WO2022113065A1

WO2022113065A1 - Method and apparatus for cultivating plants

Info

Publication number: WO2022113065A1
Application number: PCT/IL2021/051371
Authority: WO
Inventors: Izik GOT
Original assignee: Green Bubble Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-26
Filing date: 2021-11-17
Publication date: 2022-06-02
Also published as: IL279007B2; IL279007A; IL279007B

Abstract

The subject matter discloses an apparatus for cultivating a plant, said apparatus comprising: a container having a base and sidewalls, a surface for placing the plant, said surface is secured to at least one of the base and the sidewalls, a fine screen mesh located inside the container, said fine screen mesh is impermeable to liquid, said fine screen mesh is located below the surface, a nutrient supply module having a nutrient outlet, said nutrient outlet is located inside the container and below the fine screen mesh, a gas supply module providing gas into the container and below the fine screen mesh.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of apparatuses for cultivating plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plants are cultivated in various techniques and environments, from large farms to home cultivation, in which people cultivate small plants such as herbs, cherry tomatoes and cannabis at home. Home cultivation may be done at the person's balcony, kitchen, or in a room allocated especially for the cultivation. Home cultivation may require specific tools, such as containers, feed or nutrients, illumination, sensors and the like.

One of the techniques to provide nutrients to the plants is by feeding the nutrients to the soil in which the plant is planted and above which the plant grows. When the cultivation is soil-less, the nutrients are commonly added to the water provided to the plant, for example in case the nutrients dissolve in the water. However, as the plant does not consume all the water provided to it, and the nutrients are dissolved in a uniform manner in the water, the plant will not consume all the nutrients provided thereto, and growth rate will not be optimal. Further, one cannot control or detect the accurate amount of water consumed by the plant, and extract the accurate amount of nutrients consumed by the plant. Thus, there is a need to provide a new device and technique to provide nutrients to plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the subject matter to disclose an apparatus for cultivating a plant, said apparatus comprising a container having a base and sidewalls; a surface for placing the plant, said surface is secured to at least one of the base and the sidewalls; a fine screen mesh located inside the container, said fine screen mesh is impermeable to liquid, said fine screen mesh is located below the surface; a nutrient supply module having a nutrient outlet, said nutrient outlet is located inside the container and below the fine screen mesh; a gas supply module providing gas into the container and below the fine screen mesh.

In some cases, the fine screen mesh has multiple apertures enabling bubbles to flow upwards, wherein the size of the multiple apertures enables the nutrient to flow above the fine screen mesh only inside the bubbles. In some cases, the gas supply module comprises a gas tube outlet located inside the container, wherein the outlet is at least partially directed towards the fine screen mesh.

In some cases, the gas tube outlet is placed at an angle in a plain perpendicular to the fine screen mesh relative to the nutrient outlet.

In some cases, the container is filled with liquid to a liquid level, wherein the liquid level is lower than the surface, wherein the liquid level is higher than at least a portion of the fine screen mesh, defining a top liquid above the fine screen mesh and a bottom liquid under the fine screen mesh.

In some cases, the apparatus further comprises a liquid sensor for collecting information from the liquid in the container. In some cases, the liquid sensor is located above the fine screen mesh.

In some cases, the apparatus further comprises a control module coupled to the gas supply module and to the nutrients supply module, said control module sends commands to control the supply of gas and nutrients from the gas supply module and to the nutrients supply module. In some cases, the surface is located at least two centimeters above the fine screen mesh. In some cases, the surface is connected to a structure mounted above the fine screen mesh. In some cases, the surface has one or more orifices enabling the plantgsa rsoots to grow downwards.

In some cases, the nutrient supply module further comprises a nutrient supply tube entering the container via an aperture in the base or the sidewalls.

