WO2015009152A1

WO2015009152A1 - Method and system for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse

Info

Publication number: WO2015009152A1
Application number: PCT/NL2014/050489
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allard Van Der Meer
Original assignee: Bom Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2013-07-18
Filing date: 2014-07-18
Publication date: 2015-01-22
Also published as: EP3021661A1; NL2011197C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for arranging a screen cloth (17) in a greenhouse (1), comprising of carrying the screen cloth (17) into a receiving chamber (31) of a cloth profile (19) so that the screen cloth (17) extends through an opening (33) of the receiving chamber (31), wherein the receiving chamber (31) extends in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile (19) and the opening (33) forms a narrowed passage to the receiving chamber (31) in the transverse direction of the cloth profile (19), and wherein the screen cloth (17) and a cord (37) are carried through the opening (33) into the receiving chamber (31) in transverse direction of the cloth profile (19) in order to hold the screen cloth (17) fixedly in the receiving chamber (31) by means of the cord (37).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ARRANGING A SCREEN CLOTH

IN A GREENHOUSE

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of screens for greenhouses. The invention relates particularly to a method and a system for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse.

Background

A greenhouse is applied in horticulture for cultivating crops therein. A horticulture greenhouse generally comprises a frame of columns, trusses and gutters. The frame generally supports a roof with windows. Sunlight can fall through the windows of the roof onto crops cultivated in the greenhouse.

Greenhouses are generally provided with screen systems. These screen systems serve, subject to the crop, to regulate the amount of sunlight incident on the crops through the windows of the roof, to regulate the emission of light from the greenhouse through the windows and into the surrounding area, or to regulate the transfer of heat from the greenhouse to the surrounding area. Such screen systems comprise a number of screen cloths which are displaceable between an opened position and a closed position. A screen cloth is supported here by guide wires generally extending transversely of the direction in which the trusses extend and parallel to the gutters. The screen cloth is connected along one edge to a truss and connected along the opposite edge to a so- called screen profile. The screen cloth is brought into the closed position, in which the screen cloth prevents sunlight incident through the windows reaching crops cultivated in the greenhouse, by moving the screen profile away from the truss to which the screen cloth is connected along the guide wires transversely of the direction in which the trusses extend. The screen cloth is brought into the opened position, in which the screen cloth no longer prevents sunlight incident through the windows reaching crops cultivated in the greenhouse, by then moving the screen profile toward the truss to which the screen cloth is connected along the guide wires transversely of the direction in which the trusses extend.

When a screen cloth is arranged in a greenhouse, guide wires, also known as atlas wires, are spanned at the level of the lattice trusses, on which wires is arranged a screen profile which extends parallel to the lattice trusses and transversely of the guide wires and which is displaceable along the guide wires.

The screen cloth is then installed, wherein the screen cloth is arranged on the screen profile along one of the longitudinal edges of the screen cloth extending parallel to the screen profile and the screen cloth is arranged on the lattice truss on the other of the longitudinal edges. Prior art Methods and systems are known for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, wherein the screen cloth is arranged in the greenhouse by first arranging the guide wires and the screen profile on the frame of the greenhouse and subsequently pulling the screen cloth over the guide wires so that one edge is situated close to the screen profile for arranging thereon and the opposite edge is situated close to the truss for arranging thereon, and then connecting the respective edges every 40 cm by means of a clamp to a cloth profile provided respectively on the truss and on the screen profile. Such a method and such a system are for instance known from NL1014244.

A drawback of these known methods and systems is that arranging the clamps at the level of the trusses is time-consuming, so that fitters have to work at great height for a long time in order to arrange the screen cloth, wherein they have to move along the screen profile or the truss. This is also the case during removal of the screen cloth. In the case of determined crops the screen cloth is not in use during summer. It is then desired to remove the screen cloths from the greenhouse. During this removal the release of the clamps which hold the screen cloth is time-consuming, so that fitters also have to work at great height for a long time during removal. This arranging or releasing of the clamps at great height, wherein the fitters move along a screen profile or truss, is dangerous. This is particularly the case because the space for installing a stable displaceable construction on the ground in the greenhouse is limited during arranging and releasing of the screen cloth. Alternative methods and systems for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse are known in which, once the guide wires and the screen profile have been arranged on the frame of the greenhouse, the screen cloth is not first pulled over the guide wires before connecting the respective edges to the screen profile and the truss, but the screen cloth is pulled over the guide wires from the end surface of the screen profile and the truss along the screen profile and the truss, and the relevant edges of the screen cloth are connected simultaneously to the screen profile and the truss. In such a screen system cords are arranged for this purpose on relevant edges of the screen cloth and the screen profile and the truss are each provided with a cloth profile which extends in the longitudinal direction of the screen profile and the truss and which is provided with a chamber extending in longitudinal direction. When the screen cloth is pulled over the guide wires from the end surface of the screen profile and the truss, the cord with the edge of the screen cloth arranged thereon is then carried on the end surface of the screen profile and the truss into the chamber of the relevant cloth profile and pulled through the chamber in the dir ection of the opposite end surface of the screen profile and the lattice.

