Abstract:
A mobile greenhouse includes a cultivation area that has a bottom tray with a seedbed with seeds. The mobile greenhouse includes equipment that has at least two of the list of a water supply system for wetting the seedbed, a nutrient supply system for administering nutrients to the seedbed, a ventilation system for circulating air through the cultivation area, a shutter system for controlling outside radiation into the cultivation area, a light system for illuminating the seedbed and a heating system for the seedbed and/or the cultivation area. Further, the mobile greenhouse includes a control system that controls the equipment, the control system having an input mechanism to set the control system so that it controls the equipment in accordance with the requirements of the type of the seeds in the seedbed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of European patent application No. EP 08166628.1 filed on Oct. 15, 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention concerns a mobile greenhouse comprising a cultivation area that has a bottom tray with a seedbed with seeds. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The disadvantage of the known mobile greenhouse is that the user has to apply air, water, light, and/or heat in suitable way that is specifically right for the seeds in the seedbed and to maintain this application for a long period in order to obtain a proper crop. For the various crops different settings and application are required and a user has difficulty to get this right specially if there are more mobile greenhouses. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In order to overcome this disadvantage the mobile greenhouse includes equipment comprising at least two of the list of a water supply system for wetting the seedbed, a ventilation system ( 6 ) for circulating ambient air through the cultivation area, a light system ( 5 ) for illuminating the seed bed and a heating system ( 9 ) for the seedbed and/or the cultivation area, and a control system ( 7 ) that controls the equipment wherein input means ( 3 ) set the control system so that it controls the equipment in accordance with the requirements of the type of the seeds in the seedbed ( 19 ). By having a control system that can receive instructions in accordance with the specific seeds it is easy to cultivate the seeds according to the requirements of their specific properties. 
         [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse control system ( 7 ) comprises a memory with stored settings accessible with a code for growing specific types of seed. In this way, it is easy to instruct the control system so that it can choose the proper program that belongs to the specific seeds. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse input means comprises a card reader ( 3 ). In this way, the control system can be instructed in a way that avoids errors as the specific card can be part of the package containing the seedbed. 
         [0007]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse input means comprises a card reader ( 3 ) suitable for receiving cards ( 4 ) on which program instructions or parameters for a growth program are stored. In this way the control system can be instructed in a way that avoids errors as the specific card can be part of the package containing the seedbed and there is no need to pre-program the control system with all varieties of seeds as the specific information for that seed are stored on the card. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse control system ( 7 ) controls the supply of water to the seedbed ( 19 ). In this way, the seeds get always the right amount of water and there is no need for the user to take care of the daily requirements. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse control system ( 7 ) controls the lamps ( 5 ) and/or the heater ( 9 ) in the cultivation area ( 1 ) In this way the location of the mobile greenhouse is not important, it can be located inside or outside, in a cold climate or in a kitchen near the user. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse cultivation area ( 1 ) is closable and has an air inlet with a filter and a ventilator ( 6 ) and an air outlet with a restricted outflow for creating an overpressure in the cultivation area. By filtering the inlet air and creating a slight overpressure the cultivation area is kept free from vermin or pathogenic organisms to that there is no need to apply chemicals on the plants to prevent diseases or damage by insects. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile greenhouse includes a temperature sensor ( 11 ) that measures the temperature in the cultivation area ( 1 ) and the control system ( 7 ) is suitable to process the measured temperature and to control the speed of ventilator ( 6 ). Changing the speed of the ventilator varies the temperature difference between the cultivation area and the ambient air so that the temperature in the cultivation area can be optimized for the cultivation of the plants. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Hereafter the invention is explained with the aid one or more embodiments of the invention as shown in a drawing. In the drawing 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows in a diagram the various components of a mobile greenhouse, 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a mobile greenhouse, and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the view of  FIG. 2  wherein various covers are removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    In the various embodiments, components that have the same function are indicated with the same reference number. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows the various components of a mobile greenhouse. The mobile greenhouse has a cultivation area  1  for cultivation of plants, the cultivation area  1  is indicated in the diagram with an interrupted line. The cultivation area  1  is a closed space with a more or less uninterrupted air flow from outside the cultivation area  1  and preferably an overpressure in the cultivation area  1  to prevent vermin and pathogenic organisms to enter through gaps in the enclosure of the cultivation area  1  or other openings. A ventilator  6  generates the airflow into the cultivation area  1 , a filter (not shown) removes particles from the incoming air and a ventilation grille (not shown) with small openings makes outflow of the air possible and simultaneously causes the slight overpressure in the cultivation area  1 . In a further embodiment, the airflow generated by the ventilator  6  is variable in order to regulate the temperature difference between the ambient air and the cultivation area  1 . In order to monitor the temperature in the cultivation area  1  there is a temperature sensor  11  in the cultivation area  1 . 
