SYSTEM FOR THE CULTIVATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC ORGANISMS, SUCH AS PLANTS OR THE LIKE

Abstract

System for the cultivation of photosynthetic living organisms, such as plants (5), comprising a support structure for a plurality of shelves (1, 2) on which to cultivate said plants (5), said shelves (1, 2) being positioned one above the other, along a vertical axis, so as to identify a space (100, 110) interposed between the upper face of a shelf and the lower face of the overlying shelf, which space (100, 110) is adapted to cultivate the plants. A light (A. B. C) capture device (3) of a light source is provided, which capture device (3) is positioned above the highest shelf (1), there being transmission means of the light (A. B. C) connected to said capture device (3), which transmission means are configured for the transmission of the light (A. B. C) from the highest shelf (1) to the lower shelves, said activation/inactivation means of said capture device (3) and of said transmission means being provided.

Claims

1. A system for the cultivation of photosynthetic living organisms, comprising: a support structure of a plurality of shelves on which the plants are to be cultivated, the shelves being positioned one above the other, along a vertical axis, so as to identify a space interposed between the upper face of a shelf and the lower face of the overlying shelf, which space is adapted to cultivate the photosynthetic living organisms; a light source capture device positioned above a highest shelf, light source transmission means connected to the capture device configured for the transmission of the light source: from the highest shelf to the lower shelves, and activating and deactivating means for activating and deactivating the capture device and the light source transmission means are contemplated.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light source transmission means comprise a transmission channel configured to transmit light radiation from one shelf to another and a plurality of diffuser elements connected to the transmission channel.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the capture device and the diffuser elements pass from an active condition, in which they transmit the light source to the lower shelves, to an inactive condition, in which they do not transmit the light source to the lower shelves.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein; the capture device comprises a first parabolic section element arranged with the concavity facing the top of the shelf and a second parabolic section element, of smaller dimensions than the first parabolic section element, placed above the first parabolic section element and with the concavity facing in the direction of the first parabolic section element, and one end of the transmission channel is placed in an identified space between the two parabolic section elements, the first and the second parabolic section elements passing from a transparent condition, corresponding to the inactive condition of the capture device, to a reflective condition, corresponding to the active condition of the capture device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the end of the transmission channel is positioned at the focus of the second parabolic section element.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each diffuser element comprises a third parabolic section element arranged with the concavity facing the top of the shelf and a fourth parabolic section element, of greater dimensions than the third parabolic section element, placed above the third parabolic section element and with the concavity facing in the direction of the third parabolic section element, passing the transmission channel through the third parabolic section element, the third and the fourth parabolic section elements passing from a transparent condition, corresponding to the active condition of the the diffuser device, to a reflective condition, corresponding to the inactive condition of the the diffuser device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the activation and deactivation means are configured to control independently each individual diffuser element and the capture device.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the activation and de civ ion means are connected to the diffuser elements and to the capture device through electrical connection cables, the activation/inactivation means comprising a control unit configured to set the electrical current to be sent to the diffuser elements and to the capture device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the activation and deactivation means are configured to set the diffuser elements and the capture device in the active condition according to predetermined time intervals.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the activation and deactivation means comprise a light energy quantity detection device for each shelf.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein the capture device and the diffuser elements pass from an active condition, in which they transmit the light source to the lower shelves, to an inactive condition, in which they do not transmit the light source to the lower shelves.

Description

[0065] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a sectional view of the system that is the object of the present invention, according to one possible embodiment;

[0067] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate the variant of FIG. 1 under two different operating conditions of the system components;

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a sectional view of the system that is the object of the present invention, according to a further embodiment;

[0069] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the variant of FIG. 3, according to two different operating conditions of the system components.

[0070] It should be noted that, in order to better understand the advantages and features disclosed, the Figures attached to this patent application illustrate only some possible forms of the system for the nursery cultivation of plants covered by the present invention.

[0071] These embodiments are therefore intended purely for illustrative purposes and not as a limitation to the inventive concept of the present invention, i.e., that of creating a vertical greenhouse capable of optimised use of light, also making it possible to use natural light.

[0072] With particular reference to FIG. 1, an illustrative diagram of the system covered by the present invention is illustrated.

[0073] The system that is the object of the invention has a vertical greenhouse that includes a support structure (not illustrated in the Figures) made according to any of the methods known to the state of the art.

[0074] The support structure sustains a plurality of shelves 1, 2 on which to cultivate plants 5.

[0075] The shelves 1, 2 are positioned one above the other, along a vertical axis, so as to identify a space 100, 110 interposed between the upper face of a shelf 2 and the lower face of the overlying shelf 1, which space is adapted to cultivate the plants 5, 30 FIG. 1 shows a view of a section of part of the components of the system that is the object of the present invention, in which a light source is assumed to be generated at the top of the system, i.e., above shelf 1.

