A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM, AND A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

Abstract

Hydroponic systems for growing plants, and a corresponding process for line production of the hydroponic systems are provided.

Claims

1. A hydroponic system comprising: an elongated hydroponic reservoir; and one or more elongated growth medium rods comprising an amount of growth medium held in a water and air permeable sheet material; wherein said elongated hydroponic reservoir comprises: a1) one cavity of at least 0.5 meters, extending along the length of said reservoir and adapted for receiving an elongate growth medium rod; and a2) one elongate growth medium rod positioned on its side within the cavity of said reservoir; or b1) a plurality of elongated cavities of at least 0.5 meters, each cavity extending along the length of said reservoir, and each cavity adapted for receiving an elongate growth medium rod; and b2) a plurality of elongated growth medium rods, each elongated growth medium rod positioned on its side within each cavity of said reservoir; wherein said elongated growth medium rod(s) has i) a length of at least 0.5 meters or ii) a length corresponding to the length of said cavity in which it is positioned.

2. (canceled)

3. The hydroponic system according to claim 1, wherein the length of the one or more elongated growth medium rods is within the range of 0.5 meters.

4. The hydroponic system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more elongated growth medium rods comprises a plurality of cavities positioned along its length.

5. The hydroponic system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more elongated growth medium rods comprises a plurality of cavities positioned along its length, and wherein a plurality of the cavities each contains one or more seeds.

6. The hydroponic system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more elongated growth medium rods comprises a plurality of cavities positioned along its length, and wherein a plurality of the cavities each are filled with a seedling.

7. The hydroponic system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more elongated growth medium rods comprises a plurality of cavities positioned along its length, wherein a plurality of the cavities each contain one or more seeds, and wherein the cavities are distributed at equidistance along the length of the one or more elongated growth medium rods.

8. The hydroponic system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more growth medium rods are pre-seeded with seeds in or on the growth medium, preferably with a predefined distance between said seeds.

9. A system for use in a process of producing a hydroponic system, the system comprising: a conveyor system adapted for transporting an elongated hydroponic reservoir comprising one or more elongated cavities of at least 0.5 meters and extending along the length of said reservoir and adapted for receiving an elongate growth medium rod; a growth medium rod distributor unit adapted for positioning growth medium rods into said cavity or cavities of said elongated hydroponic reservoir, said growth medium rods having a) a length of at least 0.5 meters or b) a length corresponding to the length of said cavity; at least one of a drilling unit and indentation unit, the drilling unit adapted for drilling a plurality of cavities along the length of said growth medium rod positioned within said hydroponic reservoir, and the indentation unit adapted for indenting a plurality of cavities along the length of said growth medium rod positioned within said hydroponic reservoir; and at least one of a seedling delivery unit and a seed delivery unit, the seedling delivery unit adapted for inserting a seedling in a plant rod into a plurality of cavities of said growth medium rod, and the seed delivery unit adapted for positioning or dropping a seed into a plurality of cavities of said growth medium rod; wherein said conveyor system is adapted for transporting an elongated hydroponic reservoir through said growth medium rod distributor unit, at least one of a drilling unit and indentation unit, and at least one of a seedling delivery unit and a seed delivery unit.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor system comprises a first conveyor positioned upstream to the growth medium rod distributor unit, and a second conveyor positioned downstream to the growth medium rod distributor unit.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor system comprises a first conveyor positioned upstream to the growth medium rod distributor unit, and a second conveyor positioned downstream to the growth medium rod distributor unit, and wherein the first conveyor is a stepper conveyor configured to move the hydroponic reservoir in successive distance movements.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the growth medium rod distributor unit comprises a growth medium rod production unit.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the growth medium rods comprise an amount of growth medium held in a water and air permeable sheet material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0078] FIGS. 1-3 show different views of systems for line production of a hydroponic system according to various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0079] FIGS. 1-3 show different views of systems for line production of a hydroponic system according to various embodiments of the present invention. The shown system is capable of handling nine juxtaposed hydroponic reservoirs at the time but may be used with fewer, such a one, and can also be configured to handle even more. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the system. The system comprises a conveyor system 110, 120 adapted for transporting (juxtaposed) elongated hydroponic reservoirs 210; a growth medium rod distributor unit 130 adapted for positioning growth medium rods into elongated hydroponic reservoirs 210; an indentation unit 140 adapted for indenting/dibbling a cavity (not shown) in the side of a growth medium rod positioned within said hydroponic reservoir 210; and a seed delivery unit 150 adapted for positioning or dropping a seed into a formed cavity of each of said growth medium rods. A mechanism adapted for aligning the hydroponic reservoirs 210 before loading the growth medium rod 220 therein is not shown but may be present.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a closeup view of the system at the location of the indentation unit 140. A hydroponic system has just been produced and is forwarded to the seed delivery unit 150 (FIG. 1) adapted for positioning or dropping a seed into a cavity of a growth medium rod 220.

[0081] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a growth medium rod distributor unit 130 adapted for positioning growth medium rods 220 into an elongated hydroponic reservoir 210. The remaining part of the system is not shown. This apparatus is only capable of filling a single elongated hydroponic reservoir at the time.

REFERENCES

[0082] 110 Conveyor [0083] 120 Conveyor [0084] 130 Distributor unit [0085] 140 Indentation unit [0086] 150 Seed delivery unit [0087] 210 Hydroponic reservoir [0088] 220 Growth medium rod