WO2015105426A1 - Caisse à claire-voie, unité de commande pour une caisse à claire-voie, empilement de caisses à claire-voie et leur procédé d'utilisation - Google Patents

Caisse à claire-voie, unité de commande pour une caisse à claire-voie, empilement de caisses à claire-voie et leur procédé d'utilisation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015105426A1
WO2015105426A1 PCT/NL2015/050020 NL2015050020W WO2015105426A1 WO 2015105426 A1 WO2015105426 A1 WO 2015105426A1 NL 2015050020 W NL2015050020 W NL 2015050020W WO 2015105426 A1 WO2015105426 A1 WO 2015105426A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
crate
control unit
tablet
crates
holding space
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2015/050020
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kees Wilhelmus Petrus AARTS
Original Assignee
Aarts Kees Wilhelmus Petrus
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aarts Kees Wilhelmus Petrus filed Critical Aarts Kees Wilhelmus Petrus
Publication of WO2015105426A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015105426A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
    • A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
    • A01G31/06—Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
    • A01G9/022—Pots for vertical horticulture
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
    • Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
    • Y02P60/21—Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to so called vertical farming or m 3 -farming as opposed to surface farming or m 2 -farming.
  • Vertical farming as such is known in the art, and is a way to use - in particular in house - surfaces more efficiently for farming purposes.
  • a floor area or a hall is provided with racks, as to increase the effective surface for growing plants. These plants are grown in pots or crates that are put on the racks, and the racks are provided with light sources and other essentials for the growth, like climatological aspects (air volume, humidity, temperature and gas composition control).
  • LED armatures are provided for providing growing light for plants, such as tomatos, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables.
  • the invention thereto proposes a crate for forming a vertical farming stack, comprising a bottom wall, a number of side walls, extending essentially perpendicular from the bottom wall, and defining a holding space for a plant, fruit or other organic matter; wherein the crate is arranged to be directly stackable with a similar or like crate; and the bottom wall comprises at least one farming climate control and energy unit holding space.
  • the crate according to the invention is designed such that it facilitates the growth of various plants, fruits and other organic matter.
  • a suitable format is a standard format like 800 mm x 600 mm x height or 400 mm x 600mm x height and that be stacked on top of each other. Stacking may preferably be directly or the crates can be designed such that they are nestable and stackable or by adding a 'stacking' layer. The latter solution offers a second way to produce the crates nestable, lowering cost of transport.
  • the use of standard formats enables the use of existing handling equipment. Sizes of the crates can be different from a design point of view resulting in other dimensions and shapes.
  • each crate comprises at least one farming climate control unit holding space.
  • a farming climate control unit can be placed; a 'smart' cassette or module that holds the intelligence to grow the medium underneath.
  • the smart module is placed in the bottom of the crate and is directed to the crate below.
  • the bottom crate of a stack does not have a module and the uppermost crate is covered with a plate holding a module to act on the uppermost crate.
  • a plate may be a bottom wall of a crate according to the invention.
  • the bottom wall and the side walls may be separate parts.
  • the bottom wall further comprises at least one seed tablet or seedling tablet holding space.
  • Plants and fruits may be delivered in fixed size tablets holding either seeds or seedlings.
  • the tablets itself are made of a material that holds the nutrients for the growth.
  • the tablets may be made of a material holding both seed or seedling and nutrients for growth. Only water needs to be added once placed in the crate in such case.
  • the bottom wall there are several structural options. It can be a flat plate in which you randomly place tablets holding seeds. It is also possible to make use of preformed compartments or mounting units.
  • the mounting units are basically preformed openings in the bottom in which a structural element can be mounted by a clicking frame that fixes the structural component.
  • the farming climate control unit holding space or the seed tablet or seedling tablet holding space may comprise means for anchoring the control unit, the seed tablet or the seedling tablet, such as clicking means, or other locking means.
  • the invention further relates to a control unit for use with a crate according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit body, carrying a processor, lighting means, and possibly sensors and actuators, coupled to and controllable by the processor and connecting means for an electric power source.
  • the smart module may be configured for sensing what is happening in the crate below regarding the growth of the organic matter (plant or fruit or other organic growing means). Sensing can be done invasive (like a temperature probe) or non-invasive (like optical camera's, lasers, air volume and speed measurement and so on).
  • the module is equipped with a processor and can execute programs related to the growth medium of interest. Programs can be light protocols, temperature and moist controls.
  • the control unit is adapted to be coupled with the crate by means of a clicking system or any other suitable mounting means.
  • the control unit and the crate are designed for mutual cooperation, such that in use, a control unit placed illuminate the contents of a crate below the crate it is mounted to.
  • the connecting means for an electric power source may be arranged for coupling to a mains or an external power rail or for interconnection with other crates in the stack, or, an integrated battery coupled to the connecting means may be present, forming the source.
  • the control unit may further comprise communication means, such as WiFi or other means for use in an IP network, a radio or data emitter and receiver, or an RFID tag.
  • communication means such as WiFi or other means for use in an IP network, a radio or data emitter and receiver, or an RFID tag.
  • control signals can be sent to the crate, or monitoring signals can be received from the crate, for instance with the use of a mobile phone.
  • central computing can be used to optimize growth sensing and steering / control protocols.
  • the lighting source may be a single colour or multi coloured, low, medium or high power LED with single, pre-set colours or dynamic colours.
  • Other wavelength based sources can be possible too like near Infrared sources, X-ray sources and so on.