In some cases, the nutrient supply module further comprises a nutrient supply tube entering the container via a top aperture and via an aperture of the fine screen mesh. In some cases, the fine screen mesh covers substantially an entire cross section of the container. In some cases, the surface has a shape defining at least two heights relative to the base. In some cases, the apparatus further comprising a mixing container located inside the container, said mixing container comprises one or more inlets for receiving the gas from the gas supply module and the nutrients from the nutrients supply module and output bubbles into the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an apparatus for cultivating plants, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 2A-2B shows a top view of an apparatus for cultivating plants, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 3 discloses schematic components in an apparatus for cultivating plants, having a nutrient feed inserted into a hole in the container, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 4 discloses an apparatus for cultivating plants having a mixing container, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an apparatus method for cultivating plants. The apparatus comprises a container in which the plant is placed above a fine screen mesh. The fine screen mesh, also described herein as a fine screen, screen and mesh, may be a membrane or a net enabling passage of bubbles flowing inside a liquid. The size of the apertures in the fine screen mesh may be in the range of 0.2-3 millimeters. The nutrition to the plant is provided via a nutrient supply module having a nutrient outlet. The nutrition may be in the form of powder, paste, granules, capsules and the like. The nutrition is required to dissolve in the liquid stored in the container, such as water, or a composition that includes water in at least 90 percent by weight. The nutrient outlet may be a distal end of a nutrient tube. The nutrient outlet may be located inside liquid, such as water or mixture of water and nutrients. The nutrient outlet is located below the fine screen mesh.

A gas supply module outputs gas into the liquid under the fine screen mesh, generating bubbles flowing upwards via the fine screen mesh, towards the plant. The fine screen mesh enables the nutrition to flow upwards, towards the plant, inside the bubbles. In some exemplary cases, there is a distance between a surface on which the plant is configured to be placed and the liquid. Such distance encourages the plantgsas roots to grow faster, downwards, as the surface, or a structure on which the surface is placed, is porous, and the roots flow via the pores. The roots may grow on top of the fine screen mesh, enjoying the nutrients that pass upwards via the fine screen mesh inside the bubbles.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an apparatus for cultivating plants, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a container 105 having a base 115 and sidewalls 120 extending upwards from the base 115. The sidewalls 120 may form a polygonal shape of the container 105, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a combination thereof.

The base 115 and sidewalls 120 are made of a material which is impermeable to liquid, such as plastics, metal, glass and the like. The height of the sidewalls 120 enables a sufficient amount of liquid to be poured into the container 105. The liquid may be filled by a user of the container 105 from an aperture located in the top portion of the container 105, or via a liquid tube inserted into the container 105 or provided via the aperture. The liquid may be based on water. The liquid may include materials dissolving in the liquid, such as salts, minerals and the like. The liquid is poured to reach a liquid level 140. The liquid level 140 is defined as a level having liquid below and gas above, the gas may be air.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a fine screen mesh 150 coupled to the body of the container 105. The fine screen mesh 150 may be coupled to the base 115 or the sidewalls 120 of the container 105. In some cases, the fine screen mesh 150 may be coupled to another module, such as a structure, which is coupled to the body of the container 105. The fine screen mesh 150 may span at the entire cross section of the container 105, defining a bottom section inside the container 105 between the base 115 and the fine screen mesh 150 and a top section inside the container 105 above the fine screen mesh 150. Bottom liquid 130 is located in the bottom section and top liquid 135 is located in the top section. The fine screen mesh 150 is porous, enabling only particles in the size of less than 3 millimeters to flow between the bottom liquid 130 and the top liquid 135. In some exemplary cases, the pores in the fine screen mesh 150 enable only gas to flow between the bottom liquid 130 and the top liquid 135. The fine screen mesh 150 may be removable from the container 105, for example for cleaning and fixing purposes.

The plant 165 is mounted above the fine screen mesh 150. For example, on a surface or bedding located above the fine screen mesh 150, or directly on the fine screen mesh 150. Roots 160 extending from the plant 165 towards the top liquid 135, to collect the nutrients passing inside bubbles via the fine screen mesh 150. A distance between the plant 165 and the liquid level 160 increases the rootsga 1s60 hunger and encourages the rootsga psath towards the top liquid, hence increasing the surface area of the plant 165 and increasing the growth rate of the plant 165.

