JP2014209871A - Plant growing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant growing device capable of facilitating the work of transplanting a plant after germinating the plant.SOLUTION: There is provided a plant growing device for growing a plant which produces a plurality of shoots and a plurality of roots 102 from a single nutrition body 100, the plant growing device comprising: a container part 1 cross-sectionally tapering off toward the bottom; a holding part 1a provided on the inner wall of the container part 1 so as to hold the nutrition body 100; and opening parts 1b, 1c provided in at least one of the upper and lower sides of the container part 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant growing apparatus for growing a plant body.

  The following Patent Document 1 is known as a technique for growing plants. This Patent Document 1 describes a plant growing apparatus provided with a water-impermeable container and a support member that is provided so as to close an upper portion of the container and supports a plant. Furthermore, this plant growing apparatus sends water from the lower part of the container to the upper surface of the support member, and supplies air between the lower part of the support member and the outside.

JP 2006-158383 A

  By the way, there are plants that propagate seeds and those that vegetatively propagate. In the case of vegetative propagation, the position of budding and rooting cannot be specified due to individual differences in seed pods. In addition, there is variation due to individual differences in which position of the sphere the roots and buds grow. Further, it is desired to facilitate the work of transplanting to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus after germination from seed pods and roots are generated.

  Then, this invention is proposed in view of the situation mentioned above, and it aims at providing the plant growing apparatus which can make the operation | work which transplanted after germinating a plant body easy.

  The plant growing device concerning the 1st mode of the present invention is a plant growing device which grows a plant which makes a plurality of buds and a plurality of roots from a single nutritional body, and becomes small as a section goes from the upper part to the lower part. A container portion having a shape; a holding portion that is provided on an inner wall of the container portion and holds the nutrient; and an opening portion provided on at least one of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the container portion. To do.

  The plant growing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is the plant growing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the holding part is configured by a plurality of convex parts extending in the vertical direction on the inner wall of the container part. It is characterized by being.

  The plant growing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the plant growing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the holding part is constituted by a member extending in the vertical direction among the mesh-shaped members, and the container part is The member extends in the up-down direction and the member extends in a direction different from the member extending in the up-down direction.

  The plant growing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the plant growing device according to the first aspect, wherein the holding portion is composed of a plurality of rod-like members extending in the vertical direction, and the container portion is It is comprised by the some rod-shaped member extended in the direction, and the support part which supports the lower end part of the said rod-shaped member, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The plant growing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the plant growing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the opening is provided on the upper surface side of the container portion, and the upper surface side. A rib portion extending in the horizontal direction from the opening is provided.

  The plant growing device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the plant growing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the opening is provided on the upper surface side of the container portion, and the upper surface side. The guide part which can be combined with the member which supports the stem part extended from the said nutrient body is provided in this opening part.

  The plant growing device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the plant growing device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the rib part and the result measured by the weight measuring unit are used. And a display unit for displaying.

  A plant growing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the plant growing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, further comprising a transmitting unit that transmits a measurement result by the weight measuring unit to the outside.

  According to the present invention, germination is performed in a state where the nutrient is held by the holding portion, and therefore, the transplanting operation can be facilitated after the plant body is germinated.

It is a figure which shows one structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which transplanted the container part in the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus. In the plant growth apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention, it is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the weight of a container part etc. containing a nutrient, and control timing. It is the schematic which shows the state which transplanted the container part in the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus. In the plant growing device shown as an embodiment of the present invention, it is a block diagram showing composition of a passive type tag and a reader part. In the plant growing device shown as an embodiment of the present invention, it is a block diagram showing composition of an active type tag and a reader part. It is the schematic which shows the state which transplanted the container part in the plant growing apparatus shown as embodiment of this invention to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus. In the plant growing device shown as an embodiment of the present invention, it is a block diagram showing composition of an active type tag and a reader part.

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

  A plant growing apparatus shown as an embodiment of the present invention is configured as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Fig.1 (a) is a perspective view of a plant growing apparatus, FIG.1 (b) is a top view of a plant growing apparatus. This plant growing apparatus grows a plant that produces a plurality of buds and a plurality of roots 102 from a single nutrient body 100. In the present embodiment, description will be given by taking as an example the case where the nutrient body 100 is used to grow potato seed pods. The nutrient body 100 is installed in the plant growing device in a state where no buds and roots are generated. The nutrient body 100 is supplied with moisture in a state where it is installed in the plant growing apparatus. Thereby, the vegetative body 100 produces a plurality of buds, produces a plurality of stems 101, and extends upward. Further, a plurality of roots 102 are generated from the nutrient body 100, and the roots 102 hang down.

