surface of the disk 43. The groove 44 is substantially V-shaped in cross section and ensures that the disk starts to rotate during a lateral displacement. An upright stationary connecting component 46, to which a multiblade element 50 which can be rotated with respect to the connecting component is attached, is fastened to the horizontal rotary shaft 47 of the disk 42. The-rotatable element 50 is provided with projections or vanes 49. During lateral displacement of the suspension element 42 along the crop wires the connecting parts 7 between the top crop wire 6 and the bottom crop wire 5 ensure that the vanes 49 are each obstructed and in this way cause the element 50 to rotate.

In this embodiment, just as in the preceding embodiment, a number of suspension elements 42 can be placed one after another and said suspension elements can in a specific embodiment at the same time be displaced in the lateral direction. In a specific embodiment successive suspension elements 42 are coupled to one another by means of a conveyor, for example a chain, and the suspension elements can be displaced automatically by the conveyor. This means that even less work is necessary in order to cause the crop to fall.

In the present embodiment too it is possible to carry out the suspending of the suspension wire 3 using a fastening clip 30, if in this embodiment the clip 30 supports the top wire 6 of the crop wire 4 of double embodiment.

Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of a suspension, element 52 of the present invention. In this embodiment the crop wire 5 is provided with elongated cylindrical cams 55. The cams are placed at uniform intervals and made of plastics material or any desired other suitable material. The shape and dimensions of the cams 55 are such that said cams can slide in a cylindrical inner space of a sleeve 54 of the suspension element 52. In addition to the sleeve 54 the suspension element 52 comprises a housing 57 wherein a propulsion mechanism is attached. The mechanism comprises a fastening element 60 for secure fastening of a number of projections or vanes 59 to the right-hand end 58 of the otherwise.spiral-shaped spindle 10. The end 58 is attached in the housing so as to be able to rotate freely. During lateral displacement of the suspension element 52, for example to the right in the situation represented in Figure 9, the cams 55 force the vane 59 to start to rotate. The rotational movement of the vanes 59 is transmitted directly to the spindle 10 so that the spindle starts to rotate to the right, viewed from below. The rotating of the spindle ensures that the crop is displaced downward. Appropriate selection of the cams (interval, dimensions, etc.), the number of vanes and the pitch of the spiral-shaped spindle allows a desired ratio to be established between the lateral displacement of the suspension element and the downward displacement of the crop.

The sleeve 54 is provided on the upper side with a slot 61, the width of which-is slightly greater than that of the crop wire -5, but is less than the thickness of the cams 55. The sleeve can therefore be slid over the wire 5 at a position between two successive cams, whereas once the sleeve has been slid on, said sleeve can no longer fall from the wire since the sleeve is obstructed by the cams. The length of the sleeve 54 is such that at least two cams 54 are at all times located in the inner space thereof. This continues to ensure supple guidance of the sleeve along the crop wire.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 the suspension wire 3 is fastened directly to the crop wire 5, The thickness of the (knot in the) suspension wire 3 is in this case less than the width (b) of the slot 61 so that the suspension element 52 can be displaced along the suspension wire 3.

In the embodiment of the invention represented in Figure 7 the spindle is embodied so as to be hollow. More specifically there is created in the spindle a channel wherein openings 36 are formed at a number of positions in the channel wall. Th& aforementioned openings in the channel allow liquid and/or gas to be directed at the plant. For this purpose the spindle can be provided for example on the upper side with a hose having a rotary coupling 35, via which hose a gas and/or liquid can be supplied. If ' for example liquid is supplied, the liquid can, depending on the pressure with which the supply takes place, be sprayed precisely onto the desired parts of the plant. This means a significant saving in the amount of liquid over the conventional manner of spraying plants, since the liquid is applied precisely where it should be applied and almost no wastage thereof occurs. In another embodiment one or more gases (air, CO₂, etc.) are for example blown into the channels or drawn out of the channel in order to be able to influence the microclimate at the location of the plant.

In still another embodiment an electric feed line is attached in the channel and lights in the form of LEDs are provided in the holes in the channel wall. In fact, the same applies to lighting as to the abovementioned supplying or discharging of fluid. After all, the lighting can be obtained directly at the location where the plant requires it most and the light loss may thus be said to be minimal.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments thereof described in the present document. The rights applied-for are defined by the subsequent claims, within the scope of which a large number of modifications are conceivable.

