JP2007222127A - Method and apparatus for hydroponics - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized and thin type apparatus for hydroponics enabling simple culture by both of installation on indoor and outdoor wall face of a home and installation in stationary state. <P>SOLUTION: In the hydroponic apparatus, a seedling planting part of a surface layer is composed of a pile knitted fabric. As a result, the plant seedlings do not drop even when a planting face of plant seedlings is arranged horizontally or vertically or downward while keeping water retention property in the culture apparatus. A bed material is constituted so that an intermediate layer has an adequate space and the culture apparatus scarcely causes a state overcrowded with roots even when the culture apparatus is thin type. Moreover, scion can readily be transplanted to the culture apparatus by rooting the scion on a water-feeding belt. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a small hydroponic cultivation method and apparatus that can be used indoors and outdoors such as at home.

Due to recent changes in the living environment and aging, various types of small hydroponic cultivation devices and wall greening cultivation devices have been developed for the purpose of lightening and cultivating without taking up space. As a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that can be adapted to veranda greening, there is an apparatus in which a nutrient solution is circulated by filling a bed material inside a cultivation tank. (For example, refer patent document 1) Moreover, there exists a cultivation apparatus which can be suspended in various places indoors. (For example, refer patent document 2) Moreover, there exists a hydroponic cultivation apparatus using a capillary water absorption cloth. (For example, refer to Patent Document 3) There is also a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that is planted in a sheet for a wall surface. (For example, see Patent Document 4)
Published utility model application 2-9055 Registered Utility Model No. 3051736 Patent Application Publication 2004-201527 Published utility model application 4-35756

However, according to the above technology, the filling of the bed material requires a nutrient solution circulation device that requires a power source that is the same size or larger than that of a normal planter, even for a small bed. It was impossible to enjoy gardening. Moreover, in the indoor suspension system using normal culture soil, the amount of culture soil is limited, so that plants cannot be grown large, and the unsanitary condition of bringing soil into the room cannot be eliminated. In the method in which the roots of plants absorb water directly from the capillary water absorbent cloth, there are some in which the bottom of the sealed container is a water storage tank and a plurality of capillary water absorbent cloths are arranged vertically, but the structure is complicated due to the multistage structure. For use, maintenance and manufacturing costs are unreasonable, and if the planting hole on the cultivation container is determined in advance, planting will be simplified even for ornamental use. Hydroponics for wall surfaces is excellent for ornamental use, but the cultivatable varieties are somewhat limited, and it is too large for home use considering the installation of the culture solution supply device.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that is small, thin and lightweight, has no hindrance to the growth of plants, and can be viewed without taking up space even when installed on an indoor or outdoor wall or table. The issue is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention is a bed material in which the lower layer of the surface layer made of a sheet-like porous material with water content for seeding a plant or planting a young seedling grows the root of the plant, It consists of three layers with a base that supports and fixes the two layers, and is configured as a sheet-like cultivated body with a thickness as a whole. When the sheet-like cultivated body is installed perpendicular to the wall surface, a water storage tank is provided directly below. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that a nutrient solution is supplied by a water supply cloth and a nutrient solution is supplied by a water supply tank provided in a water tank just below the sheet-like cultivated body even when installed horizontally on a floor surface or the like. It is. When the sheet-like cultivated body is placed vertically, the surface layer can be fixed while pulling both ends of the bed material on the base, and an acrylic or polyester nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, or knitted fabric having excellent weather resistance is preferable. As an application method to plant cuttings and adult seedlings, it is possible to cut the surface layer and store roots on the surface of the bed material. The surface layer material is preferably a material having a thickness of about 1 to 2 cm so that seeds and seedlings can be embedded. However, when a material with a thickness of about 2 to 5 mm is used, the plant seedling is previously prepared with a urethane medium or the like. When the hydroponic cultivation apparatus is placed horizontally, the plant seedling is placed on the surface material as it is, and when it is placed vertically, it is pinned or the applied method is adopted. The material of the bed material is a foamable polyphenol resin, and the so-called oasis is excellent in processability, light weight, and water content. Polyurethane foams are also excellent in water content, root penetration and processability (product name PAO-F). Rock wool is also good for cultivation, but it is a mineral and has a problem at the time of disposal. From the viewpoint of environmental problems, thick paper or charcoal such as charcoal may be used. A synthetic resin plate such as an acrylic plate is excellent in workability. A plastic veneer board may be used because it is lightweight and easy to process. In addition, when using the cultivation device on a flat surface, it may have any size and shape, but if many plants are planted in one cultivation device, the whole plant may wither or weaken. Because the appreciation of the plant is impaired, if the cultivation device planted with 1 to 4 strains is tiled together, and only the cultivation device with weak seedlings is replaced with a good one, the beauty is minimal. Can be kept. When placing vertically, plant one to four plants horizontally to stop the cultivation device at a height of about 15-20 cm and prevent water dripping while supplying water with a water supply cloth from the lower reservoir. It is easy to do it, and it should be installed on the wall in the form of tiles up, down, left and right.