  The plant growing apparatus grows the nutrient body 100 after the nutrient body 100 is installed. In a state where a plurality of stems 101 and a plurality of roots 102 are generated from the nutrient body 100, the nutrient body 100 is transplanted to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus.

  The plant growing device has a container unit 1 as a seedling growing device. A holding portion 1 a is provided on the inner wall of the container portion 1. The upper surface of the container 1 is an opening 1b. Similarly, the lower surface of the container part 1 is the opening part 1c. A plurality of installation fixing portions 1 d are formed at the lower end of the container portion 1.

  The container part 1 has a shape in which the cross-sectional area becomes smaller from the upper side to the lower side. This shape is, for example, a mortar shape.

  The holding part 1 a is provided on the inner wall of the container part 1. The holding part 1 a may be formed integrally with the inner wall of the container part 1. Alternatively, the holding part 1 a may be separable from the inner wall of the container part 1. The holding unit 1a holds the nutrient body 100. As shown in FIG. 1B, the holding portion 1 a is formed so as to protrude from the inner wall of the container portion 1. The holding unit 1a contacts the nutrient body 100 in a state where the nutrition body 100 is installed. In this state, a gap corresponding to the internal length of the holding portion 1 a is formed between the nutrient body 100 and the inner wall of the container portion 1.

  The holding part 1a is formed on the inner wall of the container part 1 by a plurality of convex parts extending in the vertical direction. In addition, the holding | maintenance part 1a does not need to be a some convex part extended in an up-down direction. For example, the holding portion 1a may be a plurality of convex portions formed on the inner wall of the container portion 1 in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the holding part 1a may be a plurality of convex parts formed on the inner wall of the container part 1 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the holding | maintenance part 1a may be several convex parts scattered by predetermined length.

  An opening 1 b and an opening 1 c are provided on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the container portion 1. In addition, the opening part should just be provided in at least one of the upper surface side of the container part 1, and a lower surface side.

  In such a plant growing device, a nutrient body 100 as a seed pod is installed inside the container portion 1. In this state, the plant growing device gives moisture to the nutrient body 100 such that the nutrient body 100 does not rot. Examples of the water supply method include manual spraying and spraying devices using automatic timer control. Note that any form of water supply method can be applied.

  When the vegetative body 100 grows, it germinates to produce stems 101 and roots 102. At this time, there is a gap formed by the holding portion 1 a between the nutrient body 100 and the inner wall of the container portion 1. Therefore, according to this plant growing device, by providing a space between the nutrient body 100 and the inner wall of the container part 1, it is possible to ensure a space where the stem 101 and the root 102 extend. Moreover, this plant growing apparatus can be transplanted to the hydroponics apparatus by moving the container part 1, and can facilitate the transplanting work after germinating the plant body.

  Furthermore, the plant growing apparatus can restrict the growing region of the nutrient body 100 in the container 1 having a certain space. Thereby, the plant growing apparatus can suppress interference with an adjacent strain even if a large number of plant growing apparatuses are arranged and a large number of vegetative bodies 100 are grown.

  Further, according to the plant growing device, it is possible to carry out seedling raising without using a dedicated medium. Therefore, according to this plant growing apparatus, it is possible to reduce labor and management costs for growing the nutrient body 100 rather than using a dedicated medium.

  Furthermore, seed potatoes such as potatoes as the nutritional body 100 cannot identify the position of budding or rooting due to individual differences, and there are variations in the position of the roots and buds from which they grow. On the other hand, according to the plant growing device, even if there is no medium, the holding unit 1a can provide a space between the inner wall of the container unit 1 and the nutrient body 100, and water the nutrient body 100 as the seed pod. This can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to this plant growing apparatus, the opening part 1c is provided in the lower surface of the container part 1. FIG. Thereby, the root 102 extended from the nutrient body 100 hangs down from the opening 1c. Thereby, the plant growing apparatus can transplant the container part 1 in which the nutrient body 100 is accommodated, and can soak the root 102 in the culture solution. Therefore, according to this plant growing apparatus, the container part 1 can be transplanted to a hydroponics apparatus as it is, and the effort of transplanting can be reduced. In addition, the hydroponics method for growing plants with the culture solution may be a thin film hydroponic method (Nutrient Film Technique: NFT) or a submerged hydroponic method (Deep Flow Technique: DFT) It is not limited to a specific method.

