Patent Description:
Cultivation troughs - which are sometimes referred to as cultivation gutters or cultivation gullies - are commonly used in horticultural cultivation systems in greenhouses to accommodate and grow crops. In these horticultural cultivation systems seeds, seedlings or young crops are arranged in respective receptacles of adjacently arranged cultivation troughs. Over the duration of a grow cycle of the crops ending when the crops are ready for harvesting, the cultivation troughs are moved step-wise in a transport direction towards an end of the cultivation system. By the time the crops have fully matured and are ready for harvesting, the cultivation trough in which they are placed will have reached the end of a production line of the cultivation system. The cultivation trough is then removed for harvesting of the crops and cleaning of the cultivation trough, after which the cultivation trough is reseeded and placed back into the cultivation system to reiterate the grow cycle.

The publication <CIT> discloses that plants are supported, positioned and transported in a hydroponic growing system by notched spacer bars riding on wheeled rails and interlocking with external ribs on elongated troughs in which the plants are grown.

The publication <CIT> discloses that multiple cultivation troughs, each serving to accommodate multiple plant pots, are connected with two carrier beams that are parallel at an offset from each other. To this end, holding latches extend upwards from the top side of the carrier beams and engage with protrusions at the cultivation troughs.

The publication <CIT> discloses a soilless growth chamber with troughs containing small plants. Tubular screw sections with a helical groove are used to advance the throughs from a loading end to and unloading end of said chamber. A downwardly projecting drive pin engages in the helical groove.

In commercial greenhouses, it is desirable to grow crops as efficiently as possible. In part, this is achieved by optimizing the number of crops grown per unit of surface area of the greenhouse, by creating optimal growth conditions for crops and by ensuring that the used cultivation system performs consistently and reliably to minimize any losses in terms of crops and time or resources spent on growing the crops and maintenance of the cultivation system.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a cultivation trough and transport system that are improved relative to the prior art with respect to one or more of the here above aspects.

This objective is achieved with a cultivation trough according to the present invention, comprising at least one elongate receptacle extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to receive one or more of crops, water and substrate, wherein the cultivation trough is configured to be transportable by a transport system in a transport direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough and to be supported by an upper surface of at least one flange of the transport system, and wherein the cultivation trough comprises a stabilizer configured to at least partially enclose the at least one flange of the transport system and to engage with a lower surface of the at least one flange defining a tilt support of the transport system to thereby stabilize the cultivation trough to prevent tilting thereof.

The cultivation trough according to the present invention is advantageously protected against tilting and tipping over, which may occur in particular when the cultivation trough is moved by the transport system or accidentally nudged by a person. As such, losses in terms of time and resource spent rearranging the cultivation trough or damaged crops resulting from this tilting are effectively prevented. In this respect it is remarked that the risk of tipping over increases considerably when the plants grow towards the end of the production line. After all, bigger plants are heavier and they also shift the center-of-gravity of the cultivation trough with plants upwards. A higher center-of-gravity decreases the stability.

In a preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the stabilizer comprises one or more than one hook configured to extend along the tilt support of the transport system.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the one or more than one hook is configured to extend in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the stabilizer is configured to at least partially enclose the tilt support of the transport system.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the stabilizer comprises a recess configured to receive the tilt support of the transport system.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the recess is disposed in at least one wall of the cultivation trough.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the recess is arranged in one or more than one or more than one side wall of the cultivation trough, and a bottom wall of the cultivation trough.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the stabilizer is arranged at a vertical offset relative to the tilt support of the transport system in at least a non-tilted state of the cultivation trough.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the cultivation trough further comprises a plurality of stabilizers disposed substantially along a length of the cultivation trough.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation trough according to the present invention, the cultivation trough further comprises a crop accommodation that is arranged asymmetrical relative to a cross section of the cultivation trough. The cross section is transverse relative to the longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough. Consequently, the crop accommodation is arranged at a greater distance from a first longitudinal side wall of the cultivation trough than the distance to a second longitudinal side wall of the cultivation trough, wherein the first and second longitudinal side walls are arranged on opposite sides of the cultivation trough, as well as on opposite sides relative to the crop accommodation. In this way, an enlarged space is provided between the first longitudinal side wall of the cultivation trough and the crop accommodation. This enlarged space allows for more reliable watering of the plants inside the cultivation trough, or a water reservoir defined by this enlarged space inside the cultivation trough. As roots of plants grow naturally towards a water source, having a sole or major water source inside the cultivation trough on one longitudinal side wall of the cultivation trough will cause the root growth to consistently extend into that area, resulting in an asymmetrical weight distribution relative to the cross section of the cultivation through. Most conventional cultivation troughs normally have a substantially symmetrical design in cross section, because an asymmetrical weight distribution may more easily result in a sideward tipping over of the cultivation troughs. The risk of tipping over increases considerably towards the end of the production line of the cultivation system, because the plants grow and thereby become heavier on the one hand, while also shifting the center-of-gravity of the cultivation trough with plants upwards on the other hand. Moreover, due to plant growth, a horizontal offset in the transport direction may be provided or increased between adjacent cultivation troughs to provide physical space of the plants. As a result, neighboring cultivation troughs may not obtain any sideward support from each other anymore. It is however by virtue of the stabilizer that the cultivation troughs according to the present invention are able to apply an advantageous asymmetrical positioning of the crop accommodation relative to the cross section of the cultivation troughs, while at the same time preventing the cultivation troughs against tipping over.

