JP2003061492A - Automatic bottom watering device for raising seedling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic bottom watering device for raising seedling enabling automatic draining when the water surface comes to a specified level in making a bottom irrigation, and free from problem of cloggings due to soil in the draining. SOLUTION: This automatic bottom watering device includes a raising seedling shelf vessel 10 where a number of raising seedling trays T are placed, a water supply means 11 for periodically making a bottom watering to the vessel 10, and an automatic irrigation device 12 functioning to take the water in the vessel 10 thereinto and discharge the water when the water surface in the vessel 10 comes to a specified level; wherein the automatic irrigation device 12 comprises a level control box 21 functioning to take the water in the vessel 10 thereinto and a siphon tube 22 set in the box 21 and functioning to discharge the water in the box 21 therethrough when the water in the box 21 comes to a specified level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seedling-growing bottom automatic watering device for watering seedlings from the bottom during seedling raising, and more particularly to a seedling-growing bottom automatic watering device capable of automatically draining water after watering. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conducting growth evaluation such as germination rate and seedling raising rate of seeds of plants such as leaf vegetables, fruit vegetables and tobacco, it is planned to construct an environmental control system that can ensure high reliability and reproducibility. In addition, a seedling raising device using artificial light has been developed along with controlling temperature and humidity.

In this seedling raising apparatus, growing seedlings are planted in a seedling raising tray, and water is regularly supplied to the seedling raising tray.

In the sprinkling system, water is supplied to the plants unevenly in the water supply to the seedling raising trays. Therefore, water is supplied to the entire shelf containing the seedling raising trays to irrigate them from the bottom surface of the seedling raising trays. A so-called bottom irrigation system is adopted in which the water is drained after the surface reaches a predetermined level. This bottom surface irrigation is performed, for example, once every three days, and the liquid level is adjusted so that the water is spread over the entire roots of each plant in the seedling raising tray, and then the water is drained by gravity flow. I am trying.

[0005]

By the way, when this bottom surface irrigation is automatically performed, there is no problem in controlling the level of the liquid surface, but if drainage control is performed by opening / closing control of a solenoid valve, etc. However, since soil mixes with the soil, it enters the solenoid valve and becomes clogged, which causes a failure, making it difficult to perform long-term automatic control.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to perform bottom surface irrigation, water can be automatically drained when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level, and there is a problem of clogging by soil during drainage. It is to provide an automatic bottom watering device for raising seedlings.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a seedling raising tank on which a large number of seedling raising trays are placed, and water is supplied to the seedling raising shelf tank so as to regularly irrigate the bottom surface. An automatic watering device provided with a water supply means and an automatic watering device for introducing water in the nursery shelf tank and draining the water in the nursery shelf tank when the liquid level in the nursery shelf tank reaches a predetermined level. There is a level control box for introducing water in the nursery shelf tank, and a siphon pipe provided in the level control box for draining the water in the level control box when the water level in the level control box reaches a predetermined level. It is an automatic bottom watering device for raising seedlings.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the seedling raising shelf tank, the placing shelf formed of a perforated plate for placing the seedling raising tray is provided at a position higher than the bottom surface of the seedling raising shelf tank. It is an automatic watering device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the automatic irrigation system comprises a drainage tank for supporting the level control box so as to be adjustable in vertical height and a drain tank for receiving drainage from the siphon pipe. It is a device.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the seedling-growing bottom automatic irrigation system according to the third aspect, wherein the drainage tank is provided with a water-flowing means for flowing the water in the seedling-raising shelf tank to the level control box.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the running water means comprises overflow means for flowing water in the seedling raising shelf tank to the drainage tank when the siphon pipe in the level control box is clogged. It is an automatic watering device.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the siphon tube has a cross section M.
It is formed by an M-shaped tubular body and a U-shaped tubular tube having a U-shaped cross-section located inside the M-shaped tubular body, and one side of the M-shaped tubular body opens into the level control box. The seedling-growing bottom surface automatic watering device according to claim 1, further comprising a drain hole connected to the introduction port and the bottom hole of the level control box.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the overall structure of a seedling raising apparatus to which the automatic seedling raising bottom surface watering apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the seedling raising apparatus, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seedling raising apparatus comprises a seedling raising tank 10 on which a large number of seedling raising trays T are placed, and water supply means for supplying water to the seedling raising shelf tank 10 so as to regularly irrigate the bottom surface. 11 and the nursery shelf tank 10 are arranged between the nursery shelf tanks 1 and 10.
0 water is introduced, and when the liquid level in the nursery shelf tank 10 reaches a predetermined level, the automatic watering device 12 that drains the water in the nursery shelf tank 10, the nursery shelf tank 10, and the automatic watering device It is composed of support legs 13 that support 12.

