JP2008182951A - Multistage plant cultivation shelf and plant raising method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multistage plant cultivation shelf capable of bringing with a simple structure, an irradiation rate of sunshine and artificial light to the most suitable value for plant cultivation, suppressing to a minimum cost of power supply to a light source, and making high-quality plants with a high market value, and reinforced in specific ingredient only by control of artificial light to be irradiated. <P>SOLUTION: This shelf-like multistage plant cultivation shelf 1 is composed of a plant holding part 2 and a support part 3 which supports the holding part 2, and has a light source 7 which is arranged between the plant holding part 2 and a plant 4, and irradiates secondary light L2. The distance between the plant holding parts 2 with each other is set so that the quantity of main light L1 to be irradiated from the upper side becomes a previously fixed value in each stage on the relation with the quantity of the secondary light L2. Only the main light L1 is irradiated to the plant on the top stage, and on each remaining stage, the secondary light L2 of a mutually different kind is irradiated, in addition to the main light L1. The plant 4 is moved from the top to the bottom according to growth. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multistage plant cultivation shelf, and particularly to a multistage plant cultivation shelf provided with an artificial light source and a plant growing method using the same.

Multistage plant cultivation shelves are used when cultivating plants on limited land, and as shown in Patent Document 1, a light source that irradiates plants with artificial light such as fluorescent lights and LEDs is provided for each shelf. ing. The one described in this patent document is a type that grows plants only with artificial light, but in places like a greenhouse, it also incorporates sunlight in the daytime and grows it together with artificial light. ing. By the way, in such a conventional plant cultivation shelf, the height of the shelf is usually different depending on the type of plant to be cultivated and the degree of growth, and in other cases, it is normal to keep the height of each shelf constant. is there.
JP 2000-270698 A

  However, when taking in sunlight, the upper shelf is irradiated with more sunlight and the light quantity and light quality of each shelf will be different, so it is difficult to grow plants uniformly on each shelf Occurs.

  On the other hand, in recent years, with a marked increase in interest in food, there has been an increasing demand for health-oriented foods that are safe and have no specific agrochemicals, for example, enhanced specific nutritional components.

  In view of this, the present invention has been made by paying attention to the fact that the amount of main light can be easily controlled by adjusting the height of the shelf by using the fact that the amount of sunlight (that is, the main light) varies from shelf to shelf. In addition to controlling the secondary light, it is possible to achieve the optimal ratio of the main light and artificial light for plant cultivation with a simple structure and minimize the power supply cost to the light source. The main objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-stage plant cultivation shelf capable of producing a high-quality plant with high market value whose specific components are enhanced only by controlling artificial light to be irradiated.

  That is, the multi-stage plant cultivation shelf according to the present invention includes a plant holding unit arranged in a plurality of stages in a shelf shape on the top and bottom, and a light source that is arranged between the plant holding unit and the plant and irradiates the plant with sub-light. And the height dimension between the plant holding parts is at least partly set so that the amount of main light emitted from above is a value predetermined in each step in relation to the amount of sub-light. It is characterized by being different.

  If it is such, the irradiation ratio of sunlight and artificial light can be set to an optimal value for plant cultivation only by adjusting the height of the shelf, the power supply cost to the light source can be minimized, and the irradiation It is possible to produce a high-quality plant with high market value in which specific components are enhanced only by controlling artificial light.

  As a specific embodiment, the main light may be light based on sunlight irradiated from a certain predetermined angle. The main light is not limited to sunlight. For example, a fluorescent lamp on the ceiling for illuminating the entire room where the plant cultivation shelf is arranged may be used as the main light.

  In order to efficiently cultivate plants with enhanced specific components, it is preferable to irradiate different types of light depending on the growth process. Therefore, in the plant holding part, the plants are changed from the top to the bottom according to the growth. It is preferable that only the main light is irradiated at the uppermost stage and the light qualities of the sub-lights are different from each other at the remaining stages. The light quality is a concept representing the light quality including at least the light amount and the light spectrum.

  Specifically, the plant holding unit has three stages, the top stage irradiates only the main light, the second stage irradiates the secondary light for color control of the plant, and the third stage radiates the plant. What irradiates the said sublight for component control is suitable.

