WO2016189477A1

WO2016189477A1 - Apparatus for automatic management of a cultivation recipe for producing, using hydroponic technology, vegetables to be used for human food

Info

Publication number: WO2016189477A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/053065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgia Pontetti; Valentina PONTETTI
Original assignee: Ferrari Farm Società Agricola S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-05-27
Filing date: 2016-05-25
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: ITUB20151192A1

Abstract

A machine for cultivation of vegetables using hydroponic technology, characterized in that it comprises one or more growth chambers (1), within which a climate is maintained for each day/night for the vegetable species that are to be cultivated and in that it comprises, in combination: means for air treatment (3), which envisage control of temperature, relative humidity, and contamination levels; means for lighting (2) of each growth chamber, which have a spectral intensity and density suitable for cultivation of vegetables; means (4) for nourishing the vegetables using fertigation, with a quality and quantity specific for the vegetable species cultivated; and means (GRC) for automatic management of the apparatus in order to grow in optimal conditions the plants contained in each growth chamber, following a Cultivation Recipe, which, for each moment of life of the plant, from sowing to harvest, enables each plant to be provided with the right environmental conditions and conditions of nourishment via automatic regulation and control of all the parts making up the apparatus itself. Said Cultivation Recipe is stored in the said automatic-management means (GRC), which include processing means and a software capable of governing and controlling all the parts making up the machine to obtain the vegetal growth envisaged and predetermined as a function of the parameters detected in real time and of those envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe.

Description

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC MANAGEMENT OF A CULTIVATION RECIPE FOR PRODUCING. USING HYDROPONIC TECHNOLOGY. VEGETABLES TO BE USED FOR HUMAN FOOD

The present invention substantially relates to the sector of production of vegetables, both in indoor applications and in outdoor applications.

More specifically, it regards an automatic apparatus or machine for the production, using hydroponic technology, of vegetables for human consumption, which can be implemented also in a version in aseptic environment, for personal, residential, and commercial use, with computerized automatic management of the vegetal cycle and of all the climatic and nutritional parameters. The machine is based upon a pre-defined Cultivation Recipe that is managed electronically, applied automatically in real time, from sowing to harvest, also with the use of automatic feedback based upon algorithms of self- correction as a function of the real and effective conditions of growth, in order to guarantee total electronic management and control of vegetal growth. The machine is thus able to ensure the best vegetal growth, for high-quality products, in predetermined times, guaranteeing all the environmental and growth parameters. The algorithms used calculate the corrections as a function of acquisition by sensors of the conditions of growth.

Using the automatic machine forming the subject of the invention, the cultivation of vegetables is rendered possible to any end consumer, without any agrarian competence being necessary. With this machine, it is possible to cultivate at home vegetables of one's own interest, rendering possible their harvesting exactly at the moment when they are to be consumed for a healthy and high-quality zero- mile food. The machine is aimed at both private citizens and commercial activities that make use of vegetables to provide food and/or drink.

It should be noted that food-agricultural cultivation is usually carried out in a traditional way in open field; in this way, however, the crops are subject to and affected by environmental pollution and weather changes that today occur frequently and with some intensity, and for this reason crops call for chemical and phytosani tary treatments to be able to sustain production.

Greenhouse-grown food-agricultural production, instead, uses greenhouses of a traditional type (tunnels made of plastic or the like) and in some cases also use hydroponic technology. This type of food-agricultural cultivation in greenhouses frequently also employs heating systems (but not cooling systems). In rare cases, they may be partially managed with the aid of PCs and very frequently there is in any case recourse to chemical or phytosani tary treatment for combating diseases.

The present invention is based upon the fact that, to obtain high-quality production without use of treatment with chemicals, it is necessary to create an environment of growth that is irrespective of the external environment and its contamination, and, to guarantee proper growth of the vegetables, a so-called Cultivation Recipe is necessary, studied and corrected in real time on the basis of the effective growth of the vegetable, which day by day will apply the right climatic and nutritional conditions, guaranteeing that growth occurs in due respect of the natural parameters that are optimal for the species considered.

