Abstract: A hydroponic growing system including an elongated trough. The trough includes at least a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, and a bottom wall, which all extend in the longitudinal direction of the trough and delimit a space in the centre of the trough, open at the top. The trough also includes a partition wall structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the trough and dividing said central space into two adjacent elongated grooves which are open at the top and into which one or more substrates can be placed for the cultivation of plants. In an example, the partition wall structure includes an elongated overflow channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the groove and guides the irrigation water past the grooves. The overflow channel may be arranged in an elevated position with respect to the bottom wall.

Abstract: A hydroponic growing system including an elongated trough. The trough includes at least a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, and a bottom wall, which all extend in the longitudinal direction of the trough and delimit a space in the centre of the trough, open at the top. The trough also includes a partition wall structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the trough and dividing said central space into two adjacent elongated grooves which are open at the top and into which one or more substrates can be placed for the cultivation of plants. In an example, the partition wall structure includes an elongated overflow channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the groove and guides the irrigation water past the grooves. The overflow channel may be arranged in an elevated position with respect to the bottom wall.

Abstract: A system for the cultivation of plants, including: a cultivation table, in which the plants to be cultivated have been placed at least for the time of the growing stage; growing substrates in which the seeds of the plant are sown and which are placed at the initial end of the cultivation table for germination; and elongated troughs which hold the growing substrates in which troughs also the seeds and seedlings of the plant as well as the grown plants are placed during both said germination and said growing stage. In the method for cultivation of plants in a greenhouse, a growing substrate for the cultivation of plants is placed in an elongated trough, and seeds of a plant are sown in said growing substrate placed in the trough.

Abstract: A system for the cultivation of plants, including: a cultivation table, in which the plants to be cultivated have been placed at least for the time of the growing stage; growing substrates in which the seeds of the plant are sown and which are placed at the initial end of the cultivation table for germination; and elongated troughs which hold the growing substrates in which troughs also the seeds and seedlings of the plant as well as the grown plants are placed during both said germination and said growing stage. In the method for cultivation of plants in a greenhouse, a growing substrate for the cultivation of plants is placed in an elongated trough, and seeds of a plant are sown in said growing substrate placed in the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking mushrooms including a carriage, at least one picking head arranged to move back and forth horizontally, and a suction pad apparatus configured to grip mushrooms for picking. A movable camera or scanner may be arranged to image an area in which the mushrooms grow. A first member may be coupled to the picking head and arranged to move back and forth horizontally for moving the suction pad apparatus horizontally. A controlled parallelogram mechanism may lift and lower the suction pad apparatus and couple the suction pad apparatus to the first member, and which may be arranged to maintain a position of the suction pad apparatus irrespective of a height on which the suction pad apparatus is positioned.

Abstract: A method and a storage and manipulation system for manipulating and transferring cassettes used for storage. The system includes a rack for storing cassettes. The rack includes supports on which the cassette rests. A transfer device includes a slide, onto which the cassette can be transferred. The slide includes a lifting and lowering movement. The transfer device also includes grippers that grip the cassette and moving it onto or off the slide. The slide can be placed underneath the front part of the cassette and, by a lifting movement, elevate the front part of the cassette such that the cassette can be transferred along the support onto the slide. A rear part of the cassette is simultaneously supported by the support. The slide can also lower the front part of the cassette onto the support when the rear part of the cassette is transferred onto the support of the rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking mushrooms including a carriage, at least one picking head arranged to move back and forth horizontally, and a suction pad apparatus configured to grip mushrooms for picking. A movable camera or scanner may be arranged to image an area in which the mushrooms grow. A first member may be coupled to the picking head and arranged to move back and forth horizontally for moving the suction pad apparatus horizontally. A controlled parallelogram mechanism may lift and lower the suction pad apparatus and couple the suction pad apparatus to the first member, and which may be arranged to maintain a position of the suction pad apparatus irrespective of a height on which the suction pad apparatus is positioned.

Abstract: A method, as well as a storage and manipulation system for manipulating and transferring cassettes used for storage, which system comprises a rack for storing cassettes, equipped with supports on which the cassette rests and along which the cassette is transferred, as well as a transfer device which is equipped with: a slide, onto which the cassette can be transferred and which can be transferred in the horizontal direction and which is provided with a lifting and lowering movement; and grippers with the function of gripping the cassette and moving it onto or off the slide. The slide is arranged to be placed underneath the front part of the cassette and, by means of a lifting movement, to elevate the front part of the cassette in such a way that the cassette can be transferred along the slide onto the slide, its rear part being simultaneously supported by the support of the rack.

Abstract: A method and a system utilizing the same, comprising two or more stacker cranes, of which each is intended to transfer at least one load independently, comprising a horizontally movable driving carriage and a lifting carriage arranged therein and intended for the manipulation and vertical transfer of said load. At least two stacker cranes are arranged to move, when necessary, to such a relative position in which it is possible to manipulate and transfer a load resting on the support of both lifting carriages simultaneously and to perform the movements of the driving carriages and the lifting carriages in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-force discharge mechanism for materials loaded on a reel. Some material is drawn with an external device (1) from a reel (2) around a reversing wheel (6), said reel being driven or decelerated with a discharge motor (3). In order to reduce the tensile stress fluctuations of a material (5), the reversing wheel (6) is afforded a certain displacement (A), within which a resilient assembly (7-9) produces a counter-force for a traction force (F). The counter-force produced by the resilient assembly is created by a piston-cylinder unit (7), having its gas pressure adjustable by a regulating valve (9) which sustains an adjustable, constant counter-force.