  In this embodiment, as shown to Fig.2 (a), you may comprise the holding | maintenance part 1a by the member extended to an up-down direction among mesh-shaped members. As shown in FIG. 2B, the holding portion 1 a has a shape protruding from the surface corresponding to the inner wall of the container portion 1 toward the inside of the container portion 1. The configuration shown in FIG. 2B is an example, and may protrude toward the inside by other forms. In addition, as for this holding | maintenance part 1a, either may be separable from the surface corresponded to the inner wall of the container part 1 as needed.

  In this plant growing device, the container part 1 is configured by combining a holding part 1a as a member extending in the vertical direction and a member 1f extending in the horizontal direction. The member 1f extending in the horizontal direction only needs to be configured by a member extending in a direction different from the holding portion 1a.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A, the plant growing device is provided with a fixed guide portion 1 e at the upper end of the container portion 1. The fixed guide portion 1e will be described later.

  This plant growing apparatus forms the container part 1 with a mesh-like member by the holding | maintenance part 1a and the member 1f extended in a horizontal direction. Thereby, the plant growing apparatus can form a space between the nutrient body 100 and the surface corresponding to the inner wall of the container part 1 in the same manner as the plant growing apparatus described above. In addition, the plant growing apparatus can grow the nutrient body 100 without hindering the extension of the stem 101 and the root 102 extending from the nutrient body 100 by configuring the container portion 1 with a mesh-like member. .

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the plant growing apparatus may comprise the container part 1 by a bar-shaped member as the holding part 1a and a support part 1g that supports the lower end of the bar-shaped member. The holding | maintenance part 1a is comprised with the some rod-shaped member extended in an up-down direction. The bar-like member may be flat with respect to the surface corresponding to the inner wall of the container part 1 or may protrude.

  Even with such a plant growing device, a space can be formed around the nutrient body 100 as in the above-described plant growing device. In addition, the plant growing apparatus can grow the nutrient body 100 without hindering the extension of the stem 101 and the root 102 extending from the nutrient body 100, similarly to the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the plant growing device may be provided with an opening portion provided on the upper surface side of the container portion and a rib portion 2 extending in the horizontal direction from the opening portion 1 b on the upper surface side. In this plant growing device, the rib portion 2 is fixed to the installation surface 200. Thereby, this plant growing device can perform the planting / harvesting of the nutrient body 100 and the installation / removal operation of the nutrient body 100 during maintenance from the upper surface side easily. Furthermore, the plant growing apparatus can easily perform the operation of removing the container part 1 from the installation surface 200. Therefore, this plant growing device can easily perform the operation of transplanting the nutrient body 100 to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus and the operation of returning the nutrient body 100 from the hydroponic cultivation apparatus to the container unit 1.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 thru | or FIG. 7, as for the plant growing apparatus, the opening part is provided in the upper surface side of the container part 1, and the stem 101 (from the nutrient body 100 is extended to the opening part 1b of the upper surface side. You may provide the fixed guide part which can be combined with the member which supports a stem part.

  The plant growing apparatus of FIG. 6 is provided with a fixed guide portion 1e in the container portion 1 shown in FIG. Such a container part 1 is provided with a support column part 20 for supporting the stem 101 grown from the nutrient body 100. The support columnar portion 20 has a net shape in which a member 21 extending in the horizontal direction and a member 22 extending in the vertical direction are combined.

  As another form, as shown in FIG. 5, you may utilize the upper end part of the container part 1 as a fixed guide part. And the support column part 20 is installed in the upper end part of the container part 1. FIG. As another form, as shown in FIG. 7, in the container part 1 of FIG. 3, you may utilize the upper end of the rod-shaped holding | maintenance part 1a as a fixed guide part. In this plant growing device, when the support column 20 is installed at the upper end, the rod-shaped member bends as indicated by the dotted line in the figure due to the weight of the support column 20.

  According to such a plant growing device, the container part 1 is provided with a fixing guide part for fixing the support column part 20. Thereby, according to the plant growing apparatus, in addition to the effect mentioned above, cultivation of the plant including the seedling process of the nutrient body 100 to the cultivation process is realizable.

  In the present embodiment, the plant growing device may include a weight sensor 31, a control unit 32, and a display unit 33 as shown in FIG. Further, the plant growing device includes a columnar support portion 34 that supports the container portion 1 and a spacer portion 35 that is disposed in the nutrient solution 110 and supports the columnar support portion 34. The cylindrical support portion 34 has an opening 34a at the bottom. The column support part 34 is provided with a weight sensor 31 at the upper end. Furthermore, an installation surface 200 is installed above the column support part 34. In addition, the installation surface 200, the cylindrical support part 34, and the spacer part 35 comprise the hydroponic cultivation apparatus which gives a nutrient and a water | moisture content to the root 102 with the nutrient solution 110. FIG.