  • the colours and an illumination scheme may be programmable in order to adapt the unit for the growth of various plants.
  • the lighting means may further serve as a heat source for the plants, or a separate heat source may be incorporated in the unit.
  • at least one sensor from the group of a temperature sensor, a moist sensor, an IR or optical camera may be present.
  • the invention further relates to a stack of crates, provided with a control units, wherein, in particular, a cover plate may be present, arranged on the uppermost crate carrying the control unit for the uppermost crate.
  • the invention provides the advantage that the stacked crates can be individually controlled to measure, shine light or control an environment.
  • the control unit is told what it has underneath and a program is started that is related to the plant or fruit, wherein parameters as lighting intensity, on/off cycles, a colour program, a water program and a harvest moment are controlled.
  • the invention further relates to a method for growing plants, comprising the steps of providing a stack of crates with control units, placing at least one tablet containing a prefabricated plate of earth/soil in which seeds are present in at least one crate, providing growing information for the tablet to the control unit and providing the growth requirements by the unit to the crate.
  • Providing growing information for the tablet to the control unit may be done by providing machine readable information on the tablet, and using reading means of the control unit to interpret this information when placing the tablet in a crate.
  • Growth requirements may be how much (and often) water has to be added, what the expected growth profile is and what harvesting looks like.
  • location of each tablet may be registered via the communication means of the control unit. Then a central computer can monitor progress and give off signal if stack of crates or individual crates can be picked up for adding water or charging batteries or other intermediate processes, harvesting, emptying, cleaning and reuse.
  • the invention may be used for growing Lettuce, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, Wheat grass, Grasses, Seedlings, Leek, Fennel, Strawberries, herbs, aquatic vegetables and so on.
  • the invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures.
  • Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a crate according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective top view of a crate according to the invention
  • Figure 3 shows a stack of crates according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a crate according to the
  • Figure 5 shows two stacks of crates according to an alternative embodiment the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a crate 1 according to the invention, for forming a vertical farming stack, comprising a bottom wall 2, wherein the bottom wall comprises at least one farming climate control unit 13 holding space 3.
  • the bottom wall further comprises four seed tablet or seedling tablet holding spaces 4, 5, 6, 7, in the
  • the farming climate control unit holding space or the seed tablet or seedling tablet holding space comprises (non depicted) means for anchoring the control unit, the seed tablet or the seedling tablet 12, such as clicking means.
  • the seed tablet or seedling tablet holding space is formed by a through hole, which is provided with a sealing means 8, 9, 10, 11 for sealing an engagement area of the tablet holding space 4, 5, 6, 7 and a tablet 12.
  • control unit 13 comprising a control unit body, carrying a processor 13a and lighting means 13b, coupled to and controllably by the processor and connecting means for an electric power source.
  • the control unit 13 can be connected to the crate in several ways, and one control unit may be coupled to multiple crates, as depicted in area 14, where control unit 15 can be mounted. In the same way, embodiments may exist wherein one crate may comprise multiple control units. If control unit 13 does not comprise a power source, or if the power source needs recharging from time to time, power may be supplied by the (optional) power supply lines 13c and 13d, which are arranged such, that they connect corresponding power lines of a precedent or next crate in the stack.
  • Figure 2 shows the crate from figure 1, wherein a number of side walls 16, 17, 18, 19 is visible, extending essentially perpendicular from the bottom wall, and defining a holding space for a plant, fruit or other organic matter, wherein the crate is arranged to be directly stackable with a similar or like crate.
  • Figure 3 shows such a stack, of crates 1, and l"with respective control units 13', 13" and 13" ', wherein the latter is carried by a top plate 20, arranged on crate ".
  • An empty crate may be used instead as well as a top crate.
  • Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the crate according to the invention, having seat tablet holding spaces that are formed - instead of openings - by upwardly facing protrusions. These protrusions serve to place plants that have different root growth and orientation. This way it facilitates downward growing plants or vegetables.
  • Figure 5 shows two stacks of crates according to an alternative embodiment the invention.
  • the crates are placed on top of each other, in the second stack 32 they are put besides each other.
  • the crates are provided with three inwardly faced protrusions 33 at a first side, and two inwardly faced protrusions 34 at a second side.
  • the crates alternatingly oriented, so that their respective protrusions rest on each other, in the stack 34 the crates are likewise oriented, so that they nest.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une caisse à claire-voie permettant de former un empilement vertical de culture, comprenant une paroi de fond ; un certain nombre de parois latérales, s'étendant essentiellement perpendiculaires à partir de la paroi de fond et définissant un espace de retenue pour une plante, un fruit ou une autre substance organique. La caisse à claire-voie est agencée pour être directement empilable avec une caisse à claire-voie similaire ou identique tandis que la paroi de fond comprend au moins un espace contenant une unité de commande de conditions ambiantes de culture. La présente invention concerne en outre une unité de commande à utiliser avec une caisse à claire-voie selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un corps d'unité de commande, comportant un processeur ; des moyens d'éclairage couplés au processeur et pouvant être commandés par ce dernier ; des moyens de connexion pour une source d'énergie électrique.
PCT/NL2015/050020 2014-01-13 2015-01-13 Caisse à claire-voie, unité de commande pour une caisse à claire-voie, empilement de caisses à claire-voie et leur procédé d'utilisation WO2015105426A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2012078 2014-01-13
NL2012078A NL2012078C2 (en) 2014-01-13 2014-01-13 Crate, control unit for a crate, stack of crates and method for operating these.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015105426A1 true WO2015105426A1 (fr) 2015-07-16

