DE20312530U1 - Cultivation System - Google Patents

Abstract

Plant growing equipment,
With at least one chamber (K1 - K3) for receiving the plants to be grown, the at least one chamber comprising the wall elements (RWx, SWx, Tx, ZWx) surrounding the plants to be grown, and
- With means for creating certain environmental conditions for the plants to be grown, characterized in that the means for creating certain environmental conditions for the plants to be grown by the user of the plant growing device attachable and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5).

Description

The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of protection claim 1, i.e. a device for plant growing, with at least a chamber for receiving the plants to be grown, the at least one chamber to be bred Wall elements surrounding plants, and with means of creation of certain environmental conditions for the plants to be grown.

Such plant growing devices are plant growing cabinets or walk-in plant growing rooms such as for example from CONVIRON, Controlled Environments Limited, 590 Berry Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3H 0R9 become.

The known plant growing devices contain generally a chamber in which the plants to be grown can be stored and in which illuminant to illuminate the crop to be grown Plants are provided. About that In addition, the known plant growing devices contain a heating device and / or a cooling device which ones it is ensured that in the chamber a desired one Temperature prevails. Some plant growing equipment included also an air humidification device, through which it is ensured will that in the chamber a desired one Humidity prevails.

Plant growing cabinets or plant growing rooms of these Art are used particularly in research. With the help of this Devices are, for example, but by no means exclusively genetically modified Plants grown, to observe and / or investigate the effects of genetic engineering to be able to.

The use of such plant growing devices turns out to be advantageous because it makes it possible to plant under predeterminable Breeding conditions in the laboratory.

The known plant growing devices have the disadvantage that the Making the desired Environmental conditions for the plants are restricted to certain environmental conditions. You can the ambient conditions due to a change in the temperature prevailing in the chamber, the humidity in the chamber and that in the chamber prevailing lighting conditions set or changed be, but can certain environmental conditions either not at all or only with immense effort can be realized. An example of this concerns the desired setting the lighting conditions prevailing in the chamber, for example the achievement a very specific spectrum of the light illuminating the plants. A corresponding selection of the illuminants that the the plants produce radiant light, the spectrum of the plants illuminating light can be selected as desired, but these are choices severely limited as the available Illuminants at best by chance Emit light that has exactly the desired spectrum, and since not every species in an existing plant breeding device of lamps can be used (different lamps can have different sizes, have different sockets, different supply voltages need, need different controls, etc.). Furthermore leads one change the intensity of the light emitted by the lamps, for example by Dimming or a change the size of the supply voltage to a change the spectrum of the light emitted by the illuminants. Further it is problematic to have a desired light distribution in the vicinity of the plants to be grown to reach.

The present invention lies therefore the task of the plant growing device according to the preamble of protection claim 1 so that the ambient conditions for the to be bred Plants, especially those in the plant growing device lighting conditions can be quickly and easily set exactly as required.

This task is covered by the protection claim 1 claimed plant growing device solved.

The plant growing device according to the invention is characterized in that the Means to create certain environmental conditions for the breeding Plants attachable by the user of the plant growing device and include removable wall panels.

Especially through the material, from which the by the user of the plant growing device attachable and removable wall elements exist, and / or by the color of these wall elements, and / or by the surface quality these wall elements, and / or by special coatings of these Wall elements, and / or provided in these wall elements Structures, and / or by other properties of these wall elements Any lighting conditions can be found in the chamber containing the plants produce. Both the spectrum of the plants irradiating Light, as well as on the distribution of light within the Plants containing chamber, as well as on the intensity of the Plants irradiating light can be influenced.

Because the wall elements can be attached and removed by the user of the plant growing device, the influence on the spectrum of the light irradiating the plants and / or on the distribution of the light and / or on the intensity of the light can be effected with very little effort. Furthermore The lighting conditions in the chamber can also be changed at any time without great effort and thus adapted, for example, to changing needs of the plants and / or to the different needs of different plants and / or to new scientific knowledge and / or plant breeding experiments with changed lighting conditions become.

By using the Plant growing device attachable and removable users Wall elements it is even possible in the compartments of plant growing devices containing multiple compartments different lighting conditions to accomplish.

Regardless of this, the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements outside the plant growing device and therefore particularly simple, quick, gentle, and thorough getting cleaned.

Advantageous further developments of Invention are the subclaims the following description, and the figures.

