IP Library Granted Patent US 11,452,270
Granted Patent B2
US 11,452,270 · App. 16/496,301 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Automatic system for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation

Inventors: Giulio Caselli (Rome, IT); Christian Cervone (Rome, IT); Massimiliano Carbone (Rome, IT); Jacopo Teodori (Rome, IT); Ares Ferrigni (S.benedetto del Tronto, IT)
Assignee: WALLFARM SRL
A01G31/02C02F1/66
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,452,270
App. No.
16/496,301
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic system for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants in a water-based solution contained in a main reservoir includes: a pump connected to the main reservoir; an analysis chamber connected to the pump; a sensor module with sensing probes; an additive module; an injection module; an electronic control board; and a user interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic control board. The sensor module includes a conveyor plane displaceable horizontally by a motor to accurately position the sensing probes and two linear actuators provided with rack and managed, in turn, by two corresponding servo-motors configured to immerse and independently remove the sensing probes, moving them on two axes.

Claims (19)

1. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants, for the management of a water-based solution contained in a general tank, comprising:

A pump ( 116 ) connected to the general tank;

An analysis chamber ( 110 ) connected to the pump ( 116 );

A sensor module ( 102 ) comprising sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″) configured to be immersed into the analysis chamber ( 110 ), a handling support ( 102 a ) of the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″) and a calibration support ( 102 b ) containing liquids necessary for the calibration of the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″);

An additive module ( 104 ) comprising at least one liquid nutritional bottle ( 107 a ) and at least one liquid PH corrector bottle ( 107 b ) to add the liquids to the water-based solution;

An injection module ( 103 ) comprising at least one injector ( 103 a ) for each bottle ( 107 a , 107 b ) able to channel the liquids of said bottles ( 107 a , 107 b ) and send them to the analysis chamber ( 110 );

An electronic control board configured to: receive from the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″) the data of the analysis of the solution sent from the general tank to the analysis chamber ( 110 ) by means of the pump ( 116 ); driving the addition of the liquids from the bottles ( 107 a , 107 b ); enabling the injectors ( 103 a ) to send a predetermined amount of additive liquids in the analysis chamber ( 110 ); and adjusting the operation of further external devices; and

A user interface ( 108 ) configured to wireless communicate with the electronic control board; wherein the sensor module ( 102 ) comprises a conveyor plane ( 102 b ′) displaceable horizontally by a motor to accurately position the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″) and two linear actuators ( 102 d ′, 102 d ″) provided with rack and managed, in turn, by two corresponding servo-motors ( 102 e , 102 f ) configured to immerse and independently remove the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″), moving them on two axes.

2. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein the calibration support ( 102 b ) comprises calibration bottles ( 102 b ″) provided with watertight check valves, able to be opened in response to a mechanical pressure exerted by the sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″) when activated, removable and sealed with a removable film.

3. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 2 , wherein the analysis chamber ( 110 ) and the calibration bottles ( 102 b ″) are supported by a slide frame integral with a front of the shell ( 101 ).

4. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , further comprising a shell ( 101 ) equipped with a front compartment opening ( 101 a ) and openings for the input of the bottles ( 107 a , 107 b ), and a bottom constituted by a mechanical drilling and anchoring semi-permanent system provided with non-return valve and configured to channel the additive liquid into the injection module ( 103 ).

5. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 4 , wherein the analysis chamber ( 110 ) and the calibration bottles ( 102 b ″) are supported by a slide frame integral with a front of the shell ( 101 ).

6. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis chamber ( 110 ) and the calibration bottles ( 102 b ″) are supported by a slide frame integral with a front of the shell ( 101 ).

7. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 6 , wherein the analysis chamber ( 110 ) is provided with: an upper opening ( 111 a ); a watertight closure plug ( 111 b ); two valves for the input of sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″); connectors ( 114 , 115 ) respectively communicating with the injectors ( 103 a ) and with the pump ( 116 ); and a register for placement on the sliding frame.

8. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein each bottle ( 107 a , 107 b ) is equipped with an electromagnetic serial ID recognizable by the electronic control board.

9. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 8 , wherein the bottles ( 107 a , 107 b ) are equipped with a cap provided with a dip tube and a tightening ring which allows the anchor to the connector ( 103 b ) and on which is disposed an NFC electromagnetic device, whose code reader is positioned on the receiving connector ( 103 b ).

10. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one injector ( 103 a ) is equipped with two connectors ( 103 b ) having two valves, with a rubber pad ( 103 g ) jointed to a piston ( 103 c ) provided with a rack and a motor, a first connector ( 103 b ) incorporating a specific one-way valve for the inlet of the liquid in a loading phase and a second connector ( 103 b ) allowing the liquid drainage in a compression phase.

11. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein the bottles ( 107 a , 107 b ) are equipped with a cap provided with a dip tube and a tightening ring which allows the anchor to the connector ( 103 b ) and on which is disposed an NFC electromagnetic device, whose code reader is positioned on the receiving connector ( 103 b ).

12. Automatic system ( 100 ) for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis chamber ( 110 ) is provided with: an upper opening ( 111 a ); a watertight closure plug ( 111 b ); two valves for the input of sensing probes ( 102 c ′, 102 c ″); connectors ( 114 , 115 ) respectively communicating with the injectors ( 103 a ) and with the pump ( 116 ); and a register for placement on the sliding frame.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: CASELLI, GIULIO; CERVONE, CHRISTIAN; CARBONE, MASSIMILIANO; TEODORI, JACOPO; FERRIGNI, ARES
To: WALLFARM SRL
Reel/Frame 050476/0754 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102017000031730 · Mar 22, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200060107A1 · Feb 27, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,677,767