  Moreover, 2nd invention surrounds the side surface outer periphery of an intermediate | middle layer in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 1st invention with the porous material which has water content, and this inside so that it may have a space of about 20%-50% By arranging the porous material in a grid, the roots of the plant that have stretched to the porous material absorb nutrients and moisture, and the roots that have expanded into a high humidity space breathe oxygen in the air. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus is characterized in that sufficient nutrients, moisture and oxygen are supplied to the whole root of the plant. The shape of the porous material is not limited to a lattice shape, and may be any shape such as a cylindrical shape as long as it has a predetermined porosity and does not fall within the sheet-like surface layer material. The thickness of the intermediate layer should be about 1 to 2 cm for plants with many fine roots such as pansies and ferns, and 2 to 5 cm for oryzul orchid, pothos, mini roses, herbs, and so on. For good varieties, reduce the total number of planted strains per cultivation device or make the cultivation device wider so that the whole can be made thin.

  The third invention is a hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the first or second invention, wherein the cultivation apparatus is constituted by a bore knitted fabric whose surface layer is opened, so that the bore knitted fabric has a water content necessary for plant growth. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that it has air permeability and root penetration and is cultivated by planting seedlings or seedlings between pile yarns covering the surface of the bore knitted fabric. The material of the bore knitted fabric should be resistant to weathering and corrosion. For example, acrylic fiber is suitable, but polyester fiber may be used. The height of the pile yarn should be about 10 to 20 mm, and the base fabric should be covered with the pile yarn on one side.

The fourth invention is a hydroponic cultivation according to the third invention, wherein the bore knitted fabric is a knitted fabric in which a pile yarn is knitted on a knitted fabric, and the pile yarn is a spun acrylic fiber made of ultrafine fibers. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus is a pile yarn, wherein the acrylic yarn is opened by opening the pile yarn after weaving. Moreover, the pile yarn which is a stretchable and ultrafine fiber is firmly fixed by making the base fabric of the bore knitted fabric into a knitted fabric, so that the root of the plant can be supported and the rooting property is secured.

  The fifth invention is a hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that the acrylic fiber constituting the pile yarn in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the third or fourth invention is a fiber of about 1 to 5 denier. . Pile yarn fibers are thin, and the higher the density, the higher the water content, but it must be hard enough to keep up with the weight of water. 1 denier is sufficient to maintain the waist strength under a pile yarn length of 20 mm or less, but there is no problem with water content even at 5 denier.

Moreover, 6th invention is made to promote the growth of this plant seedling by mixing a fertilizer component with the dye of the boa knitting which comprises a cultivation apparatus surface layer in the hydroponics apparatus in any one of the 3rd-5th invention. It is the hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized by having performed. The fertilizer component to be mixed with the dye is not a main component with a large amount of absorption such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, magnesium, but manganese, boron, iron, zinc, copper, Add trace elements such as molybdenum. Each trace element should be soluble.

Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the case of seedlings and cuttings of seedlings, the surface of the water supply zone laid on the shelf so that the ends of the seedlings are suspended in the lower water storage tank of the seedling device and the cutting face of the seedlings It is a hydroponic cultivation method characterized in that it is rooted by supplying moisture in such a manner that it is in close contact with the surface. A polyester non-woven fabric is suitable for the material of the water supply zone from the viewpoint of water supply capacity, but paper may also be used. Further, a bore knitted fabric having a pile yarn length reduced to about 5 mm is suitable because it is closely attached so as to wrap the ear cut face.