         [0018]    The cultivation area  1  can have transparent cover (not shown) so that radiation from the sun may heat the cultivation area  1 . In order to prevent overheating there is a sun shield  2  to stop entrance of radiation into the cultivation area  1 . In a further embodiment, a radiation sensor  10  detects the radiation from the sun and its intensity. The sun shield  2  may leave the sides of the transparent cover open so that from the side of the cultivation area  1  the plants can be seen and their growth can be followed. For stimulating growth, the cultivation area  1  includes lamps  5  that have a radiation spectrum that is suitable for plants. For situations, that the ambient air is too cold for proper growth of the plants in the cultivation area  1  there is a heater  9 . The heater  9  can be located at the underside of the cultivation area  1  in a bottom tray  20 . Other locations are possible such as in the airflow from the ventilator  6 . 
         [0019]    The bottom tray  20  forms the underside of the cultivation area  1 . The bottom tray  20  is a transportable watertight tray that a user will position at an accessible location. In this location, it must be possible that the air circulates freely around the cultivation area. A cover that can be removed by the user in an easy way so that the user can access the cultivation area  1  for taking out plant parts and he can use these when preparing food covers the bottom tray  20 . In order to improve the handling of the cover the cultivation area  1  has limited dimensions, for instance the largest length is 1.5 meter or less and preferably the length is 1.2 meter or less and the width is 0.8 meter or less. A cultivation area for herbs that are used in a kitchen for flavouring food can have a length of 0.6 meter and a width of 0.3 meter. 
         [0020]    The bottom tray  20  contains water with a water level  24  that is detected in a gauge glass  22  with a float  25 . Lamps  21  illuminate the float  25 , level sensors  23  detect the position of the float  25 , and therewith the height of the water level  24 . A support (not shown) in the bottom tray  20  supports a seedbed  19  in which the plants grow. The water in the bottom tray  20  moistens the seedbed  19  and the roots of the plants, if necessary the water level  24  can be changed intermittently so that seedbed  19  and the plant roots can have changing access to water. In the cultivation area  1  are one or more spray heads  18  for spraying the plants. 
         [0021]    The seedbed  19  can be made of fibre and have a thickness of 2-5 centimetres. In the seedbed,  19  seeds are embedded at locations that are suitable for proper plant growth. The seedbed  19  can have the same dimensions as the bottom tray  20 ; in other embodiments, a bottom tray  20  has space for two or more seedbeds  19 . The seedbed  19  can be a piece of coconut matting; other fibres such as glass fibre are suitable as well. Prior to use the seedbed  19  with embedded seeds is dry and can be rolled to a cylindrical package so that it is easy to transport. 
         [0022]    The mobile greenhouse includes a water tank  15  for supplying water via a second valve  17  to a pump  13 . The pump  13  pumps the water via a first valve  16  to either the spray head  18  or the bottom tray  20 . The pump  13  can suck the water either from the water tank  15  or from the bottom tray  20  by switching the second valve  17 . The water tank  15  has a level sensor  14  for detecting the water level in the water tank  15  or for detecting whether the water tank  15  is empty and/or needs to be filled. If it is empty, a signal (not shown) will warn the user. The water tank  15  can be filled with clean water, also nutrients  12  might be added to the water. 
