GREENHOUSE SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating a greenhouse system with block storage, at least one block storage element and at least one vehicle. Growth conditions for plants are to be improved. To this end, each block storage element has a carrier frame and a plant receptacle, the plant receptacle being detachably engaged with the carrier frame, the block storage having at least one first zone and one second zone, and at least one first carrier frame and at least one second carrier frame, the plant receptacle in the first zone being detachably engaged with the first carrier frame; and the plant receptacle being subsequently transferred into the second zone, the plant receptacle being transferred from the first carrier frame to the second carrier frame within the framework of transferal from the first zone into the second zone, the plant receptacle in the second zone being detachably engaged with the second carrier frame.

Claims

1. A method for operating a greenhouse system with a block storage, at least one block storage element and at least one vehicle wherein each block storage element includes a carrier frame and a plant receptacle, with the plant receptacle being detachably engagable with the carrier frame, and wherein the block storage has at least one first zone and one second zone, and at least one first carrier frame and at least one second carrier frame; said method comprising: detachably engaging the plant receptacle of the first zone with the first carrier frame, and, subsequently, transferring the plant receptacle into the second zone, said transferring the plant receptacle from the first zone into the second zone comprising transferring the plant receptacle from the first carrier frame to the second carrier frame, and wherein the plant receptacle in the second zone is detachably engaged with the second carrier frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: a plant receptacle stocked with seedlings and/or plants is illuminated in the first zone during a first growth phase by a first lighting system of a first carrier frame arranged above in the direction of gravity and/or that a plant receptacle having plants is illuminated in the second zone during a second growth phase by a second lighting system of a second carrier frame arranged above: in the direction of gravity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the plant receptacle is preferably stocked with seedlings and/or plants at a stocking site outside of the block storage, and subsequently engaged with the first carrier frame and stored in the first zone of the block storage.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: within a framework of a transferal from the first carrier frame to the second carrier frame, the plant receptacle is relocated to a relocation site.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the carrier frame with the plant receptacle with harvestable plants is transferred to a retrieval site, the plant receptacle is separated from the carrier frame at the retrieval site.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the plant receptacle is transferred proceeding from the retrieval site to the stocking site, wherein the plant receptacle is cleaned on the way from the retrieval site to the stocking site.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the greenhouse system has a first buffer and a second buffer, first transport frames with an unloaded plant receptacle or without the plant receptacle are removably stocked in the first buffer, and second transport frames with an unloaded plant receptacle or without the plant receptacle are removably stocked in the second buffer.

8. A greenhouse system comprising: a block storage, at least one block storage element and at least one vehicle, wherein at least one block storage element is configured to be temporarily accommodated in the block storage, wherein the block storage element has a carrier frame and a plant receptacle detachably engaged with the carrier frame, wherein the block storage comprises at least one first zone and one second zone, wherein a first carrier frame forms a first block storage element with the plant receptacle, and a second carrier frame forms a second block storage element with the plant receptacle, wherein the first block storage element is configured to be stocked in the first zone, and the second block storage element is configured to be stocked in the second zone, wherein the plant receptacle is configured to be transferred from the first carrier frame to the second carrier frame.

9. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: the first carrier frame has a first lighting system and/or the second carrier frame has a second lighting system.

10. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: an expansion of the first carrier frame in the direction of gravity is smaller than an expansion of the second carrier frame in the direction of gravity.

11. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: the greenhouse system preferably has a stocking site, a retrieval site and a relocation site.

12. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: the stocking site and/or the retrieval site comprises the relocation site, and/or the stocking site comprises the retrieval site.

13. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: a transfer system is provided between the retrieval site and the stocking site.

14. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: the transfer system has a cleaning device.

15. The greenhouse system according to claim 8, wherein: the greenhouse system has a first buffer for accommodating at least one first transport frame, and a second buffer for accommodating at least one second transport frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a top view of a greenhouse system; and

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sequence for operating the greenhouse system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a greenhouse system 1 with a retrieval site 2, a stocking/relocation site 3, a first zone 4, a second zone 5, a buffer 6, traversing paths 7 for a vehicle (not depicted), a transfer system 8, a cleaning device 9 and a plant receptacle 10, which is at times engaged with a carrier frame (not depicted). The first zone 4, the second zone 5, the buffer 6 as well as part of the traversing paths 7 are arranged within a block storage.

[0037] The first zone 4, the second zone 5 and the buffer have block storage element receiving rooms (not depicted), into which block storage elements (see below) are stocked and retrieved through a loading room (not depicted) from below in the direction of gravity.