Although these alternative methods and systems obviate the drawback of the time- consuming arranging of clamps every 40 cm, they have the drawback that pulling the cord great distances through the chambers is difficult, wherein there is a great risk of the cord becoming jammed in the chamber and/or the screen cloth arranged thereon being damaged.

The present invention has for its object to improve the known methods and systems for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides for this purpose a method for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, comprising of carrying the screen cloth into a receiving chamber of a cloth profile so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber extends in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile and the opening forms a narrowed passage to the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile, and wherein the screen cloth is carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile. In the method according to the invention a cord is also carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber by means of the cord.

Carrying the screen cloth through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile as according to the invention in order to hold the screen cloth in the receiving chamber makes it possible to arrange the screen cloth on the cloth profile without displacing the screen cloth in the receiving chamber in the lengthwise direction of the cloth profile. This has the advantage that damage to the screen cloth resulting from pulling the screen cloth through the receiving chamber in the lengthwise direction of the cloth profile is avoided. The screen cloth can be held fixedly in the receiving chamber in exceptionally reliable manner by means of the cord. A cord can moreover be carried in simple manner through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile. At least one of the cord and the opening is elastically deformable for this purpose and is temporarily deformed during passage through the narrowed portion formed by the opening so that, after passing through the opening, the cord is received form-fittingly in the receiving chamber. The cord is preferably of round cross-section. This latter makes it possible to press the cord in reliable manner into the receiving chamber.

Carrying the screen cloth through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile and carrying the cord through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth in the receiving chamber by means of the cord are performed according to the invention by means of moving an application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile. According to the invention the application device is for this purpose brought into engagement with the screen cloth and the cord, and when the application device is moved along the cloth profile the screen cloth is carried through the opening in the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile into the receiving chamber by means of the application device so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber, and the cord is pressed through the opening in the receiving chamber into the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile by means of the application device.

The use of an application device for moving along the cloth profile for the puipose of carrying the screen cloth and the cord into the receiving chamber enables a fitter to pull the application device toward him/herself from an end surface of the cloth profile by means of a cable, wherein the application device then carries the screen cloth and the cord into the receiving chamber. The fitter need not then be present at the location along the cloth profile where the screen cloth and the cord are carried into the receiving chamber.

In a favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention in which a cord is applied to hold the screen cloth in the receiving chamber, the cord and the screen cloth are separate. This has the advantage that the cord need not be incorporated in the cloth. This is cost- effective and makes it possible to apply the method according to the invention with differently embodied screen cloths. When the screen cloth is released this embodiment has the advantage that the cord can be pulled out of the receiving chamber in longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, while the screen cloth remains in the receiving chamber. After the cord has been removed the screen cloth is no longer held fixedly in the receiving chamber. The cord is alternatively integr ated into the edge of the screen cloth, for instance by attaching the cord as edge to the screen cloth or by incorporating the cord in the edge of the screen cloth.

In a further favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which a cord is applied to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber, the screen cloth is arranged on the cloth profile with a single, integrally formed cord. This enables arranging and/or releasing of the screen cloth in one smooth movement.

In a favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which a cord is applied to hold the screen cloth in the receiving chamber, the method also comprises of guiding the screen cloth and the cord to the opening in the receiving chamber in order to position the screen cloth between the opening and the cord, so that when the cord is carried into the receiving chamber the screen cloth is also carried into the receiving chamber. This makes it possible to carry the screen cloth and the cord into the receiving chamber together in one movement. This has the particular advantage when a separate cord is applied that no measures are necessary to prevent the screen cloth coming out of the receiving chamber between the screen cloth being carried into the receiving chamber and the cord being carried into the receiving chamber. In the method according to the invention the screen cloth and the cord are preferably guided to the opening in the receiving chamber by means of the application device when the application device moves along the cloth profile, so that the screen cloth is positioned between the opening and the cord, and the screen cloth and cord which have been carried to the opening in the receiving chamber are pressed through the opening together into the receiving chamber by means of the application device.

This method of applying an application device results in a reliable arrangement of the screen cloth on a screen frame element along a great length of a cloth profile, for instance 100 m and more, without a fitter having to be present at the location alongside the cloth profile where the screen cloth and the cord are carried into the receiving chamber.

A further favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention also comprises the steps of:

- arranging guide wires between trusses of the greenhouse for guiding the screen cloth between an opened position and a closed position of the screen cloth;

- arranging a screen profile provided with a first cloth profile on the guide wires and displaceably along the guide wires;

- arranging a second cloth profile on a truss;

- positioning the screen cloth on the guide wires; and

- connecting the screen cloth to at least one of the first cloth profile and the second cloth profile by means of carrying the screen cloth through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber following positioning of the screen cloth on the guide wires.