  The operation of the first problem solving means is as follows. You can sow seeds or plant seedlings on any part of the surface layer, and you can plant them in consideration of ornamentation. Since it is a three-layered sheet-like cultivation structure, it can be set freely without taking the place of installation. Even if the installation angle of the cultivation apparatus is set from horizontal to vertical or downward, if the seedlings and seeds are sufficiently rooted, they can be viewed and cultivated without dropping off.

  The operation of the second problem solving means is as follows. The intermediate layer of the cultivation apparatus is a part where the plant root grows and grows. If the part is filled with a bed material without any gaps, the plant root is provided in the peripheral part of the bed material to which oxygen is sufficiently supplied from the air. Is unevenly distributed and immediately causes root clogging. However, the plant root is dried by the high humidity supplied from the water-containing material of the cultivation device surface layer and the intermediate layer, which is hydrated, by arranging the bed material so as to have voids in a lattice shape, for example. In addition, oxygen can be directly absorbed from the air, and although it is a thin cultivation device, it can create a sufficient root area and prevent root clogging.

The operation of the third problem solving means is as follows. The boa knitted fabric that constitutes the surface layer of the cultivation apparatus has the ability to retain water between fibers by having a large number of open pile yarns on the base fabric, and the roots of seedlings grown in seeds, cell trays, etc. By embedding between pile yarns, germination and growth can be achieved while protecting against dryness and excessive direct sunlight. Note that moss and algae may propagate if the surface of the cultivation device is constantly kept in water. Although the lower part of the pile yarn is water-retained, the upper part of the pile yarn is in a dry state, and the breeding of bryophytes and algae can be suppressed to a range where there is no problem in viewing and plant growth. In addition, in the winter outdoors, the upper part of the pile yarn plays a role of mulch to prevent the cold wind from directly hitting the root of the plant.

  The operation of the fourth problem solving means is as follows. If the base fabric of the boa knitted fabric that constitutes the surface layer of the cultivation apparatus is stretch knitted, even if the roots of the plant grow and become thicker or densely grown, the stitches will expand accordingly and it will not be possible from the back side of the base fabric to the middle layer The roots can grow and extend without any problems, and the oxygen in the air necessary for the roots of the plant is also secured by the air permeability from the stitches. In addition, when the plant is withered and removed from the cultivation apparatus, the spread stitch is restored and there is no problem in reuse.

  The operation of the fifth problem solving means is as follows. Normally, when the bore knitted fabric is wetted with water, the pile yarn fibers are entangled with each other by the weight of water and the suction force of the water, and the pile yarn falls into the base fabric. In this case, the roots of seeds and seedlings are raised on the surface and cannot germinate and grow. In order to prevent this, the pile yarn fiber may be thickened. However, the moisture content due to capillary action is lost, and moisture cannot be stably supplied to the roots of seeds and seedlings. Therefore, if the pile yarn fiber thickness is 1 to 5 denier, the plant can be grown without hindrance because it has both waist strength and water content.

  The operation of the sixth problem solving means is as follows. Usually, hydroponics makes nutrient solutions containing various fertilizer ingredients and supplies them to plants. However, hydroponics of the present invention is for home use, so frequent nutrient solutions are not convenient for users. Become. In particular, trace elements are essential for the growth of plants, but the excess or deficiency must be determined in detail from the overall growth status to the change in leaf color. Therefore, by mixing a trace element component soluble in the dye of the bore knitted fabric constituting the cultivation apparatus surface layer, the trace element component is gradually dissolved by the organic acid secreted by the plant root, and the fertilization effect can be maintained for a long time. As a result, the first standard is whether the plant to be grown is a foliage plant or a flower bud, and the second standard is whether it is an extended growth stage or a full season. Fertilization can be simplified by applying the liquid or simply using commercially available liquid fertilizer.