[0038] The sequence of a cycle during operation of the greenhouse system 1 will be shown below based upon FIG. 2. A plant receptacle 10 is seeded at the stocking/relocation site 3. The seeded plant receptacle 10 is further engaged with a first carrier frame at the stocking/retrieval site. The plant receptacle 10 and the first carrier frame together form a first block storage element.

[0039] The first block storage element is transferred into the first zone, or into a block storage element receiving room in the first zone.

[0040] The first block storage element remains in the first zone 4 for a defined period until the seeds have reached a defined growth stage.

[0041] In order for the seeds to encounter an optimal growth environment, the atmosphere within the first zone can be adjusted. The lighting conditions are here realized by way of lighting systems on the carrier frame (not depicted). Depending on the plant type, seeds prefer a light-intensive or rather darker environment for germinating. Based on the preferences, the first carrier frame can be outfitted with corresponding lighting systems. In addition, seeds and their seedlings are smaller than plants in subsequent growth phases. Accordingly, the first carrier frame has an expansion measured in the direction of gravity that is adjusted to the first growth phase.

[0042] After a certain time, the seedlings that arose from the seeds require a different environment as well as different space conditions. To this end, the complete first block storage element complete with first carrier frame and plant receptacle 10 is transferred out of the first zone 4 to the stocking/relocation site 3. At the stocking/relocation site 3, the plant receptacle 10 is separated from the first carrier frame. The first carrier frame is then transferred into the buffer 6, for example. The plant receptacle 10 is engaged with a second carrier frame, so that the second carrier frame forms a second block storage element with the plant receptacle 10. For example, the second carrier frame is here removed from the buffer.

[0043] The second block storage element is then transferred from the vehicle into the second zone 5, wherein the second block storage element is stocked in a block storage element receiving room of the second zone. In the second zone, the atmosphere and lighting are adjusted to the growth stage and corresponding requirements of the plant.

[0044] The second carrier frame is likewise adjusted to the required conditions of the plant. The second carrier frame enables a larger expansion in the direction of gravity of the plant. In addition, plants in later growth phases require more light, so that the second carrier frame has a different lighting system. The lighting system is here arranged in such a way as to radiate downwardly in the direction of gravity. In a block storage element stack, one block storage element, in particular the plant receptacle 10, is irradiated from above.

[0045] The process of relocating from one zone 4, 5 to another zone 5, 4 and the associated relocation of the plant receptacle 10 from one carrier frame into another carrier frame can be repeated according to the needs of the plant. Each zone and each carrier frame can here be adjusted to the needs of the plant in a corresponding growth stage.

[0046] As soon as the plants have reached a harvestable stage, they along with the plant receptacle 10 and the carrier frame, here for example the second carrier frame, are transferred as a second block storage element out of the second zone to the retrieval site 2 by the vehicle.

[0047] At the retrieval site 2, the plant receptacle 10 is separated from the second carrier frame, wherein the second carrier frame is subsequently transferred into the buffer 6, for example. The buffer 6 can here also be arranged in the first zone 4 and/or in the second zone 5, for example, wherein plants with varying growth progress are stocked in the first zone 4 and the second zone 5.

[0048] The harvestable plants of the plant receptacle 10 are harvested. The plant receptacle 10 is subsequently transferred by the transfer system 8 to the cleaning device 9, wherein the cleaning device 9 cleans and/or disinfects the plant receptacle 10. The plant receptacle 10 is subsequently brought to the stocking/relocation site 3, where it is again loaded with seeds or seedlings. The transfer system 8 here serves to provide the plant receptacles 10. The transfer system 8 thus also has a buffer function.

[0049] The carrier frames are here exclusively moved by the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle can separate the carrier frames from the plant receptacle 10, so that the plant receptacles can be removed from the carrier frame at the stocking/relocation site 3 and/or retrieval site 2. In addition, several vehicles can be provided.

[0050] For example, complete block storage element stacks are always stocked, relocated, or retrieved. The complete block storage element stack relates to the maximum storage capacity of a block storage element receiving room. Proceeding from the vehicle, the block storage elements are here individually transferred from a block storage element receiving room into another block storage element receiving room. As a consequence, a fixed time period of the growth phase for the plants is allocated to each block storage element receiving room, for example. For example, a first block storage element receiving room is allocated to the first day of the growth phase, a second block storage element receiving room to a second day of the growth phase, etc. The number of block storage element receiving rooms is defined according to the time period of the growth phase.

[0051] As shown, zones 4, 5 are spatially separated from each other. However, they can also adjoin each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0052] 1 Greenhouse system [0053] 2 Retrieval site [0054] 3 Stocking/relocation site [0055] 4 First zone [0056] 5 Second zone [0057] 6 Buffer [0058] 7 Traversing path [0059] 8 Transfer system [0060] 9 Cleaning device [0061] 10 Plant receptacle