Moreover, because of the increased stability of the cultivation troughs provided by the present invention the width dimensions of the cultivation troughs may be smaller than those of prior-art cultivation throughs without diminishing the stability of the cultivation troughs.

The hereabove objective is further achieved with a transport system according to the present invention, the transport system being configured to transport a plurality of cultivation troughs in a transport direction transverse to longitudinal directions of the cultivation troughs, wherein the transport system comprises at least one flange configured to extend along the stabilizer of the cultivation trough and engage with one or more of respective stabilizers of each of the plurality of cultivation troughs, to thereby stabilize the cultivation troughs to prevent tilting thereof, wherein an upper surface of the at least one flange defines a support configured to support the cultivation trough and a lower surface of the at least one flange defines a tilt support configured to prevent the cultivation trough against tilting.

In a further preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the present invention, the at least one flange substantially extends along the transport system in the transport direction.

In a further preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the present invention, the transport system further comprises at least one actuator configured to engage and move each of the plurality of cultivation troughs in the transport direction, wherein the at least one tilt support is arranged adjacent to the at least one actuator.

In a further preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the present invention, the transport system further comprises a plurality of tilt supports disposed substantially along a width direction of the transport system transverse to the transport direction.

The hereabove objective is further achieved by a cultivation system comprising at least one transport system as disclosed herein in combination with, in particular supporting, at least one cultivation through as disclosed herein.

Lastly, the hereabove objective is further achieved with a method for cultivating a crop comprising usage of at least one of the cultivation trough, the transport system and the cultivation system according to the present disclosure.

The present invention will be elucidated further here below with reference to the drawing, in which:.

<FIG> shows a top-down view of a cultivation system <NUM> including a transport system <NUM> placed in a greenhouse. The cultivation system <NUM> is a rotation cultivation system in that crops are continuously removed therefrom for harvesting and seeds, seedlings or young crops are introduced therein to start their grow cycle.

As can be discerned from <FIG> in conjunction with <FIG>, the cultivation system <NUM> comprises a plurality of rows <NUM> of cultivation troughs <NUM>, wherein each cultivation trough <NUM> comprises crops or plants to be cultivated. The cultivation troughs <NUM> are disposed parallel to one another with respect to the longitudinal direction to form each row <NUM>. In <FIG> five rows <NUM> of cultivation troughs <NUM> are depicted, although the present disclosure is not limited thereto and any arbitrary number of rows <NUM> may be selected.

The cultivation system <NUM> comprises a germination section <NUM> at the start of each row <NUM>. In this germination section <NUM>, cultivation troughs <NUM> with crops at the start of their grow cycle are introduced into the cultivation system <NUM>. At this stage of the grow cycle, the cultivation troughs <NUM> are arranged in close proximity to one another to optimize usage of the available surface area and - in prior-art cultivation systems - provide stability to one another to prevent the cultivation troughs <NUM> from tilting and/or tipping over.

Over the course of the grow cycle of the crops, the cultivation troughs <NUM> are transported from the germination section <NUM> in a transport direction indicated by the downward arrows in <FIG>. Because the crops grow in size over the course of the grow cycle, an intermediate distance between subsequent cultivation troughs <NUM> must be increased over the course of the grow cycle to provide sufficient growth space for each crop. In <FIG>, this is indicated by the cultivation troughs <NUM> being disposed closer to one another at the germination section <NUM> on the left side of <FIG> than at an end section on the right side of <FIG>.

When the crops have completed their grow cycle and are ready for harvesting at the end of the production line of the cultivation system <NUM>, the cultivation troughs <NUM> are removed from their respective rows <NUM> at an end section opposite the germination section <NUM> of the rows <NUM>. The cultivation troughs <NUM> are then brought to a harvesting section <NUM> where the crops are harvested and the cultivation troughs <NUM> are emptied and cleaned. Finally, the cultivation troughs <NUM> are reseeded and reintroduced into the germination section <NUM> of cultivation system <NUM> to start another grow cycle.