This can be done using the automatic machine forming the subject of invention, which is designed to create the ideal microclimate for the cultures, irrespective of the external environmental conditions, as well as to govern and control whatever is necessary for correct growth of the vegetables by means of the electronic Cultivation Recipe, which is specific for each species of interest.

There are currently known machines that keep plants that have been grown in a nursery located elsewhere fresh for a number of days: these are basically "conservatories". Likewise known are greenhouses for hydroponic cultivation that, albeit useful for cultivation, do not constitute a machine that is able to cultivate automatically with integral and integrated management of all the steps of cultivation, as does the apparatus forming the subject of the present invention.

Finally, there are known do-it-yourself hobby kits for amateur construction of mi ni -greenhouses that also use hydroponic technologies for domestic cultivation; these items are for people who grow plants as a hobby and do not present any form of automatic operation. The patent No. GB 985015 substant ally describes a system for determining the most advantageous conditions for cultivation of plants in a cultural space or in a growth chamber to enable growth or development of the plants in order to get the plants to grow faster. In other words, it is not a machine designed for automatic production of vegetables, but a system for ensuring the most favourable conditions of growth to obtain plants in the shortest time possible and is aimed at users specialized in the agricultural sector. Moreover, GB 985015 envisages cultivation of plants in soil and not in a sterile substrate. Unlike GB 985015, the present invention envisages that the plants grow with hydroponic technology - i.e. , without soil - in their ideal conditions, without reducing the natural times, but with a completely automatic Cultivation Recipe that does not require any particular expertise in agronomy on the part of the user .

KR 2014 0071313 describes an integrated system for the management of energy that detects and stores the conditions of light, temperature, etc. , as well as the values of the energy consumed by the various subsystems in the various states of growth, by means of a control unit that compares the environmental conditions measured and the corresponding consumption of energy, and stores all this information for regulating automatically the energy consumption in order to limit the consumption levels. It may therefore be immediately noted that it is a technical solution that has nothing to do with the present invention, which instead regards an automatic apparatus for growing vegetables, from sowing up to harvest, in an automated way, following a Cultivation Recipe specific for the vegetable that has been sowed, without the user having to possess any know-how in the area of botany or agronomy.

CN 201752201 describes an apparatus that is simply designed to carry out automatic control of the parameters that are set by the user and not a specific Cultivation Recipe comprising within it all the parameters and the specific daily environmental conditions for growing the vegetable to be cultivated from sowing up to harvest. In the case of CN 201752201, the user must modify - every day - the daily parameters and must hence know how to proceed and which values to set: this known apparatus hence controls the parameters set by the operator but does not envisage, nor can it implement, any automatic Cultivation Recipe that varies from day to day. Furthermore, the machine described in CN 201752201 is applicable only to mi ni -vegetabl es , i.e. , to the sort of produce that go by the name of "micro-vegetables".

KR 2014 0073045, as in the previous case, describes an apparatus comprising a growth chamber and envisages an application program that executes the commands that are set by the operator for activation of the lighting devices, circulation of air, irrigation, etc. Also in this case, then, the parameters set are maintained, but no automatic Cultivation Recipe is envisaged, nor can it be implemented, that varies from day to day from seed- time to harvest.

There is hence not known a completely automatic machine that does not require any particular expertise in agronomy, is able to produce vegetables from sowing to harvesting, using hydroponic technology, can be installed within dwellings or commercial structures, to meet the daily production needs, and includes a Cultivation Recipe that guarantees results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for cultivation using hydroponic technologies (i.e., without the use of soil) that is able to manage automatically all the steps of cultivation, from sowing up to harvesting, monitoring and controlling in real time all the parameters via appropriate sensors and governing appropriate actuators to guarantee the results, in due respect of a Cultivation Recipe applied automatically using solutions with electronic regulation and control.