The invention is described below of embodiments explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Show it

1 a plant growing device in which the invention described here can be used, in a view from the front,

2 the in the 1 shown plant growing device but shown without doors,

3 a view of a chamber part in the 1 Plant growing device shown, more precisely the view of a fan part in the 1 plant growing device shown side facing the chamber part,

4 the in the 1 to 3 shown, but provided with additional wall elements plant growing device, in one of the representation in the 2 corresponding representation, and

5 the in the 1 to 3 shown, but provided with additional wall elements plant growing device, in one of the representation in the 3 corresponding representation.

The plant growing device described below is a plant growing device with attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements.

In the embodiment described in more detail here the invention is a plant growing device with one or more chambers, the interchangeable wall elements additional Wall elements are usually inside the chambers in front of the through the housing the plant growing device chamber walls are arranged.

The basis for such a plant growing device can be any conventional or other plant growing equipment.

For a better understanding, reference is first made to the 1 to 3 describes a plant growing device in which the wall elements which can be attached and removed by the user of the plant growing device can be used. The plant growing device described is a plant growing device developed by the applicant.

The referring to the 1 to 3 Plant growing device described is designed to be placed in a walk-in plant growing room. With appropriate adaptation to the given conditions, however, it could also be placed in a plant breeding cabinet and even used outside a walk-in plant breeding room or a plant breeding cabinet. The latter is possible in particular if the air surrounding the plant growing device has the properties desired for plant growing, in particular the desired temperature and / or the desired atmospheric humidity, or if these parameters are not important.

The plant growing device described here is dimensioned so that it the plant nursery or the plant nursery in which it is only partially filled. The one from the plant growing device not filled in Part of the plant breeding room or plant breeding cabinet must be dimensioned in this way and be arranged

• - that a heating or cooling device of the plant breeding room or the plant breeding cabinet is the temperature of the air, which is different from that described here Plant growing device not filled part of the plant growing room or of the plant growing cabinet is on a desired one Bring value and without significant fluctuations on this value to hold and
• - that one if necessary existing air humidification device of the plant nursery or the plant growing cabinet is able to control the relative humidity the air emanating from the plant growing device described here not filled in Part of the plant growing room or plant growing cabinet, to a desired value to bring and to this value without significant fluctuations hold.

Like from the 1 to 3 it can be seen, the plant growing device described here is a wheeled device. The wheels are with the reference number R designated. However, there is no imperative to train the plant growing device to be mobile.

The plant growing device contains

• - several, arranged side by side and / or one above the other (Plant growing) chambers, each of which can be stored for parking of those to be bred Plants, and illuminants for illuminating those to be grown Has plants, and
• - one Fan assembly, through which for that it is ensured that the Air surrounding chambers enters the chambers, so that at least the temperature and humidity of the inside of the chambers the temperature and humidity of the air Take in air surrounding the chambers.

The plant growing device described here contains however, no heating or cooling device, and no humidifier.

The part of the plant growing device which contains the chambers and the associated lighting means is referred to below as the chamber part and is identified in the figures by the reference symbol KT designated. The part of the plant growing device containing the fan arrangement is referred to below as the fan part and is identified in the figures by the reference symbol LT designated.

The fan part LT In the example under consideration, in addition to the fan arrangement, it also contains operating elements and a control device for switching on and off or controlling the lighting means and the fan arrangement. The controls are in the figures with BE designated.

The fan part LT is in the example considered on the side of the chamber part KT appropriate; the connection is made, for example, by a screw connection. However, there is no restriction to this. Where the fan part LT on the chamber part KT is subordinate. The fan part could, for example, also be arranged above the chamber part; this can prove to be necessary or advantageous, for example, if the chambers of the chamber part KT are arranged side by side.

The chamber part KT in the example under consideration contains three chambers K1 to K3 arranged one above the other. However, it should be noted at this point that the chamber part KT can also contain more or less than three chambers, and that the chambers do not have to be arranged one above the other; the chambers can also be arranged next to one another, or partly one above the other and partly next to one another.

The first chamber K1 is down through a first floor B1, up through a first lamp bank LB1, to the left through the fan part LT , bounded to the rear by a first rear wall RW1, to the right by a first side wall SW1, and to the front by two doors T1-1 and T1-2 arranged side by side.

