IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,589,525
Granted Patent B2
US 11,589,525 · App. 17/050,104 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Plant cultivation device

Inventor: Lucas Schmutzer (Brunn am Gebirge, AT)
A01G31/047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,589,525
App. No.
17/050,104
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a plant cultivation device ( 1 ) having: a housing ( 2 ), a receiving drum ( 3 ) which is rotatably mounted on the housing ( 2 ) and comprises multiple plant receiving containers ( 5 ) for plants ( 6 ), a drive ( 8 ) for rotating the receiving drum ( 3 ) within the housing ( 2 ), and a robot device ( 10 ) with a mounting ( 11 ) for a first working head ( 12 ) for supplying the plants ( 6 ) into the plant receiving containers ( 5 ), comprising a first linear guide ( 13 ) for moving the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a first axis and comprising a second linear guide ( 14 ) for moving the first linear guide ( 13 ) together with the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a second axis.

Claims (32)

1. A plant cultivation device ( 1 ) comprising:

a housing ( 2 );

a receiving drum ( 3 ) which is rotatably mounted on the housing ( 2 ) and comprises multiple plant receiving containers ( 5 ) for plants ( 6 );

a drive ( 8 ) for rotating the receiving drum ( 3 ) within the housing ( 2 ); and

a robot device ( 10 ) with a mounting ( 11 ) for a first working head ( 12 ) for supplying the plants ( 6 ) in the plant receiving containers ( 5 ), comprising a first linear guide ( 13 ) for moving the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a first axis and comprising a second linear guide ( 14 ) for moving the first linear guide ( 13 ) together with the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a second axis;

a holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments is provided for the exchange of the first working head ( 12 ) for a second working head ( 18 ), or the first working head ( 12 ) for a third working head, or the first working head ( 12 ) for a fourth working head; and

wherein the holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments is mounted on the housing ( 2 ) pivotally or rotatably about a substantially vertical axis ( 19 ), wherein the drive ( 8 ) further pivots or rotates the holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments.

2. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first axis of the robot device ( 10 ) extends substantially in the vertical direction and that the second axis of the robot device ( 10 ) extends substantially in the direction of the rotational axis ( 4 ) of the receiving drum ( 3 ), wherein the second axis of the robot device ( 10 ) substantially coincides with the rotational axis ( 4 ) of the receiving drum ( 3 ).

3. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the robot device ( 10 ) comprises exactly two translational degrees of freedom, namely along the first axis and the second axis.

4. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drive ( 8 ) comprises an electric motor.

5. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments comprises at least one receptacle ( 20 ) for the first working head ( 12 ), or a second receptacle ( 21 ) for the second working head ( 21 ), or a third receptacle for the third working head, or a fourth receptacle for the fourth working head.

6. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first working head ( 12 ) is formed as a suction attachment for sucking in seeds, or the second working head ( 18 ) is formed as a watering attachment for watering the plants, or the third working head ( 32 ) is formed as a sensor attachment for measuring in particular a pH value, or the fourth working head ( 33 ) is formed as a weed suppression attachment for suppressing weed.

7. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein substantially one half of the holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments protrudes forwards from the housing ( 2 ).

8. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second linear guide ( 14 ) of the robot device ( 10 ) protrudes forwards in a freely projecting manner from a rear wall ( 2 a ) in the direction of the rotational axis ( 4 ) of the receiving drum ( 3 ).

9. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a fresh water tank ( 23 ) connected to the robot device ( 10 ) via a fresh water line.

10. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 2 ) is substantially cuboidal.

11. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one luminaire ( 28 ) at a rear wall ( 2 a ) of the housing ( 2 ) facing the receiving drum ( 3 ) and/or at the second linear guide ( 14 ) of the robot device ( 10 ).

12. The plant cultivation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor ( 29 ) for sensing the rotational position of the receiving drum ( 3 ) is provided.

13. A plant cultivation device ( 1 ) comprising:

a housing ( 2 );

a receiving drum ( 3 ) which is rotatably mounted on the housing ( 2 ) and comprises multiple plant receiving containers ( 5 ) for plants ( 6 );

a drive ( 8 ) for rotating the receiving drum ( 3 ) within the housing ( 2 ); and

a robot device ( 10 ) with a mounting ( 11 ) for a first working head ( 12 ) for supplying the plants ( 6 ) in the plant receiving containers ( 5 ), comprising a first linear guide ( 13 ) for moving the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a first axis and comprising a second linear guide ( 14 ) for moving the first linear guide ( 13 ) together with the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a second axis;

a holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments is provided for the exchange of the first working head ( 12 ) for a second working head ( 18 ), or the first working head ( 12 ) for a third working head, or the first working head ( 12 ) for a fourth working head; and

wherein the first working head ( 12 ) is formed as a suction attachment for sucking in seeds, or the second working head ( 18 ) is formed as a watering attachment for watering the plants, or the third working head ( 32 ) is formed as a sensor attachment for measuring in particular a pH value, or the fourth working head ( 33 ) is formed as a weed suppression attachment for suppressing weed.

14. A plant cultivation device ( 1 ) comprising:

a housing ( 2 );

a receiving drum ( 3 ) which is rotatably mounted on the housing ( 2 ) and comprises multiple plant receiving containers ( 5 ) for plants ( 6 );

a drive ( 8 ) for rotating the receiving drum ( 3 ) within the housing ( 2 ); and

a robot device ( 10 ) with a mounting ( 11 ) for a first working head ( 12 ) for supplying the plants ( 6 ) in the plant receiving containers ( 5 ), comprising a first linear guide ( 13 ) for moving the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a first axis and comprising a second linear guide ( 14 ) for moving the first linear guide ( 13 ) together with the mounting ( 11 ) for the first working head ( 12 ) along a second axis;

a holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments is provided for the exchange of the first working head ( 12 ) for a second working head ( 18 ), or the first working head ( 12 ) for a third working head, or the first working head ( 12 ) for a fourth working head; and

wherein substantially one half of the holder ( 17 ) for exchangeable attachments protrudes forwards from the housing ( 2 ).

Priority Claims (1)
EP 18169435 · Apr 26, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210100178A1 · Apr 8, 2021