First laying down the screen cloth on the guide wires before connecting it on opposite edges to the cloth profiles makes it possible to absorb the first stretch and crimp of the screen cloth which occurs during unrolling of the screen cloth from the roll onto which the screen cloth is wound after production or after removal of the screen cloth from the greenhouse before summer.

In a further favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention the step of carrying the screen cloth through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber is performed from a first end of the cloth profile to a second end of the cloth profile.

This makes it possible to arrange the screen cloth on the cloth profile in one smooth movement from the one end surface in the direction of the other end surface of the cloth profile. The location where the screen cloth is carried into the receiving chamber and the cord is pressed into the receiving chamber displaces here along the length of the cloth profile in a continuous movement. The screen cloth can thus be arranged along a great length on a screen border in one continuous movement without stopping every 40 cm in order to arrange a clamp, as in the described prior art. The present invention also relates to a system for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, comprising:

- an elongate cloth profile; and

- a cord;

wherein

- the cloth profile comprises a receiving chamber extending in longitudinal direction with an opening which extends in longitudinal direction and forms a narrowed passage in transverse direction to the receiving chamber; and

- at least one of the cord and the opening has dimensions and is elastically deformable such that the cord can be carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to receive the cord form-fittingly in the receiving chamber.

Such a system according to the invention enables arranging of a screen cloth in a greenhouse by means of and with the advantages of the method according to the invention as described above.

The system according to the invention favourably also comprises an application device co- acting with the cloth profile, wherein

- the application device is configured to engage on the cord and the screen cloth, and

- the application device is configured such that during displacement of the application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, by means of the application device:

- the screen cloth is carried through the opening in the receiving chamber into the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber; and

- the cord is pressed through the opening in the receiving chamber into the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile.

As described with reference to the above method according to the invention, such an application device enables a fitter to pull the application device toward him/herself from an end surface of the cloth profile by means of a cable, wherein the application device then carries the screen cloth and the cord into the receiving chamber. In a favourable embodiment hereof:

- the application device comprises a screen cloth guide member which can be brought into engagement with the screen cloth and is embodied such that, during a displacement of the application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, the screen cloth is guided by means of the screen cloth guide member to the opening in the receiving chamber; and

- the application device comprises a cord guide member which can be brought into engagement with the cord and is embodied such that, during a displacement of the application device along the screen cloth in the longitudinal direction of the screen cloth, the cord is pressed by means of the cord guide member through the opening into the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile;

wherein

- the cord guide member and the screen cloth guide member are positioned relative to each other such that, during a displacement of the application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, the screen cloth is positioned between the cord and the opening in the receiving chamber before the cord is pressed through the opening into the receiving chamber by means of the cord guide member.

In a preferred embodiment the screen cloth guide member comprises a mandrel around which the screen cloth can be guided, and the cord guide member comprises a channel which extends through the mandrel and through which the cord can be guided. With such an embodiment of the screen cloth guide member and the cord guide member the screen cloth and the cord can be brought efficiently into a position relative to each other wherein the screen cloth is folded round the cord. In addition, the cord guide member preferably further comprises a finger positioned in line with the channel and configured to press the cord and the screen cloth folded therearound through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the screen. In a further favourable embodiment of the system according to the invention the application device and the cloth profile comprise co-acting engaging members with which the application device and the cloth profile can be brought into mutual engagement such that the application device is displaceable along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile and a displacement of the application device relative to the cloth profile in transverse direction of the cloth profile is limited.

In a preferred embodiment the application device comprises as engaging member a guide mandrel for guiding in the receiving chamber. The cloth profile alternatively or additionally comprises as guide member a guide channel running parallel to the receiving chamber and the application device comprises as guide member a guide mandrel for guiding in the guide channel. The application of a guide mandrel as engaging member on the application device for engaging the receiving chamber and/or parallel guide channels is advantageous.. A favourable embodiment of the system according to the invention also comprises the screen cloth provided on at least one edge with an engaging member extending along the edge. An engaging member, for instance in the form of a strip or cable, extending along the edge helps to avoid the screen cloth which is held in the receiving chamber by the cord being pulled out from between the cord and the wall of the receiving chamber and thereby unintentionally detaching from the cloth profile.

In a favourable embodiment thereof:

- the engaging member is an elongate member extending along the length of the edge, and

- the application device comprises an engaging channel into which the engaging member can be carried in order to bring the engaging member into engagement with the application device.

