# US 12,016,277 B2 · System and method for cultivating plant products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,016,277 B2 - Document ID: US12016277B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/779,915 - Filed: 2020-09-30 - Published: 2022-12-08 - Granted: 2024-06-25 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-26 - Assignees: Zero Corporation - Applicants: Zero Srl - Inventors: Andrea Alessio; Daniele Modesto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016277B2 ## CPC - A01G 31/045: {with containers guided along a rail} - Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The invention concerns a system for cultivating plant products without soil comprising a plurality of shelves for cultivating plant products. The shelves have a reference axis and comprise: a supporting frame, a plurality of cultivation bars which have an approximately rectilinear shape, extend along respective longitudinal axes, and are coupled to the supporting frame so as to be arranged approximately coplanar and alongside one another, and have the respective longitudinal axes parallel to the reference axis and mechanical spacing members, which are interleaved between the adjacent cultivation bars, and are each structured so that the actuation of a mechanical spacing member causes a variation of the distance transverse to the reference axis, between two cultivation bars immediately adjacent to the same member. The invention also concerns a method for cultivating plant products. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for cultivating plant products without soil comprising a plurality of shelves for cultivating said plant products, each said shelf has a reference axis and comprises: a supporting frame, a plurality of cultivation bars which have an approximately rectilinear shape, extend along respective longitudinal axes, and are coupled to said supporting frame in order to be arranged approximately coplanar and alongside one another so as to have the respective longitudinal axes parallel to said reference axis, mechanical spacing members, which are interleaved between the cultivation bars and are structured so that the actuation of a mechanical spacing member causes a pre-established variation of the distance transverse to said reference axis, between two adjacent cultivation bars adjacent to the actuated mechanical spacing member; said mechanical spacing members are structured so as to be operated between a first operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member positions the two adjacent cultivation bars at a first pre-established distance one with respect to the other while keeping them mutually parallel, and a second operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member arranges the two adjacent cultivation bars at a second pre-established distance greater than the first pre-established distance, keeping them parallel to one another; said system being characterised in that said mechanical spacing members comprise respective rectangular bellows-structured sheets, foldable along a folding line which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bars and is approximately defined by the intersection of the respective rectangular sheet and the centre-line plane thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said folding line delimits on said sheet two rectangular side edges which, in the first operating condition, are arranged approximately parallel to the centre-line plane and are facing one another so that the bars, connected to the same, are approximately alongside one another at the first distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein, in said second operating condition, said sheet has said edges spread apart so as to move the two bars, connected to the same, at said second distance, one from the other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the ends of said edges parallel to said folding line are axially engaged in respective slots formed on said bars along a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein said first distance between two adjacent bars corresponds approximately to the overall thickness of said two edges set vertically alongside one another; and wherein said second distance corresponds approximately to the width of the extended sheet, measured transversely to said folding line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the spacing members of at least one cultivation shelf are coupled to the respective bars so as to form at least two groups of distinct bars separated from one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical spacing member is structured to be coupled in a stable yet easily removable manner to the two adjacent cultivation bars. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein said edges have on the free edges thereof respective enlarged portions which engage axially in said slots so as to slide therein; said slots are shaped to prevent the extraction from the same of the enlarged portion of the edge along a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, comprising connection devices which are structured so as to couple the opposite distal ends of the bar to said supporting frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said bars are manufactured with a polymeric-based material, and are provided at the top with seats to house the seeds of said plant products. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical spacing members are manufactured with a polymeric-based material. ### Claim 12 A shelf for cultivating plant products having a reference axis and comprising: a supporting frame, a plurality of cultivation bars which have an approximately rectilinear shape, extend along respective longitudinal axes, and are coupled to said supporting frame so as to be arranged approximately coplanar and alongside one another in order to have the respective longitudinal axes parallel to said reference axis, mechanical spacing members, which are interleaved between the cultivation bars and are structured so that the actuation of a mechanical spacing member causes at least a pre-established variation of the distance transverse to said reference axis, between two adjacent cultivation bars adjacent to the actuated mechanical spacing member; said mechanical spacing members are structured so as to be operated between a first operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member positions the two adjacent cultivation bars at a first pre-established distance one with respect to the other while keeping them mutually parallel, and a second operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member arranges the two adjacent cultivation bars at a second pre-established distance greater than the first pre-established distance, keeping them parallel to one another, said shelf being characterised in that said mechanical spacing members comprise respective rectangular bellows-structured sheets, foldable along a folding line which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bars and is approximately defined by the intersection of the respective rectangular sheet and the centre-line plane thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shelf according to claim 12 wherein said folding line delimits, on said sheet, two rectangular side edges, which, in the first operating condition, are arranged approximately parallel to the centre-line plane and facing one another so that the bars connected to the same, are approximately alongside one another at the first distance. ### Claim 14 An operating method for a system for cultivating plant products without soil comprising a plurality of shelves for cultivating said plant products, wherein each said shelf has a reference axis; said method comprising: prearranging a supporting frame, prearranging a plurality of cultivation bars which have an approximately rectilinear shape and extend along respective longitudinal axes, interleaving, between said cultivation bars, mechanical spacing members, which are structured so that the actuation of a mechanical spacing member causes a variation of the distance, transverse to said reference axis, between two adjacent cultivation bars adjacent to the same; said mechanical spacing members are structured so as to be operated between a first operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member positions the two adjacent cultivation bars at a first pre-established distance one with respect to the other while keeping them mutually parallel, and a second operating condition, in which the mechanical spacing member arranges the two adjacent cultivation bars at a second pre-established distance greater than the first pre-established distance, keeping them parallel to one another, said mechanical spacing members comprise respective rectangular bellows-structured sheets, foldable along a folding line which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bars and is approximately defined by the intersection of the respective rectangular sheet and the centre-line plane thereof, coupling said bars to said supporting frame so as to arrange them approximately coplanar and alongside one another so as to have the longitudinal axes parallel to said reference axis; said method being characterised in that it comprises the step of opening at least one or more of said foldable sheets to move the respective two adjacent cultivation bars connected to the same by moving them away and spacing them apart from one another until reaching, at the end of the opening movement, said second pre-established distance in which said bars are still parallel to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, comprising the step of transplanting the plant products from a first shelf into at least a pair of second shelves; said first shelf comprising two groups of independent bars wherein each group of bars is coupled to a frame of said first shelf by means of connection devices, and has the mechanical spacing members in the first operating condition; said transplanting step comprising: decoupling each of the two groups of bars from the respective supporting frame so as to separate them from said first shelf, mutually spacing the bars of the group by making the mechanical spacing members spread apart so as to reach the second distance, and mechanically coupling said connection devices onto the supporting frame of a respective second shelf.