The operation of the seventh problem solving means is as follows. In growing young plants, cuttings and cuttings with various culture soils such as Kanuma soil and Akadama soil are usually carried out, but it is difficult to plant seedlings thus grown in the main cultivation apparatus. Therefore, if the surface of the water supply zone laid on the shelf and the insertion surface are closely adhered, the young plant can absorb moisture through the conduit and can take roots in the water supply zone. After confirming that the cuttings have rooted sufficiently, cut the entire water supply zone where the roots are extended, and plant the seedlings by inserting the water supply zone into the cut surface of the cultivation device. I can do it.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1 is an exploded perspective view of the cultivation apparatus, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a knitted fabric of a bore knitted fabric, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a bore knitted pile yarn. FIG. 2 is a perspective view when the cultivation apparatus is placed in a horizontal state, and the base 1 has two sewing holes 1d on two opposite sides. From the bottom, the first layer is a root-proof sheet 5 having water permeability, and the second layer is a bed material 3 having a space 4. The surface layer is a bore knitted fabric 2, which has a plant 15 inserted from a planting cut 2a and is sewn to the base 1 through a sewing hole 1d. Further, the water supply zone 6 is inserted so as to write a U-shape from the upper part of the second layer to the lower part of the first layer, and the end of the water supply zone 6 is suspended from the water tank 7. In addition, the water supply zone 6 is exaggerated vertically due to the exploded perspective view of the cultivation apparatus. The upper part of the water storage tank 7 is opened by the number of cultivation apparatuses in which the insertion port 7b of the water supply zone 6 can be installed, and the water supply port 7a is opened at the end.
Drop-off prevention guards 7c protrude from both sides of the water storage tank 7 in the longitudinal direction. The water storage tank 7 is made of a material excellent in weather resistance and workability, and for example, vinyl chloride or an acrylic molded product is suitable.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view when the cultivation apparatus is placed in a vertical state. There are hook holes 1a on the left and right of the upper end of the base 1, and hook metal fittings 1b fixed to the wall-hanging wire net 9 are inserted. The wall-hanging wire net 9 is suspended from the wall by a hook metal 9a. The lower left and right sides of the base 1 are inserted into the receiving metal fitting 1c. Further, two sewing holes 1d are opened on the left and right sides of the base 1, and the planting bore knitted fabric 2 is sewn. A plurality of cultivation apparatus bodies can be juxtaposed on the wall-mounted water storage tank 8. The wall-mounted water storage tank 8 has a water supply port 8a at the end, and the water supply zone insertion port 8b is opened as many as the number of cultivation apparatus bodies that can be installed. The wall-mounted water storage tank 8 is placed on a base metal fitting 8c. The material of the wall-mounted water storage tank 8 may be the same as that of the water storage tank 7.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting ear raising container, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the cutting seedling raising container. An insertion head 11a is provided on the upper lid 11 of the insertion seedling container with a plurality of rows at equal intervals. The bottom part of the insertion seedling container body 10 is a water storage part 12. There is a shelf 13 above the bottom of the inserted seedling raising seedling container body 10, and a water supply zone 14 is laid so as to be directly under the row of the inserted ear insertion port 11 a, and both ends of the shelf are suspended in the water storage unit 12. . The rooted young plant seedling is cut off by a cut line 14a and planted from the planting cut 2a of the planting bore knitted fabric 2. The material of the cutting seedling container body 10 and the cutting seedling container top cover 11 is excellent in water resistance and heat retention and easy to process, and, for example, a foamed polystyrene box is suitable. The water supply zone 14 may be made of the same material as the water supply zone 6 or made of paper.