  The plant growing device is disposed at a predetermined height from the nutrient solution 110 in a state where the container unit 1 is installed on the installation surface 200. And it is comprised so that the root 102 may be immersed in the nutrient solution 110 in the state which the root 102 of the nutrient body 100a hung down below.

  The weight sensor 31 functions as a weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the rib portion 2. The weight sensor 31 is provided between the installation surface 200 and the columnar support portion 34. The installation surface 200 also functions as a base for the harvest 100b grown from the nutrient body 100a through the root 103. The weight sensor 31 detects the weight applied from the installation surface 200. The detected weight includes the weight of the container part 1, the rib part 2, the installation surface 200, the harvested product 100 b, the nutrient 100 a, the stem 101, and the root 102. The detection value of the weight sensor 31 is read by the control unit 32.

  The control unit 32 creates display data from the detection value supplied from the weight sensor 31. This display data is supplied to the display unit 33. The control unit 32 is configured as shown in FIG. 9, for example. The control unit 32 includes a CPU 32a, a display circuit 32b, and a power supply circuit 32c. The control unit 32 operates by the power supply circuit 32 c and supplies power to the weight sensor 31 and the display unit 33. And the control part 32 reads the detection value of the weight sensor 31 by CPU32a. The display circuit 32 b creates display data from the detection value of the weight sensor 31 and drives the display unit 33.

  The display unit 33 displays the result measured by the weight sensor 31. At this time, the display unit 33 operates according to the display data supplied from the control unit 32.

  In such a plant growing device, when the stem 101 and the root 102 are grown from the nutrient body 100a and the harvest 100b is grown from the root 103, the total weight applied to the weight sensor 31 increases. Such a change in the total weight can be displayed on the display unit 33 in real time. Therefore, the worker can be made aware of the growing status of the plant body in real time.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the total weight detected by the weight sensor 31 and the control timing for plant growth can be set. For example, the control timing a for changing the day length can be determined at the timing when the total weight becomes x. When the total weight further increases to y, the control timing b for changing the nutrient solution concentration can be determined. When the total weight further increases to z, the control timing c of the harvest time notice is reached. The controller 32 presets a plant growth curve that represents the relationship between the total weight and the control timing. Then, the control unit 32 determines whether the total weight is detected by the weight sensor 31 and whether or not the predetermined total weight is x, y, z. Then, the control unit 32 can display on the display unit 33 that the predetermined control timings a, b, and c are reached when the predetermined total weight x, y, and z are reached.

  As described above, according to this plant growing device, it is possible to determine the management items to be controlled from the total weight obtained by the weight sensor 31. Thereby, according to a plant growing apparatus, it becomes possible to grasp | ascertain a cultivation stage from gross weight, to manage liquid fertilizer density | concentration and illumination intensity time, and to grasp the timing of a harvest time. Therefore, according to this plant growing apparatus, cultivation work can be automated, for example, it is possible to omit visual growth confirmation and various types of manual management, thereby realizing labor saving.

  In the present embodiment, the plant growing device may include a transmission unit that transmits a measurement result obtained by the weight sensor 31 to the outside. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the transmission unit corresponds to a tag 43, a reader unit 42, and a PLC adapter 41 connected to the weight sensor 31.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the tag 43 includes a CPU 43a and a wireless transmission circuit 43b. A tag 43 shown in FIG. 12 is a passive tag that does not have a power source inside. The CPU 43a acquires the detection value obtained by the weight sensor 31. When a radio wave is emitted from the reader unit 42, the wireless transmission circuit 43 b returns a radio wave including the detection value of the weight sensor 31 in response to the radio wave.

  In the case of the active tag 43, the tag 43 includes a power source 43c as shown in FIG. The active tag 43 operates in the same manner as the passive type, but can exchange radio waves with the reader unit 42 over a longer distance than the passive type.

  In addition, when the distance between the tag 43 and the reader unit 42 is short (for example, within 100 mm), a passive type without a battery in the tag 43 can be used. As this passive tag 43, for example, a tag that can perform NFC (Near Field Communication) of 13.56 MHz included in the HF band can be used. It is needless to say that the passive tag 43 can be used even if it transmits and receives radio waves in other frequency bands. Further, when the distance between the tag 43 and the reader unit 42 is, for example, 100 mm or more, it is desirable to use an active type in which a power source 43c is mounted on the tag 43 side.