The seedling raising shelf tank 10 is formed in a box shape with a bottom plate 14 and a side plate 15, and a placing shelf 16 of a seedling raising tray T formed of a perforated plate such as punch metal in the center of the bottom plate 14 has a vertical height. Adjustable.

The water supply means 11 comprises a water supply line 17 such as a water pipe and a control valve 18 such as a solenoid valve connected to the water supply line 17.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the automatic irrigation system 12 includes a drainage tank 20, level control boxes 21 and 21 installed in the drainage tank 20 so as to be adjustable in vertical position, and level control therefor. A siphon pipe 22 provided on the bottom of the boxes 21 and 21 for draining to the drainage tank 20 when the water level in the level control box 21 reaches a predetermined level, and a seedling raising shelf tank while allowing the vertical position adjustment of the level control box 21. An overflow consisting of water flow means 23 for flowing the water in the level control box 21 to the level control box 21 and a gap s for flowing the water in the level control box 21 to the drain tank 20 when the siphon pipe 22 in the level control box 21 is clogged. And means 24.

The water flow means 23 is provided for connecting the water supply pipe 25 connected to the nursery shelf 10 and penetrating the drainage tank 20 and extending into the level control box 21, and the water supply pipe 25 provided in the level control box 21. The long hole 26, the sealing material 27 for sealing between the drainage tank 20 and the level control box 21 through which the water supply pipe 25 penetrates, and the end of the water supply pipe 25 are screwed together,
It comprises a ring nut 28 for tightening the sealing material 27.

The water supply pipe 25 is attached to a position slightly higher than the bottom plate 14 of the seedling raising shelf tank 10 so that the water having a higher level than that of the mounting shelf 16 flows into the level control box 21 and the level of the mounting shelf 16 is lower than that of the mounting shelf 16. The mounting height of the water is set so as to collect in the nursery shelf tank 10. Moreover, the shelf 16
Is supported by the stay 29 in the seedling raising shelf tank 10 so that its height can be adjusted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the level control box 21 is suspended by a thumbscrew 30 provided on a support bar 31 provided on the drain tank 20, and the water supply pipe 25 of the water flow means 23 is suspended.
The height can be adjusted (several centimeters) by turning the thumbscrew 30 with the ring nut screwed to the tip of the slackened in a loosened state.

The level control boxes 21 and 21 are
Since the water supply pipes 25, 25 of the left and right nursery shelf tanks 10 are arranged on the front side because of workability and the width of the drainage tank 20 cannot be increased, they are arranged side by side, so that the level control box 21 on the back side is arranged. Has an introduction path 21a formed to separate from the water supply pipe 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, a drain pipe 32 is connected to the drain tank 20 for draining the water in the drain tank 20.