         [0023]    In a further embodiment, the water supply system can have a more simple design. In this embodiment (not shown), the water tank  15  might have a level sensor  14  in the water tank  15  in order to warn that the water tank  15  must be filled. The water tank  15  is connected directly with the bottom tray  20  via a valve with a float. If the water level in the bottom tray  20  gets too low, the valve with the float opens until the water level in the bottom tray  20  is at the desired level. The pump  13  connects on the suction side with the water tank  15  and on the pressure side with the spray heads  18 . If the blades of the plants must be wetted the pump  13  is switched on. If the water level in the bottom tray  20  must be adapted, this has to be done by hand and generally will be done only when starting with a new cultivation by placing a new seedbed  19 . 
         [0024]    A control system  7  controls the various components of the mobile greenhouse. The control system  7  includes a power supply and is provided with a power connection  8 . In domestic situations, this can be a connection to the power grid; other power sources might be used such as solar power and wind power coupled with a power accumulator for maintaining the control system  7  functioning and other available power sources. The control system  7  is subdivided in a control section A that controls the pump  13 , the first valve  16 , the second valve  17 , the ventilator  6 , the heater  9 , and the lamps  5 . In a sensor section B the various values of the sensors are registered, if necessary in dependence of time. A power supply section C arranges the availability of power for the various parts of the mobile greenhouse and its control system  7 . 
         [0025]    A program section D monitors and controls the mobile greenhouse. In order to adapt the control system  7  to various seeds and plants that are to be cultivated in the cultivation area  1  the control system  7  has an input device, in this embodiment a card reader  3  that can read a code on a program card  4 . The code on the program card  4  is known in the program section D of the control system  7  and based on the code a growth program is determined and the components in the mobile greenhouse are controlled accordingly. The code for the growth program can be communicated to the control system  7  in other way, for instance by punching in the code number with the aid of a keyboard or by reading a bar code. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, the program card  4  contains all settings for the growth program and so is more accurately adapted to the plants or seeds in the seedbed  19 . In this embodiment, the user of the mobile greenhouse might have various program cards  4  for various crops. In addition, the supplier of the seedbeds  19  might supply a program card  4  with the seedbed  19  with specific program instructions for the growth of the seeds in the seedbed  19 . 
         [0027]    A user of the mobile greenhouse installs the mobile greenhouse in a location with fresh air, where the progress of plant growth can be monitored, and where electric power is available. The power connection  8  is connected to a power source, the water tank  15  is filled with water, and if necessary nutrients  12  are added to the water. The seedbed  19  is positioned in the bottom tray  20  and the cultivation area  1  is closed with a cover. After these and other preliminary activities are finished the control system  7  is switched on and the program card  4  is put in the card reader  3 . 
         [0028]    After this the control system  7  will fully automatic take over all necessary tasks for obtaining the plant growth. The seedbed  19  will be wetted and the germination of the seeds embedded in the seedbed  19  can start. Preferably, the seeds are coated with coats that cause different time delays in the start of germination so that plants will be ready for consumption at different moments. In dependence of the plant type the temperature in the cultivation area  1  will be raised by activating the heater  9 , the temperature sensor  11  will monitor the temperature. After germination or even from the start of the growth process the lamps  5  will illuminate the seedbed  19  eight or more hours per day. The ventilator  6  will blow air into the cultivation area  1  and when the temperature in the cultivation area  1  gets too high, the rotation speed of the ventilator  6  increases. At the increased airflow, the temperature inside the cultivation area  1  will get equal to the ambient temperature. In circumstances, the temperature might even get lower due to evaporation of water in the bottom tray  20  or on the plants. Only when the spray heads  18  spray water in order to wet the leaves of the plants or to wet the seedbed  19  the ventilator  6  is switched off. 
         [0029]    The mobile greenhouse as shown in  FIG. 2  has a seedbed  19  on which various plants of the same type and different ages are growing. For clarity, the cover of the cultivation area  1  is removed so that the lamps  5  and one of the spray heads  18  are visible. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , which shows the same embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  but with the cover of the various equipment removed, the equipment such as the pump  13 , the ventilator  7 , the water tank  15  and the control system  7  with card reader  3  and program card  4  are located at the side of the cultivation area  1 . At the underside of the cultivation area  1 , the seedbed  19  is spread over a grid that is positioned in the bottom tray  20 .