<FIG> shows a cross-section of the cultivation trough <NUM> of <FIG>. The cultivation trough <NUM> comprises at least one elongate receptacle <NUM> extending in a longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough <NUM>. The elongate receptacle <NUM> is configured to receive one or more of crops, water and optionally substrate if a substrate-based cultivation method is used.

The cultivation trough <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprises a first longitudinal side wall <NUM> and a second longitudinal side wall <NUM> that are connected to each other via a bottom wall <NUM> and one or more than one intermediate wall <NUM> that increase the stiffness to the cultivation trough <NUM>. The intermediate wall <NUM>, and more in particular an upper intermediate wall <NUM> in case of more than one intermediate wall <NUM>, may support a substrate <NUM> for growth of the crop. Parts of the first longitudinal side wall <NUM> and the second longitudinal side wall <NUM> extend upward relative to the (upper) intermediate wall <NUM> and mutually define a receptacle <NUM>. This receptacle <NUM> defines a crop accommodation <NUM> that is arranged asymmetrical relative to the cross section of the cultivation trough <NUM>. In <FIG>, the crop accommodation <NUM> that comprises the substrate <NUM> is arranged at a greater distance from the first longitudinal side wall <NUM> than the distance to the second longitudinal side wall <NUM>. As a result, a root and watering area <NUM> is formed between the substrate <NUM> and the first longitudinal side wall <NUM>, allowing for a reliable watering of the roots of the crops that will naturally grow towards and into this root and watering area <NUM>. The asymmetrical positioning of the crop accommodation <NUM> and substrate <NUM>, the root and watering area <NUM> may be large relative to the total width defined between the first longitudinal side wall <NUM> and the second longitudinal side wall <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM>. This allows for sufficient space for introducing water into the root and watering area <NUM>, while also allowing the total width of the cultivation trough <NUM> to be relatively small. The width of the cultivation trough <NUM> determines how many cultivation troughs <NUM> may be accommodated in the cultivation system <NUM>. The cultivation trough <NUM> moreover comprises first and second protrusions <NUM> and <NUM>, which are arranged on the first longitudinal side wall <NUM> and the second longitudinal side wall <NUM>, respectively. These protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be engaged by a member <NUM> of an actuator <NUM> of the transport system <NUM> to move the cultivation trough <NUM> in the transport direction as described hereabove. The member <NUM> of the transport system <NUM> may reach the first and second protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> via a recess <NUM> that is not shown in the cross section of the cultivation trough <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, but will be elucidated here below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a cultivation trough <NUM> in conjunction with the transport system <NUM>. As can be discerned from this figure, the transport system <NUM> comprises one or more actuators <NUM> configured to engage and move each of the plurality of cultivation troughs <NUM> in the transport direction. The actuators <NUM> are disposed at locations that respectively correspond to the locations of stabilizers <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM>.

In <FIG> a detailed view of one of the actuators <NUM> of <FIG> engaging a cultivation trough <NUM> is depicted. As can be discerned from <FIG>, the cultivation trough <NUM> comprises a stabilizer <NUM> in the form of a recess <NUM> where the side wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> have been partially removed to define a first hook <NUM> and a second hook <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> comprises a pivotable member <NUM> configured to extend into the recess <NUM> and abut the first and/or second protrusions <NUM>, <NUM>, to thereby move the cultivation trough <NUM> in the transport direction. The interaction between the pivotable member <NUM> and the first and second protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> during transport of the cultivation trough <NUM> will be further elucidated here below with reference to <FIG>.

The recess <NUM> extends over a longer distance in the side wall <NUM> than in the bottom wall <NUM>, to thereby define a first hook <NUM> and a second hook <NUM>. More in particular, the first hook <NUM> and a second hook <NUM> may constitute hooks configured to extend along respective tilt supports <NUM>, <NUM> of the transport system <NUM>, preferably in at least the longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough <NUM> that is transverse to the transportation direction.

Still referring to <FIG> and moreover <FIG>, the transport system <NUM> comprises a first tilt support <NUM> and a second tilt support <NUM> configured to engage with the first hook <NUM> and the second hook <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM>, respectively. In particular, the tilt support <NUM> and a second tilt support <NUM> may each constitute a flange configured to extend along the stabilizer <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM>, and to be at least partially enclosed thereby.