The Cultivation Recipe, translated into an automatic electronic process, forms an essential part of the invention.

It should moreover be emphasised that, to grow of a vegetable duly respecting its ideal conditions of life and to arrive at high-quality produce, it is necessary to create an environment in which the right climatic conditions, a correct level of day/night lighting, and a specific nourishment of the plants are guaranteed .

The subject of the invention is an apparatus (or machine) that comprises one or more growth chambers, within which a climate is guaranteed for each day/night for the vegetable species that is to be grown. This is obtained, according to the invention, by providing an apparatus comprising, in combination:

- means for air treatment that envisage control of temperature, relative humidity, and levels of contamination;

at least one growth chamber, of dimensions that are a function of the desired production capacity;

means for lighting said growth chamber, which have a spectral intensity and density suitable for cultivation of vegetables; and

means for nourishment of the vegetables cultivated with fertigation technology, with a specific quality and quantity for the vegetable species cultivated.

The aforesaid means for treatment of the air in the growth chamber also include the possibility of controlling the air speed (in addition to its temperature and humidity), and the possibility of adding C0₂ is also envisaged.

Another purpose of the invention is completely automatic management of what is defined "Cultivation Recipe", which for every moment of life of the plant, from sowing to harvest, enables automatic control of all the parts making up the cultivation apparatus descri bed .

According to the invention, it is also possible to envisage implementing the machine in aseptic version, providing means for sterilization of the air and of the nutrient solution in order to eliminate any type of contamination.

According to the invention, on the basis of the ideal conditions of vegetal life, known in the literature for each different species, the Cultivation Recipe is prearranged and codified.

The Cultivation Recipe includes, for each moment of vegetal life, from sowing to harvest, the climatic and nutritional parameters necessary for cultivation and growth of the vegetable of interest, in addition to prediction of the expected growth as a function of the phenol ogical stage of the cultivation. All the parameters envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe are applied by the machine in real time, and the phenological growth is acquired and monitored by sensors. According to the invention, the real growth acquired by the sensors is compared with the predicted values, using specific algorithms, in order to generate the feedback necessary for guaranteeing the final growth result.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the present description and with reference to the attached figures, which illustrate, purely by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 is a general block diagram of the machine forming the subject of the invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the growth chamber ;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the fertigation uni t ; Figure 4 is a block diagram of the air- conditioning unit;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the lighting unit;

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the Cultivation- Recipe management unit;

Figures 7A and 7B show the configuration of the machine in an example of embodiment having two growth chambers ;

Figure 8 is a block diagram of the growth chamber of the example of embodiment;

Figure 9 is a block diagram of the fertigation unit of the example of embodiment;

Figure 10 is a block diagram of the air- conditioning unit of the example of embodiment, based upon the use of Peltier cells;

Figure 11 is a block diagram of the lighting unit of the example of embodiment;

Figure 12 is a block diagram of the Cultivation- Recipe management unit of the example of embodiment; and

Figure 13 is a block diagram of the air- conditioning unit of the example of embodiment, based upon the use of reservoirs of heated/cooled water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As already mentioned, the present invention is designed to carry out automatic cultivation, using hydroponic technology, of vegetal organisms, such as for example edible fruit and vegetables for human consumpti on .

The Cultivation Recipe is encoded in processing means that include a software that is able, as a function of the real-time requisites envisaged in the Recipe, to govern and control all the parts making up the machine to obtain the envisaged and predetermined vegetal growth.

The machine (Figure 1) comprises in combination: at least one growth chamber 1 (Figure 2), at least one fertigation unit 4 (Figure 3), at least one air- conditioning unit 3 (Figure 4), at least one lighting unit 2 (Figure 5), at least one Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC (Figure 6) that includes a human- machine interface (HMI) and wireless (Wi-Fi) and/or wired devices for remote control, i.e. , via PC, tablet, notebook, smartphone, etc.