[0076] In addition, FIG. 1 shows a view of the system with two shelves 1 and 2, but, as will be disclosed later and with reference to FIG. 3, it will be evident how the system that is the object of the present invention can be made with any number of shelves.

[0077] In particular, the system comprises a light capture device 3 of the light source, positioned above the highest shelf 1.

[0078] The light source radiates the space 100 relating to the plants grown on shelf 1, but can be transferred to the lower shelf by means of transmission means, consisting of a transmission channel 40 and diffuser elements 4. The transmission channel may for example be constituted by any means configured to carry the light energy, such as an optical fibre or a light guide.

[0079] FIG. 1 illustrates two capture devices 3 optically connected to two corresponding diffuser elements 4 through two transmission channels 40, but it is evident that it is possible to use any number of such components.

[0080] Preferably, for simplicity of construction, a capture device 3 corresponds to a diffuser element 4 per shelf and a single transmission channel 40.

[0081] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the capture device 3 consists of a first parabolic section element 31 arranged with the concavity facing the top of the shelf 1 and a second parabolic section element 32, placed above the first parabolic section element 31 and with the concavity facing in the direction of the first parabolic section element 31.

[0082] The second parabolic section element 32 is smaller in size than the first parabolic section element 31.

[0083] Parabolic section elements 31 and 32 are preferably concave elements.

[0084] It is possible, however, to contemplate any three-dimensional shape that has a parabolic cross-section, such as funnel, semi-cylindrical or similar shapes.

[0085] As will be evident from the following disclosure, the concave shape makes possible the best possible collection of light in order either to radiate it into the space 100 or transmit it to the transmission channel 40.

[0086] The diffuser element 4 is made in an entirely similar way to the capture device 3, but is arranged in a specular manner, that is, it has a third parabolic section element 41 arranged with the concavity facing the top of the shelf 2 and a fourth parabolic section element 42, of greater dimensions than the third parabolic section element 41, and placed above the third parabolic section element 41 and with the concavity facing the direction of the third parabolic section element 41.

[0087] All the parabolic section elements 31, 32, 41, 42 are made of a material such that they pass from a condition of transparency, that is, in which they are transparent to the light radiation, to a reflective condition, that is, in which they reflect the light radiation.

[0088] As will be seen later, the transition from the transparent condition to the reflective condition enables/disables the transmission of the light source to the lower shelves.

[0089] The transparent condition of capture device 3 disables transmission to the lower shelves (due to their design), while the reflective condition enables transmission.

[0090] Conversely, the transparent condition of the diffuser element 4 enables transmission to the lower shelves, while the reflective condition disables transmission of the light source to the lower shelves.

[0091] According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 1, the transmission channel 41 has two ends, an upper end and a lower end, located in the focus of the parabolas of the second parabolic section element 32 and the third parabolic section element 41, respectively.

[0092] Advantageously, at the upper end of the transmission channel 40, a focusing lens 401 is provided, while at the lower end a diffusion lens 402 is provided.

[0093] As is evident from FIG. 1, the transmission channel 40 has its upper end in the space identified by the first 31 and second 32 parabolic section elements, while it has its lower end in the space between the third 31 and fourth 42 parabolic section elements.

[0094] To adjust the transition from the transparent condition to the reflective condition, there are activation/inactivation means not illustrated in the figures.

[0095] According to a preferred embodiment, the parabolic section elements 31, 32, 41, 42 consist of glasses known to the state of the art under the brand name of Priva-Lite?, which pass from transparent glasses to reflective glasses thanks to the characteristics of electric currents that run through them.

[0096] For this reason, preferably, the activation/inactivation means are electrically connected to the parabolic section elements 31, 32, 41, 42 and have an electric power generation unit, together with a processing unit.

[0097] The processing unit generates control signals to be sent to the parabolic section elements, in particular electrical current intensity in order to change the condition of transparent or reflective even with progressive variations to convey the light with various degrees of intensity in the various shelves.

[0098] The currents are preferably generated so that, according to predetermined intervals, only one shelf is irradiated with the light energy, so as to exploit the effect of photosaturation of the plants 5.

[0099] According to one possible embodiment, the duration of the intervals can be established on the basis of the irradiation of each shelf and/or on the basis of the type of plants grown on each shelf.

[0100] Based on the characteristics of the system disclosed, FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate the operation of said system.

[0101] In FIG. 2a, the parabolic section elements 31 and 32 are in a transparent condition, whereby the light source, illustrated with arrow A, which is generated in the upper part of the shelf 1, passes through the transparent elements 31 and 32 and radiates the entire space 100 of the shelf 1.

[0102] It follows that the shelf 1 is illuminated by the light radiation, while the space 110 of the shelf 2 is in the dark.