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PCT/NL2015/050020 WO2015105426A1 (fr) 2014-01-13 2015-01-13 Caisse à claire-voie, unité de commande pour une caisse à claire-voie, empilement de caisses à claire-voie et leur procédé d'utilisation

Country Status (2)

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NL (1) NL2012078C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2015105426A1 (fr)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2550189A (en) * 2016-05-12 2017-11-15 Team Green Ltd Hydroponic growing method
WO2017205523A1 (fr) * 2016-05-24 2017-11-30 RoBotany Ltd. Appareil et procédé pour l'agriculture à environnement contrôlé autonome
GB2558052A (en) * 2016-10-19 2018-07-04 Ocado Innovation Ltd Storage systems and methods
WO2018131016A3 (fr) * 2018-04-13 2018-10-25 Tinkerall Ferme verticale autonome domestique mobile en unités empilables
US10196209B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2019-02-05 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
GB2541765B (en) * 2015-04-15 2019-07-03 Ocado Innovation Ltd Growing systems and methods
US10364098B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2019-07-30 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic picking system device and method
IT201800004649A1 (it) * 2018-04-18 2019-10-18 Sistema di coltura fuori suolo dotato di una struttura di contenimento di tipo modulare
US10538388B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-01-21 Ocado Innovation Limited System and method for configuration of buildings or storage
US10549914B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-02-04 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
US10661991B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-05-26 Ocado Innovation Limited Object handling system and method
US10752440B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-08-25 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic container handling device and method
US10913572B2 (en) 2016-02-12 2021-02-09 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems, methods and containers
US11053073B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-07-06 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage system with partition means and methods
US11116149B2 (en) 2016-05-12 2021-09-14 Hydrogarden Limited Portable growing system
US11167922B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-11-09 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic container handling device and handling method
US11724876B2 (en) 2016-05-24 2023-08-15 RoBotany Ltd. Apparatus and method for autonomous agriculture inventory management