In the example illustrated, the growth chamber 1 (Figure 2) is formed by a closed structure, accessible from the front for the activities of sowing and harvesting. Installed at the base of the growth chamber 1 is the substrate 7 for sowing and growth of the plants, which is connected to the fertigation unit 4 both for delivery of the nutrient solution and for recovery of the solution drained off therefrom. Installed in the top part of the growth chamber 1 is the lighting unit 2, which, being connected to the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC, supplies the right level of day/night lighting. The growth chamber 1 has purposely provided openings for the introduction of treated air that is controlled from the climatic standpoint, as well as openings necessary for recovery thereof; these openings for delivery and recovery are connected to the air-conditioning unit 3 via appropriate ducts. The air, treated and controlled according to the invention, can be introduced, according to the particular solution chosen, indifferently from the base, from the ceiling, or from one of the sides of the chamber 1 and be recovered from the opposite side.

Installed inside the growth chamber 1 are all the sensors necessary for acquisition of the actual conditions of growth, connected to the Cultivation- Recipe management unit GRC.

The fertigation unit 4 (Figure 3) comprises: at least one reservoir containing the nutrient solution; one or more pumps necessary for carrying out irrigation within the growth chamber 1, i.e. , for nourishment of the substrate, as well as connections with the substrate for recovery of nutrient solution in excess (drained-off solution); at least one reservoir for containing drained-off solution with a possible booster pump; and at least one UV-C treatment unit for sterilization of the water used, connected to the reservoir for recovery of drained-off nutrient solution. The reservoir of the nutrient solution may be filled manually or automatically from a store or else may be connected to an automatic mixer for preparing the nutrient solution starting from macro- elements and micro-elements, contained indifferently inside or outside the machine. The fertigation unit 4 is structured to be able to carry out all the different hydroponic cultivation techniques.

The air-conditioning unit 3 (Figure 4) introduces treated air into the growth chamber 1 to which it is connected and - through the necessary connections - draws off from the same chamber 1 the a r for it to be recirculated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the air-conditioning unit 3 may work as a closed circuit or with the partial or total use of external air and can integrate the air used by adding C0₂ in accordance with what is envisaged by the Cultivation Recipe. The air-conditioning unit 3 comprises: devices capable of drawing in air from the growth chamber 1 at a controlled rate; ai r- sterilization devices, ai r- humi di f i cati on/dehumi di f i cati on devices, air- heating/cooling devices, and devices for the introduction at a controlled rate of the air thus treated into the growth chamber 1. Included in the air-conditioning unit 3 are sensors for automatic control of the operating parameters, and for this reason the unit 3 is connected to the Cultivation- Recipe management unit GRC.

The lighting unit 2 (Figure 5) comprises optical devices for guaranteeing, according to the commands coming from the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC, proper lighting within the growth chamber 1 at the right level of spectral intensity and density, suitable for cultivation of vegetables. The means used for emission of light may be of any nature and kind, provided that they respond to the requisites referred to above.

The Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC (Figure 6) is a processing unit built using any technological solution suitable for the purpose, stored in which is the Cultivation Recipe, and mplemented therein is an application designed to govern and control all the units making up the machine forming the subject of the present invention for the Cultivation Recipe to be carried out properly, i.e. , for the climatic and nutritional parameters envisaged therein to be correctly maintained.

On the basis of the information acquired by the sensors of temperature, humidity, images, etc. provided in the growth chambers 1, the Cultivation- Recipe management unit GRC calculates, by means of specific algorithms and with reference to the predicted growth, the corrections to be applied in real time to the climatic and nutritional parameters in order to obtain the expected results.