These measures make it possible to avoid the screen cloth detaching from the application device along the edge thereof during arranging of the screen cloth on the cloth profile before the screen cloth with the cord has been carried into the receiving chamber of the cloth profile. In a further favourable embodiment of the system according to the invention the application device comprises a first part and a separate second part, wherein the first part and the second part are connected by means of a spacer so that when the first application device part is displaced along the cloth profile the second application device part follows at a distance. These measures make it possible by means of the first application device part to already bring the screen cloth and the cord into a position close to the cloth profile and into an orientation relative to the cloth profile which already substantially corresponds to the orientation the screen cloth and the cord have relative to the cloth profile when the cord and the screen cloth are pressed into the receiving chamber. The orientation of the cord and the screen cloth hereby requir es less modification in the second application device part, so that pressing of the cord and the screen cloth into the receiving chamber can take place in more reliable manner.

A favourable alternative to the method according to the invention as described above is a method wherein

- the opening of the receiving chamber is elastically deformable between an opened position and a closed position, and wherein during carrying of the screen cloth into the receiving chamber of a screen profile:

- the opening is brought from the closed position into the opened position, wherein the narrowed passage to the receiving chamber is enlarged by elastically deforming the opening;

- the screen cloth is carried through the enlarged passage into the receiving chamber; and

- after the screen cloth has been carried through the enlarged passage into the receiving chamber, the opening deforms elastically from the opened position to the closed position so that in the closed position the screen cloth is held force -fittingly in the narrowed passage.

Holding the screen cloth frictionally in the narrowed passage makes the use of a cord unnecessary.

In this alternative method the application device is brought into engagement with the screen cloth and the cloth profile and, during displacement of the applicator device along the cloth profile, the opening is brought from the closed position to the opened position by means of the application device, wherein the narrowed passage to the receiving chamber is enlarged by elastically deforming the opening, and the screen cloth is carried through the enlarged passage into the receiving chamber.

A favourable alternative to the system according to the invention as described above comprises:

- a cloth profile comprising a receiving chamber extending in longitudinal direction with an opening which extends in longitudinal direction and which forms a narrowed passage in transverse direction to the receiving chamber;

wherein the opening is elastically deformable between an opened position and a closed position;

wherein the opening can be brought from the closed position to the opened position by elastically deforming the opening so that the narrowed passage to the receiving chamber is enlarged;

wherein in closed position a screen cloth positioned in the opening can be held force- fittingly in the narrowed passage. Holding the screen cloth force -fittingly in the narrowed passage makes the use of a cord unnecessary. This alternative system also comprises an application device co-acting with the cloth profile, wherein

- the application device is configured to engage on the screen cloth and the cloth profile, and

- the application device is configured such that during displacement of the application device along the cloth profile, by means of the application device:

- the opening is brought from the closed position to the opened position, wherein the narrowed passage to the receiving chamber is enlarged by elastically deforming the opening; and

- the screen cloth is carried through the enlarged passage into the receiving chamber.

The above described alternative method can be performed with this alternative system.

The above described favourable alternative method and the above described favourable alternative system are an invention per se.

The above described favourable alternative method and the above described favourable alternative system have characteristic measures corresponding to the method and the system according to the invention that the screen cloth is brought into engagement with an application device and that the screen cloth is carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile by means of a displacement of the application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, so that the screen cloth extends through the opening of the receiving chamber. In the method and the system according to the invention the screen cloth is then held in the receiving chamber by means of a cord which is carried into the receiving chamber, while in the alternative method and the alternative system the screen cloth is then held frictionally in the narrowed opening of the receiving chamber by the cloth profile itself.

Short description of the figures The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing. These are non-limitative exemplary embodiments. The same or similar parts, components and elements are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals. In the drawing:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a greenhouse;

- Figure 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the system according to the invention as applied in the greenhouse of figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 shows a top view of a cloth profile of the system of figure 2 during arranging of a screen cloth thereon;

- Figures 4-6 are cross-sectional views of components of the system as shown in figure 3 at different locations along the cloth profile;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the situation as shown in figure 3 with an embodiment of the application device according to the invention therein;

- Figures 8 and 9 show perspective views of a first part of the application device of figure

7;

- Figures 10-12 show perspective views of a second part of the application device of figure 7;

- Figure 13 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention;

- Figures 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of components of an alternative embodiment of the system as shown in figures 2-12;

- Figures 15A and 15B are cross-sectional views of components of an alternative embodiment of the system as shown in figures 2-12;

- Figures 16-18 are cross-sectional views of components of an alternative to the system as shown in figures 2-12. Figure description

Figure 1 shows a greenhouse 1 according to the invention as applied in horticulture for the purpose of cultivating crops 2 therein. Greenhouse 1 has a frame 3 of columns 5, trusses 7 and gutters 9. Frame 3 supports a schematically shown roof 11 with windows therein. Figure 1 shows two rows of columns 5, wherein two columns at a time of each row are connected to a truss 7, particularly a lattice truss, extending transversely relative to the relevant rows. Figure 1 shows only a part of the greenhouse. Shown in particular is one so-called span, which is formed by the row of two columns at a time connected by means of a lattice truss. Two so-called sections of this span are shown, wherein one section is formed in each case by two successive assemblies of columns connected by means of lattice trusses. A greenhouse generally comprises a plurality of spans and a plurality of sections, so that greenhouse 1 can extend further in the directions of arrows A, B, C and D. The sides of a greenhouse are generally closed by means of an outside wall, for instance of glass.

