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 system for use in a process of producing a hydroponic system, the system comprising: an elongated hydroponic reservoir comprising at least one elongated cavity of at least 0.5 meters and extending along the length of said reservoir; a conveyor system adapted for transporting the elongated hydroponic reservoir; at least one growth medium rod configured to be received in the elongated hydroponic reservoir; the at least one growth medium rod having a length of at least 0.5 meters, wherein said growth medium rod comprises an amount of growth medium held in a water and air permeable sheet material formed as a tube or cylinder covering the amount of growth medium; a growth medium rod distributor unit configured to position the at least one growth medium rod into a respective at least one cavity of said elongated hydroponic reservoir; at least one of a drilling unit or an indentation unit, the drilling unit configured to drill a plurality of cavities along the length of said growth medium rod positioned within said hydroponic reservoir, and the indentation unit configured to indent another 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 or a seed delivery unit, the seedling delivery unit configured to insert a seedling in a plant rod into a cavity of said plurality of cavities of said growth medium rod, and the seed delivery unit configured to position and drop a seed into a said cavity of said plurality of cavities of said growth medium rod; wherein said conveyor system is configured to transport the elongated hydroponic reservoir through said growth medium rod distributor unit, at least one of the drilling unit or indentation unit, and at least one of the seedling delivery unit or the seed delivery unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, 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.

3. The system according to claim 1, 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.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the growth medium rod distributor unit comprises a growth medium rod production unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) 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

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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

(5) 110 Conveyor 120 Conveyor 130 Distributor unit 140 Indentation unit 150 Seed delivery unit 210 Hydroponic reservoir 220 Growth medium rod