According to the invention, it is envisaged that the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC will be connected to wired or wireless devices so that it can be governed and controlled remotely by means of portable and/or fixed electronic devices, such as a PC, tablet, smartphone, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the example of embodiment described merely by way of non-limiting illustration, the machine is sized for the production of 2 plants per day and hence uses 2 growth chambers, each having a capacity of 43 plants, considering that the cycle of the vegetable taken as reference is approximately 43 days, as envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe used in the example of embodiment. In the case described, the cultivation of salad is tested, but the invention may be applied to all leaf plants, such as salad, rocket, aromatic herbs, etc.

The conf gurat on of the apparatus may obviously be modified, both as regards dimensions and solutions, according to the needs, without prejudice to the inventive idea underlying the invention.

The configuration illustrated, which represents a non-exhaustive example of embodiment, is illustrated in Figures 7 A and 7B.

Positioned at the base of the machine is the fertigation unit 4, positioned at the first (lower) level is the first growth chamber 1, and at the higher level the second growth chamber 1. On the front of the machine, the growth chambers 1 are accessible through respective openable hatches. Also positioned on the front of the machine is a touch screen 6 for the human-machine interface HMI, a panic button, and a warning-alarm buzzer, all connected to the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC.

Provided on the roof of the machine is a beacon for signalling the operating state, as well as a weather station for acquisition of the external environmental parameters, and a Wi-Fi device for connection to portable and/or fixed remote-control uni ts .

Installed on the lower part, for example the left-hand side, of the machine are power-supply units for AC/DC conversion of the electric mains supply.

Installed on the lower rear part of the machine is the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC, preferably implemented using a high-performance mi crocontrol 1 er . Installed on the rear part of the machine, for each growth chamber 1, is an air-conditioning unit 3, whilst, inside each growth chamber 1, installed on the lower part is the cultivation substrate 7 and on the upper part the lighting unit 2.

Each of the two growth chambers 1 (Figure 8) is basically constituted by a closed structure accessible from the front side for the activities of sowing and harvesting. Present at the base of each growth chamber 1 is a tank, installed in which are, in the example illustrated, 43 substrate trays (one for each plant to be grown), containing the corresponding cultivation substrates. Installed on the top part of the growth chambers 1 is the respective lighting unit 2.

In the example of embodiment described, the fertigation unit 4 (Figure 9) comprises a reservoir containing the nutrient solution and two pumps (one for each growth chamber 1) necessary for carrying out i rri gati on .

The irrigation system selected is preferably of an ebb&flow type, i.e. , one that employs a flooding- and-emptying technique. A water-based and mineral- salt-based nutrient solution is used, contained in the reservoir of the fertigation unit 4, for nourishment of the vegetables to be produced. At the moment when the Cultivation Recipe calls for irrigation of the plants, the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC governs each submerged pump (one for each growth chamber), positioned within the tank containing the nutrient solution, activating it for sending to the cultivation tank inside the growth chamber 1 the amount of nutrient solution necessary for carrying out flooding of the growth substrates 7 that contain the plants. As soon as the pump is deactivated by the Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC, it ceases to deliver liquids, and the cultivation tank empties by gravity, and the recovered nutrient solution is stored, after undergoing a treatment of sterilization using UV-C lamps, in the initial reservoir, thus obtaining a closed-cycle system. It should be noted that this sterilization treatment is compulsory only in the "aseptic" version of the machine, whereas in the standard version it is optional.

The frequency and duration of irrigation are established by the Cultivation Recipe.

The air-conditioning unit 3 (Figure 10) is obtained, for example, using Peltier cells, for generation of both heat and cold necessary for climatic control , electrically supplied and connected to appropriate and suitably sized dissipaters, whilst the air-ventilation system uses electric fans. The configuration obtained for the tests envisages that air is introduced from the left-hand wall of the growth chambers 1. This air, pushed by four fans (two for each growth chamber 1), passes through a perforated plate that enables generation of a uniform air plateau at output. The air traverses the chamber and is recovered on the right-hand wall of the growth chamber 1 (i.e. , the one opposite to the entry wall), where it passes and exits through a second perforated plate. The air at outlet coming from the right-hand side traverses the rear wall of the growth chamber 1 and is then recovered from the left-hand side. Positioned in the rear part of the chamber are the dissipaters used for thermal control, which are lapped by the flow of air referred to above. A UV-C lamp carries out continuous sterilization of the outcoming air, while a water nebulization system implements the control of humidity inside the growth chamber 1.