Greenhouse 1 is provided with a screen system 15. Screen system 15 is shown with two screen cloths 17. Each of the screen cloths 17 extends in lengthwise direction C, D over a plurality of spans and is displaceable in width direction A, B between an opened position and a closed position. Screen cloths 17 are supported by guide wires 21 extending at the level of trusses 7 transversely of the direction in which trusses 7 extend and parallel to gutters 9. Screen cloths 17 are each connected along one longitudinal edge 17a to a screen profile 19 and along the opposite longitudinal edge 17b to a truss 7. Screen cloths 17 are brought into the closed position, in which screen cloths 17 prevent sunlight incident through the windows reaching crops 2 being cultivated in greenhouse 1, by moving screen profiles 19 away from trass 7b, to which the screen cloth is connected, along the guide wires in the direction of arrow B transversely of the direction in which trusses 7 extend. The screen cloths are then brought into the opened position, in which the screen cloths no longer prevent sunlight incident through windows 13 reaching crops being cultivated in greenhouse 1, by moving screen profiles 19 toward trusses 7b, to which the screen cloths are connected, along guide wires 21 in the direction of arrow A transversely of the direction in which trusses 7 extend. In figure 1 screen cloths 17 lie halfway between the opened and the closed position.

Figure 2 shows schematically how screen cloths 17 are arranged in greenhouse 1. Shown in particular is that guide wires 21 are arranged between trasses 7 of greenhouse 1 for guiding screen cloth 17 between the opened position and the closed position of screen cloth 17. A screen profile 19 provided with a first cloth profile 23 is arranged on guide wires 21 and displaceably in the direction of arrows A and B along guide wires 21. Cloth profile 23 is particularly slid from an end surface of cloth profile 23 between two hook-like members 25 formed on cloth profile 23. A second cloth profile 29 is arranged on truss 7b by means of a clamp 27. Screen cloth 17 is arranged along one longitudinal edge 17a thereof on first cloth profile 23 and arranged along the opposite longitudinal edge 17b on second cloth profile 29. The elongate cloth profiles 23, 29, which are shown in cross-section in figure 2, are provided for this purpose with a receiving chamber 31 extending in longitudinal direction with an opening 33 in the transverse direction, which opening 33 forms a narrowing in the passage 35 to receiving chamber 31 formed by means of opening 33. First edge 17a of screen cloth 17 is situated together with a cord 37 in receiving chamber 31 of first cloth profile 23. Cord 37 is received form- fittingly in receiving chamber 31. Edge 17a of screen cloth 17 is folded around cord 37 and is held fixedly in receiving chamber 31 using cord 37. The end of longitudinal edge 17a protrudes from the opening of receiving chamber 31. A strip 39 is arranged on screen cloth 17 along the protruding end of edge 17a. This str ip 39 avoids the protruding end of longitudinal edge 17a being pulled through opening 33 into receiving chamber 31 and then being pulled around cord 37 and leaving receiving chamber 31 via opening 33, with the result of the longitudinal edge 17a of the screen cloth detaching from cloth profile 23. The opposite longitudinal edge 17b is held fast in the same way using a cord 37 in a receiving chamber 31 of second cloth profile 29.

Figures 3-6 show schematically the manner in which screen cloth 17 and cord 37 are arranged in receiving chamber 31 in order to hold screen cloth 17 in receiving chamber 31 by means of cord 37.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of cloth profile 23. Shown is that an application device 41 is moved along cloth profile 23 in lengthwise direction of cloth profile 23 in the direction of arrow G, in particular from end surface 23a of cloth profile 23 to end surface 23b of cloth profile 23. During this movement of application device 41 screen cloth 17 is carried into receiving chamber 31 of cloth profile 23 by means of application device 41 and cord 37 is pressed through opening 33 of receiving chamber 31 into receiving chamber 31 in the transverse direction H of cloth profile 23.

In figures 4-6 the edge 17a of screen cloth 17, cord 37 and cloth profile 23 are shown in schematic cross-section at three successive locations along cloth profile 23 as shown in figure 3.

Figure 4 shows that screen cloth 17 and cord 37 are separate and both guided in the direction of opening 33 of receiving chamber 31 by means of application device 41.

Figure 5 shows that screen cloth 17 and cord 37 are guided to opening 33 in the receiving chamber by means of application device 41 such that screen cloth 17 is positioned between opening 33 and cord 37. Edge 17a of screen cloth 17 is particularly folded around cord 37.