The bottom surface of the level control box 21 is set to a position sufficiently lower than the bottom plate 14 of the nursery shelf 10, and the siphon tube 22 attached to the bottom surface of the siphon tube 22 has its inlet port 35 at the bottom surface of the level control box 21. The drain hole 37 is opened to a slightly higher position, and the other drain hole 37 is provided to open to the bottom surface of the level control box 21, and its upper portion is near the upper surface of the level control box 21. The siphon pipe 22 may be formed by a normal inverted J-shaped siphon pipe, but in order to ensure level control and drainage, a siphon pipe used for a water supply device such as a public toilet is used. To do.

The siphon pipe 22 is for flowing the water in the level control box 21 through the siphon pipe 22 into the drain tank 20 at once by siphon action when the water in the level control box 21 is full. In the present invention, the siphon tube 22 is used for the level control of the liquid in the level control box 21 and the drainage control.

The siphon tube 22 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The siphon tube 22 is formed by an M-shaped tube body 33 having an M-shaped cross section as a whole and a U-shaped tube 34 located in the M-shaped tube body 33 and having a U-shaped cross section. , The M-shaped tube 33 is provided with an inlet 35 that opens into the level control box 21 on one side, and the other side is on the level control box 20.
A drain hole 37 connected to the hole 36 formed on the bottom surface of the is formed.

The M-shaped pipe body 33 has a partition wall 39 facing the water reservoir 38 of the U-shaped pipe 34 at the center thereof.
An inlet side pressure chamber 40 and an outlet side pressure chamber 41 are formed at.

Further, the M-shaped tube 33 is provided with a siphon stop auxiliary pipe 42 facing the inlet side pressure chamber 40 from the inlet port 35, and one of the siphon stop auxiliary pipes is opened at the upper part of the inlet side pressure chamber 40 and from there. The auxiliary siphon that faces downward, is folded back to the upper part through the lower end of the partition wall 39, is folded back to the lower part facing the outlet side pressure chamber 41 from the upper wall of the U-shaped pipe 34, and the lower end is facing the drainage hole 37. A tube 43 is provided.
Further, a hole 44 is provided at the position where the auxiliary siphon tube 43 is folded back at the lower end of the partition wall 39.

Next, the operating principle of drainage by the siphon tube 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, FIGS. 6 to 8 (a) show the state when the inside of the siphon tube 22 is empty and water is injected for the first time.
FIGS. 8B to 8F show the normal operation after the second time.

FIG. 6A shows a level control box 21,
Shows an empty state with no water inside siphon tube 22,
As shown in FIG. 6B, when the water w from the water flow means 23 accumulates in the level control box 21, the siphon pipe 2
2 air is discharged from the drain hole 37, and water w is introduced into the inlet port 35.
When it reaches to, the inlet side pressure chamber 40 and the outlet side pressure chamber 41 in the siphon pipe 22 are closed. As shown in FIG. 6C, when the water w accumulates up to the upper end of the U-shaped pipe 34,
As shown in (d), the water w collects in the U-shaped pipe 34, and the inlet side pressure chamber 40 is cut off from the outlet side pressure chamber 41 by the partition wall 39 from the water w, and is in a completely closed state. .

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the water level in the level control box 21 rises, the air in the inlet side pressure chamber 40 is compressed and the water level on the inlet side is divided by the partition wall 39. Raises the water level. When the water level in the level control box 21 further rises as shown in FIG. 7B, the water on the inlet side of the U-shaped pipe 34 overflows into the outlet side pressure chamber 41 through the hole 44 of the auxiliary siphon pipe 43. start. After that, when the water level further rises, the pressure in the inlet side pressure chamber 40 rises, and as shown in FIG.
Causes the siphon action, and the air in the inlet side pressure chamber 40 passes through the auxiliary siphon pipe 43 together with water and the outlet side pressure chamber 41.
Is discharged to the drainage hole 37 of.