The apparatus also comprises a nutrient supply module for supplying nutrients to the container 105. The nutrients may comprise fertilizers. The nutrient supply module may comprise a nutrient container fillable by a user or a machine. The nutrient container may be coupled to a nutrient tube 112 configured to transfer nutrients from the nutrient container into the bottom liquid 130. In the exemplary embodiment of figure 1, the nutrients are transferred into the bottom liquid 130 via an aperture in the container 105. The aperture may be in the sidewalls 120 or in the base 115. The nutrients are provided into the bottom liquid 130 via nutrient outlet 112, for example as a mass of nutrients. The nutrients may be provided as a liquid, as a paste, as powder, as granules, as an emulsion and the like.

The apparatus also comprises a gas supply module 110 located in the bottom liquid 130 and outputting gas into the container 105. The gas supply module 110 may be directed towards the fine screen mesh 150. The gas supply module 110 is located in a manner than the direction of the gas outputted from a gas outlet of the gas supply module 110 is meant to carry the nutrients provided by the nutrient outlet 112. The bubbles flowing from the gas supply module 110 carry small particles of nutrients, transferring the small particles via the fine screen mesh 150 to the top liquid 135, which is accessible to the plant 165 and the roots 160. The fine screen mesh 150 and the flow of gas from the gas supply module 110 move the nutrients to the top liquid 135, increasing the percentage of the nutrients consumed by the plant 160.

The gas supply module 110 may comprise a source of pressurized gas, or have a pressurizing mechanism for sucking air from one side, for example outside the container 105, and outputting the air into the bottom liquid 130. The gas supply module 110 may be coupled to a power source such as a battery or an electrical grid for providing power thereto. The gas may be oxygen, air, oxygen-enriched gas, and the like. The gas flow may be in the range of 1-20 liters per minute.

The rate of gas flowing from the gas supply module 110 into the container 105 may be in the range of 3-20 liters per minute for the container 100 having a volume of 5 liters. It can be said that the rate of gas flow may be in the range of 0.5-5 liters of gas per every liter of water in the container 105. The gas provided by the gas supply module 110 may be air. In some cases, the gas provided by the gas supply module 110 may be air with added oxygen, or concentrated oxygen. In some other cases, the gas provided by the gas supply module 110 may contain at least 40 percent of oxygen.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a gas tank 175 providing gas to the gas supply module 110. The gas tank 175 is located outside the container 105. The gas tank 175 may be filled or controlled by a person or a robot operating the apparatus 100. The gas is transferred from the gas tank 175 to the gas supply module 110 via gas tube 170 via an aperture in the container 105.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a nutrient tank 185 providing nutrient to the bottom liquid 130. While figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the nutrient container provides nutrients directly to the mixing container, in figure 1 the gas supply module 110 only receives gas. The nutrient tank 185 is located outside the container 105. The nutrient tank 185 mav be filled or controlled by a person or a robot operating, the apparatus 100. The nutrient is transferred from the nutrient tank 185 to the bottom liquid 130 via nutrient tube 180 via an aperture in the container 105.

Fig. 2 discloses an apparatus for cultivating plants, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus comprises sidewalls 260 defined by upper end 205 and base defined by line 210. The base 210 may be of a smaller size than the upper end 205 of the sidewalls 260. The gas supply module comprises gas supply units 250 and 252 that output gas into liquid inside the container. The gas supply units 250 and 252 receive gas from a gas tube 270 via semi tubes 272 and 275. The gas tube 270 may be connected to a gas container.

The nutrient supply module comprises a nutrient supply tube 222 and a nutrient container 220. The nutrients from the nutrient supply tube 222 flow into nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238. The nutrient pipes may be arranged in a manner that facilitates circulation inside them, therefore enabling the nutrients to blend inside the liquid stored in the nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238. The nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 are in fluid communication with each other, enabling liquid to flow from pipe 230 to 236, 238 and 232, and vice versa. The liquid may comprise water and nutrients. A controller may control the flow rate of nutrients flowing into the nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238. The nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 have apertures, enabling the nutrients to flow from the nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 to the liquid in the container. For example, nutrient pipe 232 has apertures 240, 241 and 242, while nutrient pipe 230 has apertures 243 and 244. The distance between the apertures may be in the range of 0.5-5 centimeters. The cross sectional shape of the nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 may be circular, polygonal and a combination thereof. The nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 may be defined between external wall 280 and internal wall 282, the external wall being closer to the sidewalls 260.