Within the context of the present invention as disclosed herein, the stabilizer <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM> may refer to any one or more of the recess <NUM>, the first hook <NUM> and the second hook <NUM>.

Each of the flanges constituting the first tilt support <NUM> and the second tilt support <NUM> comprises an upper surface and a lower surface. The respective upper surfaces of the first and second tilt supports <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to support the cultivation trough <NUM> when the cultivation trough <NUM> is arranged upon and/or transported by the transport system <NUM>. When the cultivation trough <NUM> is inclined to tilt - which may occur in particular during transport or when the cultivation trough is nudged - the respective lower surfaces of the flanges constituting the first tilt support <NUM> and the second tilt support <NUM> respectively contact the first hook <NUM> and the second hook <NUM>, thereby preventing the cultivation trough <NUM> from tilting.

With the cultivation trough <NUM> and the transport system <NUM> according to the present invention, an accidental tilting of the cultivation trough <NUM> is effectively prevented over the entire duration of the grow cycle of the crops. The costs associated with a cultivation trough <NUM> tilting - which may include having to rearrange the cultivation trough <NUM> or even having to replace its contents - is thereby likewise avoided.

In prior-art cultivation troughs, the width of the cultivation trough has to be sufficiently large to provide a sufficiently large footprint to thereby stabilize the cultivation trough. With the increased stability provided by the cultivation trough <NUM> and transport system <NUM> according to the present invention, this is no longer required and the width of the cultivation trough <NUM> may be further reduced. As such, the available surface area for cultivating crops may be utilized more efficiently with a greater number of cultivation troughs <NUM> being placed thereon.

Furthermore, the increased degree of stability of the cultivation trough <NUM> and the transport system <NUM> according to the present invention allows for further modifications of the design of the cultivation trough <NUM> that are not attainable with prior-art cultivation troughs because they would result in the cultivation trough being unstable. In <FIG>, a substrate <NUM> that is arranged in the crop accommodation <NUM> of the elongate receptacle <NUM> is offset relative to the (dotted) center line of the cultivation trough <NUM> (<FIG>); with the root and watering area <NUM> accommodating the roots of the crops being positioned asymmetrical, i.e. closer to the second longitudinal side wall <NUM> than to the first longitudinal side wall <NUM>. Typically, water is supplied to the root and watering area <NUM> at only one side thereof. Here, the crop will primarily develop water roots with which the crop absorbs water. At a side where no water is supplied, the crop will generally not develop roots. Instead, the crop may primarily develop air roots at this side with which it may absorb air.

A process of transporting a cultivation trough <NUM> by means of the transport system <NUM> will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, an actuator <NUM> of the transport system <NUM> having arranged thereon a pivotable member <NUM> is displaced in the direction of the arrow towards a cultivation trough <NUM> to be transported. The pivotable member <NUM> comprises a chamfered top and pivots to slide past the second longitudinal side wall <NUM> upon contact with the cultivation trough <NUM> as is illustrated in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the pivotable member <NUM> has slid past the second longitudinal side wall <NUM> and pivoted back into its resting position to protrude into the recess <NUM> of the cultivation trough <NUM>. The pivotable member <NUM> may connected with a spring (not shown) or comprise a weighted lower section for this purpose. Upon reassuming its resting position, the pivotable member <NUM> is retracted in the direction of the arrow in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the pivotable member <NUM> contacts the first or second protrusion <NUM>, <NUM> as it is retracted in the direction of the arrow (i.e. the transport direction). Because the pivotable member <NUM> is configured to be not rotatable in the counter-clockwise direction relative to its resting position, the pivotable member <NUM> catches the cultivation trough <NUM> and displaces it in the transport direction until it reaches a desired location.

The cultivation trough <NUM> according to the present invention may, for example, be manufactured by extruding a material including any suitable type of plastic or metal. The stabilizer <NUM> including any one of the recess <NUM>, the first hook <NUM> and the second hook <NUM>, and combinations thereof, may be manufactured by local milling of any excess material.

Claim 1:
Cultivation trough (<NUM>) comprising at least one elongate receptacle (<NUM>) extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to receive one or more of crops, water and substrate;
wherein the cultivation trough (<NUM>) is configured to be transportable by a transport system (<NUM>) in a transport direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cultivation trough (<NUM>) and to be supported by an upper surface of at least one flange of the transport system (<NUM>), and
wherein the cultivation trough (<NUM>) comprises a stabilizer (<NUM>) configured to at least partially enclose the at least one flange of the transport system (<NUM>) and to engage with a lower surface of the at least one flange defining a tilt support (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the transport system (<NUM>) to thereby stabilize the cultivation trough (<NUM>) to prevent tilting thereof.