  Conventional plant cultivation shelves, for example, are simply an artificial light source attached to a commercially available shelf, and are not always designed to optimize the irradiation efficiency of artificial light, and are not used for light irradiation. This causes a waste of power supplied to the light source. In order to improve this and reduce energy by efficient irradiation of sub-light, it is preferable that the arrangement position of the light source is in one-to-one correspondence with the planting position of the plant.

  As what is more suitable for power supply cost reduction, what the said light source is LED can be mentioned.

  In order to easily adjust the light amount, it is preferable that the light source is movable in the height direction.

  In order to take in the main light when the amount of the main light is sufficient, and to efficiently irradiate the sub-light when it is insufficient, it is preferable to further include a light blocking member around the side of the plant holding part.

  Furthermore, if the light blocking member is one that automatically opens and closes by sensing the main light, it is still preferable without bothering human hands.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the power supply cost to the light source using sunlight, and in addition, the specific component is enhanced by the control of the artificial light to be irradiated, which has a high market value. High quality plants can be made with a simple structure. In addition, artificial light sources cannot produce exactly the same type of light as sunlight, and this is the limit and weakness of plant cultivation with artificial light, but conversely controls the nature of artificial light. According to the present invention that makes it possible to enhance a specific component of a plant by irradiating light of a kind that cannot be obtained by sunlight, the weak point can be utilized as an advantage.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The multi-stage plant cultivation shelf 1 according to the present embodiment has, for example, a plant cultivation container 5 for growing a plant 4 and, as shown in a schematic structural diagram in FIG. It is installed inside the greenhouse 6 that is installed outdoors. Here, the main light is the main light necessary for growing plants.

  The multi-stage plant cultivation shelf 1 is a shelf-like structure composed of a reticulated rectangular plant holding part 2 and columnar support parts 3 attached to the four corners of the plant holding part 2 to support the plant holding part 2. The plant holding part 2 has three stages. The size of the plant holding part 2 varies depending on the size of the plant to be cultivated. The plant holding part 2 and the support part 3 are made of, for example, stainless steel having excellent water resistance.

  The distance between the plant holding parts 2 is such that the light quantity ratio of the main light L1 to the auxiliary light L2 is, for example, the uppermost stage with reference to the light quantity at a sun irradiation angle at a morning time of 10 o'clock in the season of producing plants Are set so as to be 10: 0, 9: 1, and 7: 3 in order. Further, the height between the steps is set so that the amount of main light is different at each step of the plant holding unit 2. The ratio of the distance D1 between the uppermost stage and the second stage and the distance D2 between the second stage and the third stage is set to, for example, 5: 3 here, and the amount of main light is set to be smaller in the lower stage. is doing. Here, the secondary light is basically light that is added to the main light L1 to assist or control the growth of the plant.

  The light source 7 for irradiating the plant with the auxiliary light L2 is disposed on a vinyl sheet 71 that transmits light, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), and the plant 4 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (b). Install above. If a plurality of light sources 7 are integrated in this way, they can be easily installed and replaced by changing the type of light source, and the distance between the plant 4 and the light source 7 can be easily changed. It is.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the plant 4 and the light source 7 are arranged and planted so that a = a ′ and b = b ′, respectively. By doing in this way, as shown in FIG.2 (b), when the light source 7 is installed above the plant 4, it respond | corresponds 1 to 1, respectively, and it becomes possible to irradiate a plant with the sublight L2 without waste. .

  The light source 7 is a high power LED through which a current greater than 20 mA flows. Such a light source is suitable as an artificial light source because it has a large amount of light. An ultraviolet LED is used for the second-stage light source 7 from the top of the plant holding unit 2, and a blue LED is used for the third-stage light source 7 for giving a color stimulus. In order to further increase the light irradiation efficiency, a light diffusion prevention lens is attached to each light source 7.

  Next, the effect | action of the multistage plant cultivation shelf 1 comprised in this way is demonstrated. In the uppermost plant holding unit 2, the plant 4 is irradiated only with sunlight L <b> 1. When the growth by the sunlight L1 reaches a predetermined standard, the plant cultivation container 5 is moved to the second stage. In the second stage, the color of the plant 4 is controlled by irradiating the secondary light L2 (ultraviolet LED light) from the light source 7 and applying intense light stimulation in addition to the sunlight L1. If the plant 4 reaches the growth standard in the second stage, the plant cultivation container 5 is moved to the third stage, and the secondary light L2 (blue LED light) is irradiated from the light source 7 and added to the sunlight L1. The component of the plant 4 is controlled by giving a color stimulus. If the growth standard at the third stage is reached, the plant 4 is harvested. After the plant cultivation container 5 is moved, the plant cultivation container 5 is replenished and moved in the same procedure at any time, and the state where the plant is cultivated at all stages is always maintained.