The second chamber K2 is a chamber arranged above the first chamber K1 and is moved downwards by a second floor B2, upwards by a second lamp bank LB2, and to the left by the fan part LT , bounded to the rear by a second rear wall RW2, to the right by a second side wall SW2, and to the front by two doors T2-1 and T2-2 arranged side by side.

The third chamber K3 is a chamber arranged above the second chamber K2 and is moved downwards by a third floor B3, upwards by a third lamp bank LB3, and to the left by the fan part LT , to the rear by a third rear wall RW3, to the right by a third side wall SW3, and to the front by two doors T3-1 and T3-2 arranged side by side.

The floors B1 to B3, the lamp banks LB1 to LB3, the rear walls RW1 to RW3, the side walls SW1 to SW3, and the doors T1-1 to T3-2 are on a frame G of the chamber part KT attached.

The walls surrounding the chambers K1 to K3, in particular the rear walls RW1 to RW3, the side walls SW1 to SW3, and the doors T1-1 to T3-2, are dimensioned and arranged in the example under consideration so that between them and / or between them and the frame G Air gaps are present, through which air surrounding the plant growing device can get into the chambers. Instead of this, provision could also be made for the walls surrounding the chambers to be provided with openings through which air outside the plant growing device can get into the chambers.

Soils B1 to B3 each serve to park the plants to be grown. The floors B1 to B3 are preferably at different heights on the frame G mountable.

The lamp banks LB1 to LB3 contain the above already mentioned Illuminant for illuminating the respective chambers K1 to K3 parked plants. The illuminants are viewed in the Example with fluorescent tubes formed, can but can also be formed by any other light sources.

The fan part LT contains the fan arrangement already mentioned above. In the example under consideration, the fan arrangement consists of several fans which extract the air located in the chambers K1 to K3 and above from the fan part LT out blow. Appropriate control of the fans can be used to set the chamber or chambers from which air is extracted and how large the amount of air extracted per unit of time is.

Associated with the suction of Air from the chambers K1 to K3 flows into them from outside air after the plant growing device described here. This is possible, because, as mentioned above openings in the chamber walls or between the chamber walls are present about the air surrounding the plant growing device into the chambers can reach.

When the fans are switched on, there is therefore continuous air circulation, by means of which the air located within the chambers K1 to K3 is replaced by the air surrounding the plant growing device. This ensures that the inside of the chambers K1 to K3 has the same temperature and the same humidity as the air surrounding the plant growing device.

If the plant growing device in a conventional Plant growing room or plant growing cabinet is provided by the Plant growing room or plant growing cabinet made sure that the outside the described plant growing air preset temperature, and possibly a preset one Has moisture, and is ensured by the fans that automatically also the air inside the chambers K1 to K3 the preset temperature and has the preset humidity.

At this point it should be noted that it would also be possible for the fans of outside air sucked into the plant growing device into the chambers K1 to Blow in K3, and that accompanying thus a corresponding amount of the air contained in the chambers over the openings provided in the chamber walls or between the chamber walls flows into the area surrounding the plant growing device.

In this plant growing device, as already mentioned above, additional wall elements that can be attached and removed by the user of the plant growing device can now be provided. These additional wall elements are plate-shaped structures are located in the intended state within the chambers K1 to K3 in front of the light-reflecting chamber walls with reference to the 1 to 3 Plant growing device described, ie in front of the side of the partition between the chamber part facing the chambers K1 to K3 KT and the fan part LT , and / or in front of the inside of the rear walls RW1 to RW3, and / or in front of the inside of the side walls SW1 to SW3, and / or in front of the inside of the doors T1-1 to T3-2, so that the lamp banks LB1 to LB3 emitted light is not on the partition between the chamber part KT and the fan part LT , the rear walls RW1 to RW3, the side walls SW1 to SW3, and the doors T1-1 to T3-2 is reflected, but by the additional wall elements arranged in front of it.

This is in the 4 and 5 illustrated. The 4 and 5 are the 2 and 3 corresponding representations, but have the additional wall elements which can be attached and removed by the user of the plant growing device.