One of the possible alternatives to the use of Peltier cells is, for example, that of implementing the air-conditioning unit 3 (Figure 13) using two distinct storage reservoirs: one for the heated water, and one for the cooled water. The heated water is heated preferably via electrical resistances managed by a controller of a known type, with a command of the ON/OFF type in order to maintain the temperature within the desired range. The cooled water is cooled preferably by a refrigerating assembly managed by a controller of a known type with a command of the ON/OFF type in order to maintain the temperature within the desired range. These reservoirs are connected to a radiator, which, by controlling the rate/amount of hot and/or cold liquid, via variable- capacity pumps and/or via fixed-capacity pumps associated to metering valves, enables control of the temperature of the air in the growth chamber 1 on the basis of the Cultivation Recipe.

It should be noted that, instead of the heated water and/or the cooled water, other heat-carrier liquids suitable for the purpose may be used.

The lighting unit 2 (Figure 11) is obtained using artificial lighting. For exper mental reasons, as well as for checking purposes, two different solutions are implemented: one for the lower growth chamber, and one for the upper growth chamber.

The lower growth chamber 1 is obtained with an artificial lighting based upon fluorescent lamps distributed appropriately in order to maximize the light useful for the plants and minimize the light lost; these are particular lamps selected for emitting at the optimal spectral density for vegetal growth.

The upper growth chamber 1, instead, is equipped with high-power LED lamps, selected for emitting exclusively at the wavelengths suitable for cultivation of vegetables. For this purpose, two different types of LEDs are used, one in the red band and one in the blue band; these two types have been selected to obtain an emission in the red band at a specific wavelength and an emission in the blue band at a specific wavelength. The wavelengths are selected for optimizing the processes of photosynthesis.

The Cultivation-Recipe management unit GRC (Figure 12) is a processing unit preferably implemented using a high-performance real-time microcontroller, which has the interfaces necessary for regulation and control of all the units so far described. This microcontroller is connected to a human-machine interface HMI obtained with a touchscreen device including a computer (this is an integrated solution that envisages a touch screen, the corresponding control electronics, and the interface to the microcontroller) and is connected also to a Wi- Fi device for w reless connection with portable and/or fixed remote devices.

The Cultivation Recipe is encoded in the firmware of the microcontroller. An application software, developed expressly for this purpose, provides the interface of all the units making up the machine and enables corresponding management and control thereof, day by day from sowing to harvest, with the requisites envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe.

The above application software is also responsible for determining the feedback calculated by expressly devised algorithms by comparison between the expected growth and the actual growth, it being possible to modify the climatic parameters and/or conditions of light/dark and/or of nourishment/irrigation to take into account the eventuality of the effective daily growth not corresponding to the one envisaged by the Cultivation Reci pe .

A preferred embodiment of the invention envisages that the substrate used for the hydroponic technology is sterile and that the environment is decontaminated.

Claims

1. A machine for cultivation of vegetables using hydroponic technology,

comprising one or more growth chambers (1) , characterized in that to maintain, within said chambers (1), for each day/night from sowing up to harvesting, climatic parameters and conditions of light/dark as well as of nourishment/irrigation according to a Cultivation Recipe specific for the vegetable species that is to be cultivated, comprises, in combination:

means for air treatment (3) that envisage control of temperature, relative humidity, and levels of contamination;

means for lighting (2) of each growth chamber, which have a spectral intensity and density suitable for cultivation of vegetables;

means (4) for nourishing the vegetables using fertigation, with a quality and quantity specific for the vegetable species cultivated; and