Claims

1. A crop guide for the guiding of a plant, in particular in the cultivation in a greenhouse or glasshouse of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers or peppers, the crop guide comprising:

- a suspension element which is provided on the spindle and with which the spindle can be suspended from a crop wire; wherein the suspension element is embodied for rotating the spiral-shaped spindle during displacement along the crop wire and the spiral-shaped spindle is embodied for moving the plant downward during such rotation.

2. The crop guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crop wire is provided with a number of operating parts placed at a distance from one another and the suspension element is embodied to perform a rotation during displacement along an operating part.

3. The crop guide as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the suspension element comprises a multivane head.

4. The crop guide as claimed in claim 3, wherein a vane is embodied to be obstructed during lateral displacement of the suspension element by an operating part of the crop wire and to cause the suspension element to rotate during further lateral displacement.

5. The crop guide as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein a recess is provided on the underside of each of the vanes.

6. The crop guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the vanes are formed for, during obstructing of a first vane, causing a second vane to raise the first vane.

7. The crop guide as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein each vane of the head comprises a high part, a low part and a gradually extending transition part between the high and low part.

8. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension element comprises a disk and wherein in the circumferential surface of the disk a groove is provided which is formed to guide in the crop wire.

9. The crop guide as claimed in claims 3 and 8, wherein the disk is provided with one or more recesses which are formed to receive therein an end of a vane.

10. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension element comprises an elongated sleeve which is attached displaceably over the crop wire.

11. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the spiral-shaped spindle has a substantially constant pitch.

12. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the core of the spiral-shaped spindle is a substantially cylindrical space.

13. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein- in the- interior of the spindle at least a channel is formed and the spindle wall is provided with one or more outlets of the channel.

14. The crop guide as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are provided in the spindle wall one or more light-emitting elements, preferably LEDs, and in the internal channel a feed line for the light-emitting elements.

15. The crop guide as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, comprising supply means which can be connected to the internal channel for supplying fluid and distributing the fluid over the plant via the outlets.

16. The crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle is provided with a number of projections set apart from one another, preferably molded parts fastened to the spindle and/or bulges of the spiral itself, for improving the carrying properties of the spindle.

17. A system for the guiding of a plant, in particular in the cultivation in a greenhouse or glasshouse of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers or pepper, the crop guide comprising a substantially horizontally arranged crop wire and a number of crop guides, wherein each of the crop guides comprises:

- a spiral-shaped spindle which in use extends substantially upright and is . embodied to guide and to carry a plant;

- a suspension element which is provided on the spindle and with which the spindle can be suspended from the crop wire; wherein the suspension element is embodied for rotating the spindle during displacement along the crop wire and the spindle is embodied to move the part of the plant that is located within the spiral shape of the spindle substantially downward during rotation.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the crop wire is provided with a number of operating parts placed at a distance from one another and the suspension element is embodied to perform a rotation during displacement along an operating part.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18_? wherein the operating parts are formed by cams provided on the crop wire.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the crop wire comprises a bottom crop wire and a top crop wire and the operating parts comprise a number of connecting parts connecting the top and bottom crop wire.

21. The system as claimed in one of claims 18-20, wherein the operating parts are provided at equidistant spacings with respect to one another.

22. The system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the operating parts are embodied so as to be substantially U-shaped.

23. The system as claimed in one of claims 17-22, wherein a crop guide as claimed in one of claims 1-16 is used.

24. A method for the cultivating of plants, in particular of fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers or pepper, the method including:

- providing a substantially upright spiral-shaped spindle having a suspension element;

- suspending the spindle from a crop wire using the suspension element;

- displacing the spindle along the crop wire, as a result of which the spiral- shaped spindle is rotated;

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, including successively displacing the suspension element along one or more operating parts of the crop wire in order to displace the plant downward over a predetermined distance.

26. The method as claimed in one of claims 24-25, wherein a crop guide as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-16 is used.

27. The use of a crop guide and/or a system as claimed in one of claims 1-23.