Figure 6 shows that the screen cloth 17 and cord 37 carried toward opening 33 are together pressed into receiving chamber 31 in the transverse direction H of cloth profile 23 by means of the application device. When cord 37 is pressed into receiving chamber 31 in the direction of arrow H, opening 33 is temporarily deformed during passage through the narrowed portion formed by opening 33 so that, after passing through the opening, cord 37 is received form-fittingly in receiving chamber 31. The walls of receiving chamber 31 take a somewhat flexible form for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, the cord deforms temporarily when passing through opening 33. Thus shown in figures 3-6 is that according to the method of the invention screen cloth 17 is carried into receiving chamber 31 of cloth profile 23 so that the screen cloth extends through an opening 33 of receiving chamber 31 and that cord 37 is pressed through opening 33 in the transverse direction H of cloth profile 23 into receiving chamber 31 in order to hold screen cloth 17 fixedly in receiving chamber 31 by means of cord 37, wherein at least one of cord 37 and opening 33 is deformed during passage through the narrowed portion formed by opening 33 so that, after passing through opening 33, cord 37 is received form-fittingly in receiving chamber 31. Further shown in figures 3-6 is that this method can be performed by means of an application device 41 , wherein application device 41 is moved along cloth profile 23 in lengthwise direction of cloth profile 23. As shown in figure 3, screen cloth 17 is arranged on cloth profile 23 with a single, integrally formed cord 37. Once screen cloth 17 has been carried together with cord 37 into the receiving chamber and is held therein using cord 37, screen cloth 17 can easily be released again from the receiving chamber by pulling cord 37 out of receiving chamber 31 from end surface 23a of cloth profile 23 in transverse direction I or in longitudinal direction G of cloth profile 23.

Cloth profile 23 is shown in figures 4-6 with guide channels 43, 45 positioned on either side of receiving chamber 31 and running parallel to receiving chamber 31. These guide channels 43, 45 serve to guide the guided device 41 along cloth profile 23.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the situation as shown in figure 3 with an embodiment of application device 41 according to the invention therein. Shown particularly in figure 7 is that application device 41 comprises a first part 41a and a separate second part 41b. First part 41a and second part 41b are connected by means of a spacer, for instance in the form of a cable, so that when the first application device part 41a is displaced along cloth profile 23 in the direction of arrow G the second application device part 41b follows at a distance a. As shown, the first application device part 41a is provided with an eye 47 on which a cable can for instance be arranged in order to pull the application device part 41a along cloth profile 23 in the direction of arrow G.

As shown, application device 41 is configured to engage on cord 37 and screen cloth 17. When application device 41 is displaced along cloth profile 23 in the direction of arrow G, screen cloth 17 is carried through opening 33 in receiving chamber 31 into receiving chamber 31 in the transverse direction H of cloth profile 23 by means of application device 41 so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber, and cord 37 is pressed by means of application device 41 through opening 33 in receiving chamber 31 into receiving chamber 31 in the transverse direction H of cloth profile 23.

As will be elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of detail views of the two application device parts 41a, 41b, application device 41 is provided with a screen cloth guide member with which the screen cloth is guided to the opening in the receiving chamber and a cord guide member with which the cord is guided to the opening in the receiving chamber and pressed therein.

Application device 41 is divided into two parts 41a and 41b, wherein the screen cloth guide member and the cord guide member are spread over the respective parts.

As shown in figure 7, screen cloth 17 and cord 37 are brought by means of the first application device part 41a from a random position and orientation upstream of the first application device part 41a into a position and orientation relative to cloth profile 23, as discernible between the first application device part 41a and the second application device part 41b. This position and orientation relative to cloth profile 23 substantially correspond to the orientation the screen cloth 17 and cord 37 have relative to cloth profile 23 during pressing of cord 37 and screen cloth 17 into receiving chamber 31 by means of the second application device part 41 b. Figures 8-12 show the first application device part 41a and the second application device part 41b detached from cloth profile 23 and from screen cloth 17 and cord 37.

As shown, the first application device part 41a and the second application device part 41b are both provided with three parallel guide mandrels 49, 51, 53. The central guide mandrel 51 can be carried slidingly into receiving chamber 31, the two adjacent guide mandrels 49, 53 can be carried slidingly into respective guide channels 43, 45.

The first application device part 41a shown in figures 8 and 9 is provided at one end with eye 47 for pulling the first application device part 41a in the direction of arrow G and provided at the other end with an eye 55 for connecting the first application device part 41a to the second application device part 41b. It is also provided with two guiding eyes 57, 59 through which cord 37 can be guided as shown in figure 7. It is also provided with an inclining guide surface 60 which guides screen cloth 17 from a random position and orientation upstream of the first application device part 41a to the inlet of an engaging channel 61 into which the strip 39 arranged on the edge of screen cloth 17 can be carried in order to bring strip 39 into engagement with application device 41. Engaging channel 61 extends through the whole first application device part 41a so that the edge of screen cloth 17 with strip 39 leaves the first application device part 41a in the position and orientation relative to cloth profile 23 as shown in figure 10.