When the level of material inside the nutrient pipes 230, 232, 234, 236 and 238 exceeds a threshold, the nutrients pass through the apertures. The height of the apertures, defined as the distance between the apertures and the base, may be larger than the height of the gas supply units 250, 252. This way, bubbles flowing from the gas supply units 250, 252 upwards, towards the liquid level, can collect the nutrients that passed through the apertures, and transfer the nutrients via the fine screen mesh.

Fig. 3 discloses schematic components in an apparatus for cultivating plants, having a nutrient feed inserted into a hole in the container, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus comprises a nutrient supply module 310 for supplying nutrients to the container, to the bottom liquid, defined between the containergsas base and the fine screen mesh. The nutrient supply module 310 is coupled to the container, for example via a tube. In some other cases, the nutrient supply module 310 may be physically secured to the container, such that the outlet of the nutrient supply module 310 is inside the bottom liquid, for example in the containergsas base. In some other cases, the nutrient supply module 310 may be located on top of the containergsas base, in the bottom liquid, and when there is a need to replace or refill the nutrient supply module 310, a user of the apparatus moves the fine screen mesh, pulls the nutrient supply module 310 from the container and places a new or full nutrient supply module 310 on the base. The nutrient supply module 310 may comprise fertilizers or any other nutrients desired by a person skilled in the art. The nutrient supply module 310 may comprise a valve controlled by the control unit 340 for regulating the amount of nutrients provided to the bottom liquid. For example, the valve may open or close based on a signal received from the control unit 340.

The apparatus comprises a gas supply module 320 for providing gas into the bottom liquid. The gas flows upwards via the fine screen mesh to the top liquid. The gas supply module 320 may be coupled to a gas output configured to carry a mass of nutrients inside bubbles through the fine screen mesh. The gas supply module 320 may contain pressurized air. In some cases, the gas output sucks air from the vicinity of the container in which the plant grows. The apparatus comprises a liquid sensor 330 for collecting information on the liquid inside the container. Such information may be provided from images, sensors that detect presence of a predefined material in the liquid, concentration of materials in the liquid and the like. For example, the liquid sensor 330 may detect the concentration of nutrients in the top liquid. For example, in case the concentration of nutrients is lower than a threshold, the rate of supply of the nutrients is to be increased, and in case the concentration of nutrients is higher than a threshold, the rate of supply of the nutrients is to be decreased. The sensor module may also detect the presence of gas in the liquid, for example in the top liquid. When the amount of gas in the top liquid reduces, it may indicate failure in the gas supply module 320.

The apparatus comprises a control unit 340. The control unit 340 may be part of electrical circuitry having a housing, memory unit and a display device. The control unit 340 may be a hardware module or a software module having a set of executable commands for regulating the operation of the apparatus. For example, the control unit 340 may regulate the operation of the gas supply module 320, the regulation of the nutrient supply module 310. In such case, the gas supply module 420 and the nutrient supply module 310 may be coupled to a controller receiving commands from the control unit 340, said commands may include “stop” or “start” commands or a value indicating a supply rate. In some cases, the gas supply module 320 and the nutrient supply module 310 may reporting to the control unit 340 on the gas and nutrients provided into the container. The control unit 340 may be coupled to the liquid sensor 330, receiving the information collected by the liquid sensor 330. The control unit 340 may process the information collected by the liquid sensor 330 and output commands to at least one of the supply module 320, the nutrient supply module 310 and a personal electronic device accessed by a person operating the apparatus, for example via an SMS message, email message, notification on a mobile application and the like.