[0103] It is specified that, preferably, the capture devices 3 and the diffuser elements 4 are independently controlled for each shelf 1, 2. However, it is also possible for each single parabolic element to be controlled independently.

[0104] In fact, with reference to FIG. 2a, it is sufficient that only the parabolic section element 31 is transparent to diffuse the light inside the space 100, while the parabolic section element 32 can be in any condition, although if it were in the reflective state, it would produce an unwanted and unnecessary shadow on the shelf 1.

[0105] FIG. 2b illustrates a change of state of the system that is the object of the present invention, in which the activation/inactivation means generate current signals to be sent to the parabolic section elements 31, 32, 41, 42 so that both the capture device 3 and the diffuser element 4 are in a reflective condition.

[0106] When the surfaces of the parabolic section elements 31 and 32 are polarised, they are completely mirror-like reflective and the light beam, indicated by the arrow B, is reflected by the first parabolic surface of the element 31, converging on the second parabolic surface of the element 32, also reflective which further focuses the rays at the point where the concentration lens 401 allows them to be injected into the transmission channel 40, such as for example a light guide. In this way, the shelf 1 is in the dark. All the rays are channelled into the light guide 40, which runs through the shelf 1 and reaches the diffuser element 4, in a reflective condition.

[0107] The light rays channelled into the light guide 40 through the diffusion lens 402 are diffused towards the reflective surfaces of the element 42, arrow C, which thus diffuses them and illuminates the shelf 2.

[0108] The parabolic shape of the elements 31, 32, 41, 42 allows the light source to be captured, regardless of the direction of origin of the latter.

[0109] Furthermore, in the case of light coming from the top of the shelf 1, a correct positioning of the parabolic section element 31 at the top wall of the shelf allows all the light to be captured within the area identified by the concave part of the parabolic section element 31.

[0110] As mentioned above, the system that is the object of the present invention is not limited to two single shelves, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 2b, but the disclosed operation and features can be contemplated for three or more shelves.

[0111] In this case, FIG. 3, instead of stopping at the top of the shelf 2, the transmission channel 40, i.e., the light guide 40, extends over the entire height of the greenhouse, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0112] Preferably, unlike the embodiment illustrated in the previous Figures, each shelf, unlike the lens 401, has an optical element 403, for each diffuser element 4, the operation of which will be disclosed below.

[0113] Operation in the case of a plurality of shelves is very similar to that described above and is briefly summarised with respect to FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0114] In FIG. 4a, the capture device 3 is in a transparent condition, whereby the light source, generated in the upper part of the shelf 1, diffuses within the zone 100 of the shelf 1, without being transmitted to the shelf 2.

[0115] In FIG. 4b, however, the capture element 3 is in a reflective condition, whereby the radiation from the light source is reflected and transmitted in the light guide 40 according to the methods disclosed above.

[0116] Once the light radiation is conveyed inside the light guide 40, this radiation is transmitted to the shelves below the shelf 1.

[0117] Transmission is via the optical element 403, which is preferably remote controlled.

[0118] By means of an electronic control, the optical element 403 can assume the functions of a diffusive lens, just like the lens 402, in the case where the corresponding shelf is to be illuminated, or of a simple neutral lens (without any convergence or divergence function) in the case where the light beam passing through the light guide 40 is to be used to illuminate the lower shelves.

[0119] Therefore, changing the state of the element 403 allows the light to be diffused within the corresponding shelf or to allow the light to pass to the shelves below.

[0120] By suitably combining both the dual function of the optical element 403 and the condition of the parabolic section elements 41, 42, the scattering of light is allowed on a single shelf below the first shelf.

[0121] In the case where the diffuser element 4 is in a reflective condition, as in the case of FIG. 2b, and the optical element 403 in a diffusion condition, such as the lens 402, the light radiates the zone 110 of the shelf 2.

[0122] If the diffuser element 4 is in a transparent condition and the optical element 403 in a neutral condition, the light radiation passes through the light guide 40, finds no obstruction at the optical element 403, and can therefore be transmitted to the shelves below shelf 2.

[0123] The shelves below the shelf 2 will therefore be illuminated or be in the dark based on the condition of the diffuser elements 4 and the optical element 403 of each shelf, the operation of which is the same as that disclosed for the shelf 2.

[0124] Advantageously, the control unit of the transparent/reflective condition of the parabolic section elements 31, 32, 41, 42 is the same as the optical elements 403.

[0125] Finally, it should be noted that the system that is the object of the present invention may, like the vertical greenhouses known in the state of the art, have an irrigation system suitable for watering plants 5.

[0126] Such an irrigation system may, for example, consist of one or more channels provided in the overhead walls of each shelf, or by imbibition through irrigation systems in the shelves themselves.

[0127] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and disclosed in detail.

[0128] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, the aim is to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0129] The use of for example, etc. or or refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

[0130] The use of includes means includes but is not limited to, unless otherwise stated.