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EP0205330A2 (fr) * 1985-06-11 1986-12-17 Vanhaley Limited Réceptacle pour pots, plateaux, coupes et analogues
US5141149A (en) * 1991-08-05 1992-08-25 Fulton J Scott Multiple use plant shipping and display container
US6067750A (en) * 1997-07-28 2000-05-30 Lai; Wen-Chi Automatic sprinkling device for a bean sprout culture box assembly
EP2308283A1 (fr) * 2008-03-26 2011-04-13 Hisakazu Uchiyama Appareil de culture
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WO2013124739A2 (fr) * 2012-02-22 2013-08-29 Syngenta Participations Ag Caisses à claire-voie et systèmes pour le transport de végétaux vivants ainsi que des procédés mettant en oeuvre ceux-ci
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EP0205330A2 (fr) * 1985-06-11 1986-12-17 Vanhaley Limited Réceptacle pour pots, plateaux, coupes et analogues
US5141149A (en) * 1991-08-05 1992-08-25 Fulton J Scott Multiple use plant shipping and display container
US6067750A (en) * 1997-07-28 2000-05-30 Lai; Wen-Chi Automatic sprinkling device for a bean sprout culture box assembly
EP2308283A1 (fr) * 2008-03-26 2011-04-13 Hisakazu Uchiyama Appareil de culture
US20130140311A1 (en) * 2011-12-01 2013-06-06 Jiffy International As Lockable and reversible lid for a base container
WO2013124739A2 (fr) * 2012-02-22 2013-08-29 Syngenta Participations Ag Caisses à claire-voie et systèmes pour le transport de végétaux vivants ainsi que des procédés mettant en oeuvre ceux-ci
WO2013162192A1 (fr) * 2012-04-27 2013-10-31 Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd. Appareil de conservation multi-usage

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10752440B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-08-25 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic container handling device and method
US11203487B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-12-21 Ocado Innovation Limited Object handling system and method
US11718474B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2023-08-08 Ocado Innovation Limited Object handling system and method
US11524844B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2022-12-13 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
US11299344B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2022-04-12 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
US11174103B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-11-16 Ocado Innovation Limited System and method for configuration of buildings or storage
GB2541765B (en) * 2015-04-15 2019-07-03 Ocado Innovation Ltd Growing systems and methods
US11167922B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-11-09 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic container handling device and handling method
US11053073B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2021-07-06 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage system with partition means and methods
US10538388B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-01-21 Ocado Innovation Limited System and method for configuration of buildings or storage
US10549914B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-02-04 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
US10661991B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2020-05-26 Ocado Innovation Limited Object handling system and method
US10364098B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2019-07-30 Ocado Innovation Limited Robotic picking system device and method
US10196209B2 (en) 2015-04-15 2019-02-05 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems and methods
US10913572B2 (en) 2016-02-12 2021-02-09 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems, methods and containers
US11597562B2 (en) 2016-02-12 2023-03-07 Ocado Innovation Limited Storage systems, methods and containers
US11116149B2 (en) 2016-05-12 2021-09-14 Hydrogarden Limited Portable growing system
GB2550189A (en) * 2016-05-12 2017-11-15 Team Green Ltd Hydroponic growing method
WO2017205523A1 (fr) * 2016-05-24 2017-11-30 RoBotany Ltd. Appareil et procédé pour l'agriculture à environnement contrôlé autonome
US11724876B2 (en) 2016-05-24 2023-08-15 RoBotany Ltd. Apparatus and method for autonomous agriculture inventory management
GB2558052A (en) * 2016-10-19 2018-07-04 Ocado Innovation Ltd Storage systems and methods
EP3529177B1 (fr) 2016-10-19 2021-04-28 Ocado Innovation Limited Systèmes et procédés de stockage
GB2558052B (en) * 2016-10-19 2019-03-20 Ocado Innovation Ltd Storage systems and methods
WO2018131016A3 (fr) * 2018-04-13 2018-10-25 Tinkerall Ferme verticale autonome domestique mobile en unités empilables
IT201800004649A1 (it) * 2018-04-18 2019-10-18 Sistema di coltura fuori suolo dotato di una struttura di contenimento di tipo modulare

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