As shown in FIG. 7D, the inlet side pressure chamber 4
When the air of 0 escapes and is filled with water, the siphon pipe 22 itself causes a siphon action, the outlet side pressure chamber 41 is also filled with water as shown in FIG. , Is continuously drained through the siphon tube 22. Since the amount of outflow from this siphon pipe 22 is larger than the amount of water injected into the level control box 21, the water level is
As shown in (f), it gradually descends, and as shown in FIG. 7 (g), when the water level falls near the inlet 35 of the siphon pipe 22, air is sucked from the siphon stop auxiliary pipe 42 and the inlet side Air flows into the pressure chamber 40 and the siphon action is weakened. Furthermore, when the water level drops to the inlet 35, a large amount of air is also sucked from the inlet 35 to completely stop the siphon action.

When the siphon action is completely stopped, FIG.
The air and water in the inlet side pressure chamber 40 shown in (g) are separated, the water level becomes the same as the water level in the level control box 21, and the air and water in the U-shaped pipe 34 are also separated, Figure 8
As shown in (a), water is accumulated in the U-shaped tube 34, and the first operation is completed.

The second and subsequent operations are shown in FIGS. 8 (b) to 8 (f).
From the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state of FIG. 7D to FIG. 8A, this is repeated.

That is, in FIG. 8A, with the first operation completed, as shown in FIG. 8B, the inlet pressure chamber 4
The air of 0 is cut off from the outside, but more air is enclosed in the inlet pressure chamber 40 than in the first state of FIG. 6D. In this state, water is injected into the level control box 21, the air in the inlet pressure chamber 40 is compressed as shown in FIG. 8C, the water level at the inlet and outlet of the U-shaped pipe 34 becomes different, and the U-shaped pipe is changed. Three
Excess water on the outlet side of No. 4 leaks to the drain hole 37. As the water level in the level control box 21 rises, the pressure in the inlet pressure chamber 40 rises, and as shown in FIG.
Is extruded as bubbles, and the water level in the inlet pressure chamber 40 rises. FIG. 8E shows the inlet pressure chamber 40.
Shows the state in which the bubbles have been pushed out and the water level has risen to the upper end of the U-shaped pipe 34. In FIG. 8F, the water level is as shown in FIG.
The same siphon activation state as in (c) has been reached, but unlike the first activation, the air volume in the inlet pressure chamber 40 is large and the pressure is high, so there is no water leakage from the auxiliary siphon pipe 43, and FIG.
The inlet pressure chamber 40 is filled with water as shown in FIG.
As shown in (e) and FIG. 7 (f), the siphon action of the siphon tube 22 occurs, and the drainage is completed as shown in FIG. 8 (a) through FIGS. 7 (g) and 7 (h). The state returns to the state shown in 8 (b), and thereafter, this is repeated.

In this way, the siphon tube 22 can drain the water in the level control box 21 at once when the water level in the level control box 21 reaches a predetermined level. At this time, the siphon pipe 22 is a hollow pipe made of ceramics or the like and has no moving parts, so that the muddy water will not be clogged with the muddy water.

The siphon tube 22 may be formed by a normal inverted J-shaped tube as described above. However, when the water level reaches a predetermined level, the siphon tube 22 can be pulled down to the inlet port 35 at a stroke as shown in the figure. A siphon tube 22 is suitable.

Next, the bottom surface irrigation of the present invention will be described.

A large number of trays T, on which seedlings to be raised are planted, are arranged on the placing shelf 13 of the seedling raising tank 10, and in that state, the water supply means 11 is used.
Thus, for example, water is supplied to the nursery shelf tank 10 once every three days. By this water supply, the water level of the seedling raising shelf tank 10 rises, and the seedling raising tray T is watered from the bottom surface thereof. At this time, the water in the nursery shelf tank 10 is the water supply pipe 25 of the water flow means 23.
To the level control box 21 of the automatic watering device 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the water levels of the nursery shelf 10 and the level control box 21 reach a level sufficient to irrigate the seedling tray T, siphon tubes are used as described with reference to FIGS. By the siphon action of 22, the water in the level control box 21 is drained to the drainage tank 20, and the seedling raising shelf tank 1
The water of 0 flows into the level control box 21 by the water flow means 23, and is drained until the water level in the seedling raising shelf tank 10 is sufficiently lower than that of the placing shelf 16. As a result, the nursery tray T has improved air permeability.