  According to the multistage plant cultivation shelf 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, red can be enhanced by color control by UV stimulation in the second stage, and vitamin C can be enhanced by component control by color stimulation in the third stage. Therefore, it becomes possible to cultivate plants with high market value that cannot be cultivated by using only sunlight. Furthermore, since the irradiation efficiency of the secondary light can be easily maximized by devising the design of the cultivation shelf itself, it is possible to significantly reduce the energy consumption for the light irradiation and reduce the cost.

  Next, modified embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to the embodiment.

  The type of the secondary light L2 may be the same as that of the second stage and the third stage of the plant holding unit 2 as long as the same effect is obtained. What is necessary is just to change according to the objective of control. For example, a semiconductor laser, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, or the like may be used as the light source.

  The main light is not limited to sunlight, and artificial light arranged indoors where the multistage plant cultivation shelf is installed may be used as the main light.

  The ratio of main light to sub light may be changed according to the type of sub light necessary for controlling the component to be enhanced.

  The plant holding part is not limited to a net-like one, and may be a grid-like one or a single plate-like one. Also, the shape is not limited to a rectangle, and may be any other square, container for plant cultivation. As long as it can hold Further, any material may be used as long as it can withstand the weight of the container for plant cultivation, such as metal, wood and plastic.

  What is necessary is just to determine the number of plant holding parts by the number of sublights required according to the objective of plant component control.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present invention, when the main light L1 such as nighttime is not used (mainly sunlight), the periphery of the plant holding unit 2 is covered with a light blocking member 8 such as a light shielding curtain or a plate. Thus, it is possible to improve the irradiation efficiency without leaking the auxiliary light L2. Further, if the light blocking member 8 is controlled so as to detect the main light L1 and automatically open and close in accordance with the amount of light, the light blocking member 8 functions without bothering human hands. Is.

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The typical structure figure of the multistage type plant cultivation shelf in one embodiment of the present invention. The schematic arrangement drawing of the light source and plant in the said form. The typical structure figure in the modification of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multi-stage plant cultivation shelf 2 ... Plant holding part 4 ... Plant 7 ... Light source 8 ... Light shielding member L1 ... Main light (sunlight)
L2 ... Sub-light (LED light)

Claims (11)

A plant holding section arranged in a plurality of stages in a shelf shape above and below,
A light source that is disposed between the plant holding unit and the plant and that irradiates the plant with sub-light;
With
The height dimension between the plant holding parts is varied at least in part so that the amount of main light emitted from above is a value determined in advance in each stage in relation to the amount of sub-light. A multi-stage plant cultivation shelf characterized by   The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, wherein the main light is light based on sunlight irradiated from a predetermined angle.   In the plant holding part, the plant is moved to different stages according to growth, and only the main light is irradiated at the uppermost stage, and the light qualities of the sub-lights are mutually changed at the remaining stages. The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shelf is different.   The plant holding part has three stages, the top stage irradiates only the main light, the second stage irradiates the sub-light for color control of the plant, and the third stage for the plant component control. The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which irradiates the auxiliary light.   The multi-stage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein an arrangement position of the light source corresponds one-to-one with a planting position of the plant.   The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.   The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, wherein the light source is movable in a height direction.   The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, further comprising a light blocking member around the side of the plant holding part.   The multistage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the light blocking member detects the main light and automatically opens and closes.   A plant growing method using the multi-stage plant cultivation shelf according to claim 1, wherein the plant is moved from the upper stage to the lower stage as the plant grows, and only the main light is irradiated at the uppermost stage. In the remaining stages, the plant is irradiated with different sub-light qualities, and the plant is irradiated.   The plant holding part has three stages, the top stage irradiates only the main light, the second stage irradiates the sub-light for color control of the plant, and the third stage for the plant component control. The plant growing method of Claim 10 which irradiates the said sublight.