Like from the 4 and 5 it can be seen

• - is in front of the (in the example considered by the partition between the chamber part KT and the fan part LT formed) left side wall of the chamber K1 provided an additional wall element Zw1-1,
• - is in front of the back wall RW1 of chamber K1 an additional one Wall element ZW1-2 provided,
• - is an additional one in front of the right side wall SW1 of chamber K1 Wall element ZW1-3 provided,
• - are on the inside of the doors T1-1 and T1-2 of the first chamber K1 additional wall elements ZW1-4 and ZW1-5 provided
• - is in front of the (in the example considered by the partition between the chamber part KT and the fan part LT formed) left side wall of the chamber K2, an additional wall element ZW2-1 is provided,
• - is in front of the back wall RW2 of chamber K2 an additional one Wall element ZW2-2 provided,
• - is an additional one in front of the right side wall SW2 of the chamber K2 Wall element ZW2-3 provided,
• - are on the inside of the doors T2-1 and T2-2 of the second chamber K2 additional wall elements ZW2-4 and ZW2-5 provided
• - is in front of the (in the example considered by the partition between the chamber part KT an additional wall element ZW3-1 is provided,
• - is in front of the back wall RW3 of chamber K3 an additional one Wall element ZW3-2 provided,
• - is an additional one in front of the right side wall SW3 of chamber K3 Wall element ZW3-3 provided,
• - are on the inside of the doors T3-1 and T3-2 of chamber K3 additional Wall elements ZW3-4 and ZW3-5 provided.

There is no imperative to all to provide the aforementioned wall elements. Of the above additional Wall elements ZW1-1 to ZW3-5 can any and any number of wall elements can be omitted. How many of the additional mentioned Wall elements and which wall elements are provided or omitted be depends on the effect to be achieved by the wall elements.

In addition, there is none imperative that the additional Wall elements each the entire chamber wall in front of which they are arranged are, cover. The additional Wall elements can independently from each other and independently on the size of the chamber wall, in front of which they are arranged, be of any size, and / or on any Recesses provided and of any size exhibit.

On the other hand, it would also be possible to Soils B1 to cover B3 or parts of it with an additional wall element. This can prove to be advantageous, for example, if the Floors only some of them to be bred Plants are covered.

It would also be conceivable, also in front of the chamber walls closing the chambers upwards or in front of parts of the same additional wall to provide elements. This can prove to be advantageous, for example, but not exclusively, if the lamp banks producing the lighting are not arranged outside the chambers (above them) but at a different location (for example within the chambers).

The additional wall elements ZW1-1 to ZW3-5 are attached to the chamber walls in the example considered, in front of which they are arranged. The attachment takes place in the example under consideration by magnets on the back the additional chamber walls ZW1-1 to ZW3-5 are attached. The attachment can also on any other way. For example, you might be hooked hooked on the chamber walls, in front of which they are arranged, are attached, or on the chamber walls, in front of which they are arranged to be screwed on.

There is no imperative to that additional To attach wall elements ZW1-1 to ZW3-5 to the chamber walls, in front of which they are arranged. You could for example also inserted into rails provided in the chambers and be held by them in their intended position. It would be also conceivable the additional To connect chamber elements with one another at least partially, that she a coherent Unit, more precisely an insert that can be inserted into the chambers form, which is then inserted into the chambers.

Preferably, the additional ones Wall elements ZW1-1 to ZW3-5 have such a size, and will be the additional Wall elements arranged or fastened in the chambers such that they through the user of the plant growing device can be attached quickly and easily and are removable. It is preferable not to disassemble the plant growing device for this required and will do this no tools needed and are made by attaching and removing the extra Wall elements neither the wall elements nor the plant growing device damaged or destroyed. It should illuminate and need no closer Explanation, like the additional ones Wall elements must be designed and fastened to to achieve this.

Thanks to the additional wall elements the lighting conditions prevailing in the chambers become. More specifically, the material from which the additional Wall elements exist, and / or by the color of these wall elements, and / or by the surface condition these wall elements, and / or by special coatings of these wall elements, and / or by structures provided in these wall elements, and / or a desired light distribution due to other properties of these wall elements within the chambers, and / or a desired light intensity, and / or a desired Spectrum of the light irradiating the plants are generated.

The additional wall elements can basically consist of any material, any color, one any surface texture have any coating, any structures have, and have any other properties.

Most conventional plant growing devices (and the light-reflecting chamber inner walls of the same) consist of Stainless steel. You can also the additional ones Wall elements are made of stainless steel, but this will not regarded as optimal. Although can be the use of stainless steel wall elements particularly even light distribution reach inside the chambers, but stainless steel swallows relatively lots of light so that in the Do not chamber the maximum possible Light intensity is achievable.