  The leader part 42 is arrange | positioned at the hydroponics lower part or side surface of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus side. The reader unit 42 includes a CPU 42a, a power supply circuit 42b, a wireless reception circuit 42c, and a communication control unit 42d. In the reader unit 42, the radio reception circuit 42c emits radio waves to the tag 43 at a predetermined control timing according to the control of the CPU 42a. The reader unit 42 reads the radio wave returned from the tag 43 by the wireless reception circuit 42c and supplies it to the CPU 42a. The CPU 42a acquires the detection value of the weight sensor 31 from the read radio wave. The reader unit 42 supplies the detection value of the weight sensor 31 to the PLC adapter 41 as an analog signal output or a digital signal output signal. The PLC adapter 41 is connected to a management device or the like operated by an administrator via a signal line. Thereby, the administrator can grasp | ascertain the detected value of the weight sensor 31 transmitted.

  Such a plant growing device can transmit the measurement result by the weight sensor 31 by the transmission unit including the tag 43, the reader unit 42, and the PLC adapter 41. Thereby, the cultivation situation can be managed by the management device of the administrator connected to the PLC adapter 41. Moreover, even if it is a case where many cultivation conditions are managed, the detection value of many weight sensors 31 can be managed centrally with a management apparatus. Thereby, it becomes possible to automatically control lighting control, nutrient solution management, and the like from the growth state of the cultivated product.

  Furthermore, the plant growing apparatus of FIG. 11 thru | or FIG. 13 may be provided with the lighting installation 51 and the photovoltaic device 52 which generate | occur | produces light by receiving light, as shown in FIG.14 and FIG.15. The lighting equipment 51 is made of, for example, an LED and emits light L that irradiates the plant body. The illumination equipment 51 can control light intensity and irradiation time by a control unit (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 14, the photovoltaic element 52 is disposed at a position where the light L of the lighting equipment 51 can be received. As the photovoltaic element 52, for example, an amorphous silicon solar cell can be used. The photovoltaic element 52 supplies the tag 43 with power generated in response to receiving the light L. This electric power is supplied to the power supply circuit 43d in the tag 43 shown in FIG. As a result, the power supply circuit 43d can drive the CPU 43a and the wireless transmission circuit 43b with the supplied power.

  The detection value of the weight sensor 31 can be measured only when the lighting equipment 51 is turned on. However, since the real-time property of the gross weight is not required, it is considered sufficient as a function for monitoring the gross weight.

  According to such a plant growing device, it is possible to operate the active tag 43 by generating power using the light L applied to the plant body. Therefore, according to this plant growing device, maintenance such as battery replacement can be omitted without using a battery for the active tag 43.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made depending on the design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it is possible to change.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container part 1a Holding | maintenance part 1b, 1c Opening part 1e Fixed guide part 2 Rib part 31 Weight sensor 32 Control part 33 Display part 41 PLC adapter 42 Reader part 43 Tag

Claims (8)

A plant growing device for growing a plant that produces a plurality of buds and a plurality of roots from a single nutrient,
A container portion having a shape that decreases in cross section from the top to the bottom;
A holding part that is provided on an inner wall of the container part and holds the nutrient;
An opening provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the container portion;
A plant growing apparatus comprising:   The plant growing device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is configured by a plurality of convex portions extending in the vertical direction on an inner wall of the container portion. The holding part is constituted by a member extending in the vertical direction among the mesh-like members,
The said container part is comprised by the member extended in the said up-down direction, and the member extended in the direction different from the member extended in the said up-down direction, The plant growing apparatus of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The holding portion is composed of a plurality of rod-like members extending in the vertical direction,
The plant growing device according to claim 1, wherein the container portion includes a plurality of rod-like members extending in the vertical direction and a support portion that supports a lower end portion of the rod-like member.   The plant according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening is provided on an upper surface side of the container portion, and a rib portion extending horizontally from the opening on the upper surface side is provided. Training device.   The opening portion is provided on the upper surface side of the container portion, and a guide portion that can be combined with a member that supports a stem portion extending from the nutrient body is provided in the opening portion on the upper surface side. The plant cultivation apparatus as described in any one of thru | or 4 thru | or 4. A weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the rib part;
The plant growing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a display unit that displays a result measured by the weight measuring unit.   The plant growing device according to claim 7, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits a measurement result of the weight measurement unit to the outside.

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