At this time, by adjusting the height of the level control box 21 by turning the thumbscrew 30, the level at the time of drainage can be adjusted, and optimal bottom surface watering suitable for the seedling raising tray T can be performed.

When the water in the nursery shelf tank 10 reaches a predetermined level and is drained by the automatic watering device 12, the water supply means 11
The electromagnetic valve 18 may be closed by detecting this with a sensor or the like, or if the water supply amount is known in advance, it may be closed after being opened for a certain period of time. In this case, since the siphon pipe 22 performs the level control, the solenoid valve 18 may be closed after the water in the nursery shelf tank 10 is drained.

At the time of bottom watering, a part of the soil in the seedling raising tray T flows together with the drainage, but the water supply pipe 25 of the water flow means 23.
However, since it is at a position sufficiently higher than the bottom plate 14 of the nursery shelf tank 10, most of the soil can be prevented from collecting on the bottom plate 14 of the nursery shelf tank 10 and flowing to the level control box 21 side.

The drainage in the level control box 21 is
By draining water through the siphon pipe 22, even if soil is contained in the drainage, drainage is performed well without clogging the inside of the siphon pipe 22.

Further, even if the siphon pipe 22 is clogged, the overflow means 24 keeps the water in the drain tank 20.
From the gap s between the level control box 21 and the drainage tank 20
Since it overflows and flows into the nursery shelf tank 10, it is possible to prevent water from overflowing.

The bottom automatic irrigation system for raising seedlings is used in a greenhouse or
By arranging it in an environment-controlled room, it becomes possible to automatically and regularly perform bottom surface watering.

[0050]

In summary, according to the present invention, when performing bottom surface irrigation, water can be automatically drained when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level and can be automatically drained without clogging by soil.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing details of a siphon tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the siphon tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the siphon tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the siphon tube according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 seedling shelf 12 Automatic watering device 21 Level control box 22 Siphon tube T seedling tray

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A seedling raising shelf tank on which a large number of seedling raising trays are placed,
The water supply means for supplying water to the bottom of the nursery shelf to periodically irrigate it and the water in the nursery shelf tank are introduced, and when the liquid level in the nursery shelf tank reaches a predetermined level, Equipped with an automatic irrigation device for draining water, the automatic irrigation device is installed in the level control box and the level control box for introducing water in the nursery shelf tank, and the water level in the level control box reaches a predetermined level. A bottom automatic watering device for raising seedlings, which is characterized by comprising a siphon pipe for draining water from the level control box. 2. The automatic seedling raising bottom surface irrigation device according to claim 1, wherein the seedling raising shelf tank is provided with a placing shelf formed of a perforated plate for placing the seedling raising tray at a position higher than the bottom surface of the seedling raising shelf tank. 3. The automatic bottom watering device for raising seedlings according to claim 1, wherein the automatic watering device comprises a drainage tank which supports a level control box so as to be adjustable in vertical height and receives drainage from a siphon tube. 4. The seedling-growing bottom automatic watering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drainage tank is provided with a water-flowing means for causing the water in the seedling-raising shelf tank to flow into a level control box. 5. The bottom seedling automatic irrigation system according to claim 4, wherein the water flow means comprises overflow means for flowing the water in the nursery shelf tank to the drain tank when the siphon pipe in the level control box is clogged. 6. The siphon tube is formed by an M-shaped tube body having an M-shaped cross section and a U-shaped tube located in the M-shaped tube body and having a U-shaped cross section. The bottom surface automatic watering apparatus for raising seedlings according to claim 1, wherein one side of the body has an inlet opening into the level control box and a drain hole connected to a hole on the bottom surface of the level control box.