The apparatus may comprise an illumination module 350 for emitting illumination onto the plant. The illumination module 350 may be physically coupled to the container, or be a standalone device mounted near the plant The illumination module 350 may be controlled by the control device.

Fig. 4 discloses an apparatus for cultivating plants having a mixing container, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a main container 410 having a base and sidewalls, substantially similar to the container 105 of figure 1, having a base and sidewalls, and filled with liquid 440 to a water level. The main container includes a surface 450 on which a plant is configured to be placed. The surface 450 is configured to be located higher than the water level, to encourage the plantgsa rsoots to grow towards the liquid 440, which includes nutrients required for the plant to grow. The surface 450 is secured to or mounted on a part of the main container 410, such as the base and/or sidewall. The surface 450 may be removed from the main container 410, for example for cleaning or maintenance.

The apparatus also comprises a nutrient tube 420 connected to a nutrient supply module, which provides nutrients to the liquid 440 inside the main container 410. The apparatus also comprises a gas tube 425 connected to a gas supply module for providing gas inside. The nutrient tube 420 and the gas tube 425 provide nutrients and gas to a mixing container 430 located inside the main container 410, below the water level. The mixing container 430 comprises one or more inlets for receiving the gas and the nutrients from the gas tube 425 and the nutrient tube 420 respectively. The mixing container enables to mix the nutrients with the liquid, before the nutrients move to the liquid 440 of the main container 410. The mixing container comprises multiple apertures from which the bubbles carrying the nutrients flow upwards to the liquid 440, and from there to the plantgsa rsoots.

The apparatus may also comprise a drainage tube 435 for collecting liquids from the main container. The drainage tube may be coupled to a liquid sensor disclosed above.

The subject matter also discloses a method for cultivating plants. The method comprises obtaining an apparatus comprising a container filled with liquid to a liquid level, obtaining a plant on a surface inside the container, above the liquid level, obtaining a fine screen mesh located inside the container, said fine screen mesh is impermeable to liquid, said fine screen mesh is located below the surface. The method also comprises providing gas and nutrients to the liquid under the fine screen mesh, such that bubbles are formed that include the nutrients.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cultivating a plant, said apparatus comprising: a container having a base and sidewalls; a surface for placing the plant, said surface is secured to at least one of the bases and the sidewalls; a fine screen mesh located inside the container, said fine screen mesh is permeable to liquid, said fine screen mesh is located below the surface; a nutrient supply module having a nutrient outlet, said nutrient outlet is located inside the container and below the fine screen mesh; a gas supply module providing gas into the container and below the fine screen mesh.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fine screen mesh has multiple apertures enabling bubbles to flow upwards, wherein the size of the multiple apertures enables the nutrient to flow above the fine screen mesh.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas supply module comprises a gas tube outlet located inside the container, wherein the outlet is at least partially directed towards the fine screen mesh.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gas tube outlet is placed at an angle in a plain perpendicular to the fine screen mesh relative to the nutrient outlet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is filled with liquid to a liquid level, wherein the liquid level is lower than the surface, wherein the liquid level is higher than at least a portion of the fine screen mesh, defining a top liquid above the fine screen mesh and a bottom liquid under the fine screen mesh.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a liquid sensor for collecting information from the liquid in the container.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the liquid sensor is located above the fine screen mesh.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a control module coupled to the gas supply module and to the nutrients supply module, said control module sends commands to control the supply of gas and nutrients from the gas supply module and to the nutrients supply module.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is located at least two centimeters above the fine screen mesh.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is connected to a structure mounted above the fine screen mesh.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface has one or more orifices enabling the plant's roots to grow downwards.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nutrient supply module further comprises a nutrient supply tube entering the container via an aperture in the base or the sidewalls.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nutrient supply module further comprises a nutrient supply tube entering the container via a top aperture and via an aperture of the fine screen mesh.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fine screen mesh covers substantially an entire cross section of the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface has a shape defining at least two heights relative to the base.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mixing container located inside the container, said mixing container comprises one or more inlets for receiving the gas from the gas supply module and the nutrients from the nutrients supply module and output bubbles into the container.