For plant breeding considerably more suitable lighting conditions come up when the additional Wall elements, more precisely their light reflecting surfaces white or are diffusely reflective.

By using wall elements with white surface a particularly high light intensity can be achieved.

It’s currently considered optimal, if the additional Wall elements are made of aluminum, preferably anodized and / or PVD coated aluminum. By using such Wall elements can have a very good light distribution as well a very high light intensity can be achieved.

By using colored wall elements can adjust the spectrum of the light illuminating the plants as desired become. In particular, but not exclusively, if the additional Wall elements have a colored surface should, it may prove advantageous to add the additional Manufacture plastic wall elements; the making of one certain color wall elements from a corresponding Colored plastic is easier than painting one a different color wall element.

This list of special properties different wall elements to continue arbitrarily. It should illuminate and need no closer Explanation, that different trained wall elements different influences on themselves in the chambers setting lighting conditions to have. So you can through an appropriate selection of the wall elements used the desired lighting conditions be achieved.

The use of the additional wall elements is not based on that with reference to the 1 to 3 described plant growing device be limits. Additional wall elements of the type described above can also be used in any other plant growing apparatus, in particular also in all walk-in plant growing rooms and plant growing cabinets.

It would even be conceivable that here to use presented wall elements in the so-called light shelves. Light shelves are common in plant growing rooms shelves to be set up over every level in which to breed Plants can be parked have their own lamps. With these light shelves, the additional featured here Wall elements side walls for one or form several sides of the shelf compartments that are normally open on the side.

The wall elements presented here after all prove to be extremely advantageous. Through them the prevailing in plant breeding devices lighting conditions fast, easy, and inexpensive set exactly as required.

BE

Bedienungselemente

Bx

Boden

G

Gestell

KT

Kammerteil

Kx

Kammer

LBx

Lampenbank

LT

Lüfterteil

R

Rad

RWx

Rückwand

SWx

Seitenwand

Tx-y

Tür

ZWx

zusätzliches Wandelement

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

BE

controls

Bx

ground

G

frame

KT

chamber member

Kx

chamber

LBx

Lampebank

LT

fan section

R

wheel

rWX

rear wall

SWx

Side wall

Tx-y

door

ZWX

additional wall element

Claims (17)

Plant cultivation device, - with at least one chamber (K1 - K3) for receiving the plants to be grown, the at least one chamber surrounding the wall elements to be grown plants ( rWX . SWx . Tx . ZWX ) comprises, and - with means for creating certain environmental conditions for the plants to be grown, characterized in that the means for creating certain environmental conditions for the plants to be grown by the user of the plant growing device attachable and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3- 5) include. Plant growing device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the Plant growing device is an accessible plant growing room. Plant growing device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the Plant growing device is a plant growing cabinet. Plant growing device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the Plant growing device one for setting in a plant growing room or a plant growing apparatus designed for a plant growing cabinet is. Plant growing device according to claim 4, characterized in that - that of the existing chambers (K1 - K3) storage space in each chamber (B1 - B3) to park the ones to be bred Plants, and illuminants for illuminating those to be grown Has plants, and - that the plant growing device a fan assembly comprises through which for that it is ensured that the Air surrounding the plant growing device enters the chambers (K1 - K3), so that at least the Temperature and humidity of those inside the chambers Air is the temperature and humidity of the environment surrounding the plant growing device Take air. Plant growing device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) which can be attached and removed by the user of the plant growing device are additional wall elements which are located within the at least one chamber in front of the chamber walls delimiting the chamber ( rWX . SWx . Tx ) are arranged. Plant growing device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the Plant growing device is a light shelf, and that through attachable and removable to the user of the plant growing device Wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) side walls for one or form several sides of the shelf compartments that are normally open on the side. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and Removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) designed in this way are that they are without disassembling the plant growing device attachable to this and are removable from this. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) designed in this way are that they can be attached to the plant growing device without tools and from these are removable. Plant growing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the by the user zer of the plant growing device attachable and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) are attached to the plant growing device by magnets attached to the wall elements. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) are made of aluminum. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) are made of anodized aluminum. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) made of PVD-coated aluminum consist. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) are made of plastic. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) have a diffusely reflecting surface. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - Zw3-5) have a white surface. Plant growing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the attachable by the user of the plant growing device and removable wall elements (ZW1-1 - ZW3-5) have a colored surface.