Method for growing plants accommodated in containers on a bearer provided at a first, low level in a glasshouse

• US 6,854,209 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rijnplant B.V. (Dummen Orange)
• Original Assignee: Rijnplant B.V. (Dummen Orange)
• Inventors: Geerlings, Harry, Van Horssen, Frederik Pius
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T.
• Application Number:
  US10/283,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 47/17, 47/18, 479/01
• US Class Current: 47/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1423 Greenhouse bench structures
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/143 Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

In a method for growing plants in a glasshouse and for moving said plants, and also propagation system, substantially the entire surface area of the glasshouse is used for propagating plants on a first, low bearer. Benches or second bearers are movable over the plants, and with a robot, plants can be moved from the first, low level to a second, higher level on the second bearer of the mobile benches. The mobile containers can be removed from the glasshouses in order to perform treatments on the plants.

Claims

1. Method for growing first plants on a first bearer provided at a first, low level in a glasshouse, comprising the steps of:

moving said first plants from said first bearer by a means of conveyance, over second plants at the first, low level, to a second bearer, wherein a number of second bearers disposed in a row are present; and

temporarily horizontally moving the second bearer with the first plants over said second plants, such that the second plants are underneath the second bearer and go into shade for a short time,

wherein movement of the second bearer causing movement of at least one other of said second bearers so that the second plants at the first low level are not in shade, and each second bearer is capable of containing a large number of plants placed next to each other in two horizontal directions.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a number of first plants are moved simultaneously from said first to said second bearer, or vice versa.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the distance between said first plants is altered during the movement.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said second bearer is moved in a first direction in said glasshouse and at a fixed point in said glasshouse is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first horizontal direction.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein a number of second bearers are moved simultaneously in the first horizontal direction.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said second bearer comprises a bench-like construction.

7. Propagation system comprising:

a glasshouse with a first bearer at a first, low level for growing plants accommodated in containers on it,

transfer means (2) for moving said containers to second, higher level, second bearers that are movable in a horizontal direction over said first low level,

which second bearers are situated at that second level arranged to temporarily move over said first level and are designed to receive plants from/deliver plants to said transfer means,

said transfer means being active in a first vertical direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal direction of said second bearers in said glasshouse, and

said second bearers being designed as storage/conveyance bearers,

wherein said second bearers comprise a series of bench bearers standing against each other, the first plants being exposed to light when on the second bearer positioned over the second plants and the second plants being free of any shade.

8. Propagation system according to claim 7, wherein said transfer means comprise a robot that is movable in said first vertical direction.

9. Propagation system according to claim 8, wherein said robot comprises a conveyor assembly for plants that extends transversely to its direction of movement.

10. Propagation system according to claim 9, wherein said conveyor system is designed for altering the distance between adjacent plants.

11. Propagation system according to claim 7, further comprising a receiving/delivery station (23) for said second bearers, which receiving/delivery station is designed to receive said second bearers in the first vertical direction and to deliver them in the horizontal direction, or vice versa.

12. Propagation system according to claim 7, further comprising a vehicle (25) for moving said second bearers.

13. Propagation system according to claim 7, further comprising retaining means for said containers on said bench bearers.