According to this embodiment, the surface layer has sufficient water retention between the open fibers of the bore knitted fabric 2, and the hair tips cover the roots, so that they do not dry. Even if seeds are embedded between pile yarns, they can germinate similarly. Further, if the roots of the plant are sufficiently entangled with the bore knitted fabric or the bed material, the plant does not fall off even if the cultivation container is installed downward, and a free space effect can be performed indoors and outdoors. In addition, plants can be enjoyed more decoratively by attaching colors and patterns to the knitted bore. There is a large space in the bed material where the roots extend, but because the moisture held in the surrounding bed material has sufficient air humidity, oxygen in the air is directly applied while the roots extend into the space. Can absorb and is less likely to cause root clogging. Moreover, watering frequency can be decreased by dripping a water supply zone from an cultivation apparatus main body to an external water tank. However, there is a concern that the plant roots may extend directly to the water storage tank through the water supply zone and spread the roots in the tank. In order to prevent this, a root-prevention sheet layer is provided between the cultivation device intermediate layer and the base, and a water supply zone is written between the root-layer side of the intermediate layer between the root-prevention sheet layer and the base so that a U-shape is written. If inserted, even if plant roots extend in the water tank through the water supply zone, most of the roots will grow in the main body of the cultivation apparatus. Moreover, it can respond also to a large wall surface or space by connecting a plurality of cultivation devices horizontally or arranging a plurality of connected cultivation devices. Moreover, by rooting the cuttings on the water supply zone, the seedlings can be easily transplanted by cutting the rooted seedling together with the water supply zone and embedding it in the cut surface of the cultivation apparatus surface layer.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the cultivation apparatus of this invention. The water supply zone 6 is displayed exaggerated vertically. It is a knitted enlarged view of a bore knitted fabric. It is a pile yarn expanded sectional view of a boa knitted fabric. It is a perspective view at the time of putting a cultivation apparatus in a horizontal state. It is a perspective view at the time of putting a cultivation apparatus in a perpendicular state. It is sectional drawing of an insertion ear raising seedling container. It is a perspective view inside an insertion ear raising seedling container.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 1a Hooking hole 1b Hooking metal fitting 1c Receiving metal fitting 1d Sewing hole 2 Bore knitted fabric 2a Planting cut 2b Bore knitted fabric 2c Bore knitted pile yarn 3 Bed material 4 Space 5 Root prevention sheet 6 Water supply belt 7 Deferred water tank 7a Water supply port 7b Water supply zone insertion port 7c Drop prevention guard 8 Wall-mounted water storage tank 8a Water supply port 8b Water supply zone insertion port 8c Base bracket 9 Wall-mounted wire net 9a Hook metal fitting 10 Inserting seedling seedling container body 11 Inserting seedling container top lid 11a Insertion slot 12 Water storage tank 13 Shelf 14 Water supply zone 14a Cut line 15 Plant seedling 16 Inserting ear 17 Seedling 18 Seed

Claims (7)

  The lower layer of the surface layer made of a porous sheet-like porous material sowing plants or seedlings is a bed material on which the roots of the plants grow, and consists of three layers with a base for supporting and fixing the two layers. When the sheet-like cultivated body is installed perpendicularly to the wall surface, a storage tank is provided directly below it to supply nutrient solution with a water supply cloth and horizontally on the floor surface. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that a water storage tank is provided directly below the sheet-like cultivated body and the nutrient solution is supplied by a water supply cloth even when installed on the sheet.   In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, the porous material is enclosed so that the outer periphery of the side surface of the intermediate layer is surrounded by a porous material having water content, and the interior has a space of about 20% to 50%. By arranging in a grid, the roots of the plant extended to the porous material absorb nutrients and moisture, and the roots extended to a high humidity space breathe oxygen in the air, Hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized by supplying sufficient nutrients, moisture and oxygen as a whole.   In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, by configuring the cultivation apparatus surface layer with a bored knitted fabric, the bore knitted fabric has water content and air permeability necessary for plant growth, A hydroponic cultivation apparatus, wherein seedlings or seedlings are planted and cultivated between pile yarns covering the surface of the bore knitted fabric.   In the hydroponic cultivation according to claim 3, the bore knitted fabric is a knitted fabric in which pile yarn is knitted on a knitted fabric, and the pile yarn is a pile yarn obtained by spinning acrylic fibers made of ultrafine fibers, A hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that the acrylic yarn is opened by opening the pile yarn after weaving.   The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the acrylic fiber constituting the pile yarn is a fiber of about 1 to 5 denier.   The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the growth of plant seedlings is promoted by mixing a fertilizer component with the dye of the boa knitted fabric. When planting buds and cuttings, make sure that the surface of the water supply zone laid on the shelf so that the end is suspended in the lower water tank of the nursery device and the cutting end face of the plant are in close contact with each other. A hydroponic cultivation method characterized by supplying water and rooting.

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