- means (GRC) for automatic management of the apparatus in order to grow in optimal conditions the plants contained in each growth chamber, following said Cultivation Recipe, which, for each moment of life of the plant, from sowing to harvest, enables each plant to be provided with the right environmental conditions and conditions of nourishment via automatic regulation and control of all the parts making up the apparatus itself;

wherein said Cultivation Recipe is stored in said automat c-management means (GRC), which include processing means and a software capable of governing and controlling all the parts making up the machine to obtain the vegetal growth envisaged and predetermined as a function of the parameters detected in real time and of those envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe, it being possible to modify the climatic parameters and/or conditions of light/dark and/or of nourishment/irrigation to take into account the eventuality of the effective daily growth not corresponding to the one envisaged by the Cultivation Reci pe .

2. The machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that installed within the growth chamber (1) is a plurality of sensors necessary for acquisition of the real conditions of growth, which are connected to the automatic-management means (GRC), such as for example sensors for detecting humidity, temperature, images, etc. , in order to determine feedback information calculated by comparison between the growth expected according to the Cultivation Recipe and the actual growth.

3. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for nourishing the vegetables comprise a fertigation unit (4), which includes: at least one reservoir containing a nutrient solution; one or more pumps necessary for carrying out irrigation within the growth chamber (1) in order to feed a substrate in which the vegetables to be cultivated are planted; connections with the substrate for recovery of nutrient solution in excess (drai ned-of f solution); and at least one reservo r for containing drai ned-of f solution.

4. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for air treatment comprise an air-conditioning unit (3), which introduces treated air into the growth chamber (1) to which it is connected and - through purposely provided connections - draws off from the chamber (1) itself air for it to be recirculated; said ai r- conditioning unit (3) being a closed-circuit unit or one with partial or total use of external air and, in the case where the Cultivation Recipe so envisages, being also able to integrate the air used by adding

5. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lighting means comprise a lighting unit (2), which includes optical devices for guaranteeing, according to the commands coming from said automatic-management means (GRC) on the basis of the Cultivation Recipe, proper lighting within the growth chamber (1) at the right level of spectral intensity and density, suitable for cultivation of vegetables.

6. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for automatic management according to the Cultivation Recipe comprise a Cultivation-Recipe management unit (GRC), which is a processing unit built using any technological solution suitable for the purpose, stored in which is the Cultivation Recipe and implemented in which is an application designed to govern and control all the units making up the machine forming the subject of the present invention so that the Cultivation Recipe will be implemented properly; i.e. , the climatic and nutritional parameters envisaged therein will be properly maintained.

7. The machine according to Claim 3, characterized in that each growth chamber (1) is formed by a closed structure, accessible from one of the sides for the activities of sowing and harvesting, and in that installed at the base of the growth chamber (1) is a substrate (7) for sowing and growth of the plants, which is connected to the fertigation unit (4) both for delivery of the nutrient solution and for recovery of drained-off solution.

8. The machine according to Claim 5, characterized in that installed on the top part of the growth chamber (1) is the lighting unit (2), which, being connected to the automatic-management means (GRC) , supplies the right level of day/night lighting.

9. The machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the growth chamber (1) has purposely provided openings for introduction of air that is treated and controlled from the climatic standpoint, as well as openings necessary for recovery thereof; said openings for delivery and recovery of air being connected to the air-conditioning unit (3) via appropriate ducts; the treated and controlled air possibly being introduced into the growth chamber (1) indifferently from the base, from the ceiling, or from one of the sides of the chamber (1) and being recovered from the opposite side.

10. The machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the air-conditioning unit (3) comprises: devices capable of drawing in air from the growth chamber (1) at a controlled rate, ai r- humi di f i cati on/dehumi di f i cati on devices, air- heating/cooling devices, and devices for introduction at a controlled rate of the air thus treated into the growth chamber (1).

11. The machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said air-conditioning unit (3) comprises sensors for automatic control of the operating parameters; for this purpose, said unit (3) being connected to said means (GRC) for automatic management of the apparatus.