The second application device part 41b shown in figures 10-12 is provided at one end with an eye 63 for connecting the second application device part 41b to the first application device part 41a, for instance by means of a cable. The second application device part 41b is provided with a mandrel 65 as screen cloth guide member around which the edge of screen cloth 17 is folded. Extending through mandrel 65 is a cord guide channel 67 thr ough which cord 37 can be guided. Screen cloth 17 is thus folded aiound cord 37 by means of mandrel 65 and cord guide channel 67. Mandrel 65 and cord guide channel 67 run through the second application device part 41b such that screen cloth 17 is positioned between cord 37 and opening 33 in receiving chamber 31 before cord 37 is pressed into receiving chamber 31 by means of a protruding finger 69 positioned at an end of channel 67. Cord 37 is pressed into receiving chamber 31 through the opening 33 in receiving chamber 31 by finger 69. Because screen cloth 17 is positioned between cord 37 and opening 33 in receiving chamber 31 before cord 37 is pressed into receiving chamber 31, screen cloth 17 is also pressed into receiving chamber 31 when cord 37 is pressed into receiving chamber 31. The passage of mandrel 65 and cord guide channel 67 through the second application device part 41b is shown in figure 12. It can clearly be seen here that cord 37, and thereby screen cloth 17, are pressed into receiving chamber 31 in transverse direction H of cloth profile 23 when the second application device part 41 b is displaced along cloth profile 23 in the direction of arrow G. Although figures 7-12 show application device 41 with a first and a second application device part, it is also possible for the application device to be an integrated whole or to be constructed from more than two parts.

Figure 13 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention in a block diagram.

This preferred embodiment comprises the steps of:

A) arranging guide wires between trasses of the greenhouse for guiding the screen cloth between an opened position and a closed position of the screen cloth;

B) arranging a screen profile provided with a first cloth profile on the guide wires and displaceably along the guide wires;

C) arranging a second cloth profile on a trass;

D) positioning the screen cloth on the guide wires, preferably in the direction transversely of the direction in which the guide wires extend; and

E) carrying the screen cloth into a receiving chamber of the first cloth profile and/or the second cloth profile so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber extends in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile and the opening forms a narrowed passage to the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile, and wherein the screen cloth is carried in transverse direction of the cloth profile through the opening into the receiving chamber in order to hold the screen cloth in the receiving chamber. Figures 2-12 show an embodiment of the system according to the invention wherein the screen cloth and the cord are separate. As described, the cord is alternatively integrated into the edge of the screen cloth.

Figure 14A shows an embodiment in which cord 37 is integrated into edge 17a of screen cloth 17 by training a free end 71 of screen cloth 17 around cord 37 and connecting free end 71 to the screen cloth. Cord 37 is thus incorporated into the edge of the screen cloth. From the situation shown in figure 14A edge 17a of screen cloth 17 with cord 37 integrated therein can be pressed into receiving chamber 31 in the direction of arrow H. Opening 33 is temporarily deformed here during passage through the narrowed portion formed by opening 33 so that, after passing through the opening, cord 37 is received form-fittingly in receiving chamber 31. The result is the situation as shown in figure 14B.

Figure 15 A shows an embodiment in which an alternatively embodied cord 73 is integrated into edge 17a of screen cloth 17. Cord 73 is embodied with a protruding fastening part 73a to which a free end 71 of screen cloth 17 is attached. Cord 37 is thus attached as an edge to the screen cloth. From the situation shown in figure 15A the edge 17a of screen cloth 17 which is formed by cord 73 can be pressed in the direction of arrow H into receiving chamber 31. Opening 33 is temporarily deformed here during passage through the narrowing formed by opening 33 so that, after passing through the opening, cord 73 is received form-fittingly in receiving chamber 31. The result is the situation as shown in figure 15B.

Figures 16-18 show an alternative to the system according to the invention by way of illustrating an alternative to the method according to the invention. The system is shown with an alternatively embodied cloth profile 75. Cloth profile 75 has a receiving chamber 31 extending in longitudinal direction with an opening 33 which extends in longitudinal direction and which forms a narrowed passage 35 in transverse direction H to receiving chamber 31. Opening 33 is elastically deformable between an opened position and a closed position. In figure 18 opening 33 is shown in the closed position. The opening can be brought from this closed position into the opened position by elastically deforming the opening so that the narrowed passage 35 to the receiving chamber is enlarged. The opening can be elastically deformed particularly by forcing wall parts 75a and 75b in the direction of arrows J. This is possible for instance by carrying through receiving chamber 31 a guide mandrel of an application device with a larger cross-sectional diameter than receiving chamber 31. In figure 17 opening 33 is shown in the opened position, and also shown is that edge 17a of screen cloth 17 is carried in transverse direction H through the enlarged passage 35 into receiving chamber 31, for instance by means of an application device which engages on strip 39. Figure 18 shows that, once screen cloth 17 has been carried through the enlarged passage 35 into receiving chamber 31, opening 33 is elastically deformed from the opened position back to the closed position in the direction of arrows K. This takes place for instance when the above described guide mandrel with a larger cross- sectional diameter than receiving chamber 31 is carried further in the longitudinal direction of cloth profile 75 through receiving chamber 31 and no longer forces the wall parts 75a and 75b in the direction of arrows J. In the closed position as shown in figure 18 screen cloth 17 positioned in opening 33 is held frictionally in narrowed passage 35. The present invention is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. Method for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, comprising of:

- carrying the screen cloth into a receiving chamber of a cloth profile so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber, wherein

- the receiving chamber extends in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile and the opening forms a narrowed passage to the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile,

and wherein

- the screen cloth is carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile;

and

- carrying a cord through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber by means of the cord, wherein at least one of the cord and the opening is elastically deformable and is temporarily deformed during passage through the narrowed portion formed by the opening so that, after passing through the opening, the cord is received form-fittingly in the receiving chamber; wherein

- carrying the screen cloth into the receiving chamber and carrying the cord into the receiving chamber are performed by displacing an application device along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, wherein the application device is brought into engagement with the screen cloth and the cord, and when the adapter device is displaced along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile, by means of the application device:

- the screen cloth is carried through the opening in the receiving chamber in the transverse direction of the cloth profile into the receiving chamber so that the screen cloth extends through an opening of the receiving chamber; and

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

- the cord and the screen cloth are separate.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein

- the screen cloth is arranged on the cloth profile with a single, integrally formed cord.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, also comprising of:

- guiding the screen cloth and the cord to the opening in the receiving chamber in order to position the screen cloth between the opening and the cord, so that when the cord is carried into the receiving chamber the screen cloth is also carried into the receiving chamber.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4,

wherein during movement of the application device along the cloth profile:

- the screen cloth and the cord are guided to the opening in the receiving chamber by means of the application device so that the screen cloth is positioned between the opening and the cord; and

- the screen cloth and cord which have been carried to the opening in the receiving chamber are pressed through the opening together into the receiving chamber by means of the application device.

6. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, also comprising of:

- arranging a second cloth profile on a truss;

- positioning the screen cloth on the guide wires; and

- connecting the screen cloth to at least one of the first cloth profile and the second cloth profile by means of carrying the screen cloth and the cord through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber by means of the cord following positioning of the screen cloth on the guide wires.

7. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein

- carrying the screen cloth and the cord through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to hold the screen cloth fixedly in the receiving chamber by means of the cord is performed from a first end of the cloth profile to a second end of the cloth profile.

8. System for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, comprising:

- an elongate cloth profile; and - a cord;

wherein

- the cloth profile comprises a receiving chamber extending in longitudinal direction with an opening which extends in longitudinal direction and which forms a narrowed passage in transverse direction to the receiving chamber; and

- at least one of the cord and the opening has dimensions and is elastically deformable such that the cord can be carried through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the cloth profile in order to receive the cord form- fittingly in the receiving chamber;

and wherein the system also comprises an application device co-acting with the cloth profile, wherein

9. System as claimed in claim 8, wherein

wherein

10. System as claimed in claim 9, wherein

- the screen cloth guide member comprises a mandrel around which the screen cloth can be guided; and

- the cord guide member comprises a channel which extends through the mandrel and through which the cord can be guided.

11. System as claimed in claim 10, wherein

- the cord guide member further comprises a finger positioned in line with the channel and configured to press the cord and the screen cloth folded therearound through the opening into the receiving chamber in transverse direction of the screen.

12. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 8-11, wherein

- the application device and the cloth profile comprise co-acting engaging members with which the application device and the cloth profile can be brought into mutual engagement such that the application device is displaceable along the cloth profile in the longitudinal direction of the cloth profile and a displacement of the application device relative to the cloth profile in transverse direction of the cloth profile is limited.

13. System as claimed in claim 12, wherein

- the application device comprises as engaging member a guide mandrel for guiding in the receiving chamber.

14. System as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein

- the cloth profile comprises as guide member a guide channel running parallel to the receiving chamber and the application device comprises as guide member a guide mandrel for guiding in the guide channel.

15. System as claimed in any of the claims 8-14, also comprising the screen cloth, which is provided on at least one edge with an engaging member extending along the edge.

16. System as claimed in claim 15, wherein

- the engaging member is an elongate member extending along the length of the edge, and - the application device comprises an engaging channel into which the engaging member can be carried in order to bring the engaging member into engagement with the application device.

17. System as claimed in any of the claims 8-16, wherein

- the application device comprises a first part and a separate second part, wherein the first part and the second part are connected by means of a spacer so that when the first application device part is displaced along the cloth profile the second application device part follows at a distance.

18. System for arranging a screen cloth in a greenhouse, comprising:

wherein in closed position a screen cloth positioned in the opening can be held frictionally in the narrowed passage,

wherein the system also comprises an application device co-acting with the cloth profile, wherein