12. The machine according to Claim 6, characterized in that, on the basis of the information acquired by the growth sensors provided in the growth chambers (1), the Cultivation-Recipe management unit (GRC) calculates, by means of specific algorithms and with reference to the expected growth, the corrections to be applied in real time to the climatic and nutritional parameters in order to obtain the expected resul ts .

13. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of growth chambers (1) is determined as a function of the number of plants per day that it is desired to obtain, whereas the number of plants cultivated in each growth chamber (1) is a function of the life cycle of the vegetable that it is desired to cultivate - from sowing to harvest - according to what is envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe.

14. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the irrigation system is of an ebb & flow type, which envisages the fl oodi ng-and-emptyi ng technique; wherein a water-based and mi neral -sal t-based nutrient solution is used, contained in at least one reservoir of the fertigation unit (4), for nourishment of the vegetables to be produced, so that, at the moment when the Cultivation Recipe envisages irrigation, the automatic management unit (GRC) activates a pump for each growth chamber in order to send to the cultivation tank within the growth chamber (1) the amount of nutrient solution necessary for carrying out flooding of the growth substrates (7) that contain the plants; thus obtaining that, as soon as the pump is deactivated by the management unit (GRC), the cultivation tank empties by gravity, and the recovered nutrient solution is stored in the starting reservoir thus obtaining a closed- cycle system.

15. The machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the recovered nutrient solution is subjected to a treatment of sterilization using UV-C lamps before storing it in the starting reservoir and in that a UV-C lamp is provided for continuous sterilization of the air leaving - and/or the air entering - the growth chamber (1).

16. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ai r- conditioning unit (3) envisages Peltier cells, for generation of both heat and cold necessary for climatic control, which are electrically supplied and connected to appropriate and purposely sized dissi paters, whilst the air-ventilation system uses electric fans.

17. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the growth chamber (1) envisages an artificial lighting based upon fluorescent lamps appropriately distributed in order to maximize the light useful for the plants and minimize the light lost, these being particular lamps selected for emitting at the spectral density optimal for vegetal growth, or else in that the growth chamber (1) envisages an artificial lighting based upon high- power LED lamps, selected for emitting exclusively at the wavelengths suitable for cultivation of vegetables, for this purpose there being envisaged two different types of LEDs, one in the red band and one in the blue band, each at a specific wavelength selected for optimizing the processes of photosynthesis.

18. The machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Cultivation-Recipe automatic-management unit (GRC) is a processing unit having a high-performance real-time microcontroller, equipped with the interfaces necessary for regulation and control of all the devices comprised in the machine itself; wherein said microcontroller is connected to a human-machine interface (HMI) obtained with a touch screen including a computer and is connected also to a Wi-Fi device for wireless connection with portable and/or fixed remote devices; wherein said Cultivation Recipe is encoded in the firmware of the microcontroller, in which a specific software application enables interfacing of all the units making up the machine and control thereof in accordance, day by day from sowing to harvest, with the requisites envisaged in the Cultivation Recipe.

19. The machine according to Claim 4 or Claim 16, characterized in that the air-conditioning unit (3), for generation of the heat and/or cold necessary for climatic control of the air in the growth chamber (1), envisages two distinct storage reservoirs, each containing a heat-carrier fluid, such as for example water, one for the heated water and one for the cooled water, wherein the heated water is heated via electrical resistances managed by a controller of a known type with a command of the ON/OFF type for maintaining the temperature in the desired range, and wherein the cooled water is cooled via a refrigerating assembly managed by a controller of a known type with a command of the ON/OFF type for maintaining the temperature in the desired range; said reservoirs being connected to a radiator, which, by controlling the rate/amount of hot and/or cold fluid, via variable-capacity pumps and/or via fixed-capacity pumps associated to metering valves, enables control of the temperature of the air in the growth chamber (1) on the basis of the Cultivation Recipe.