JP2015136356A - plant cultivation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant cultivation system adapted for raising plants.SOLUTION: A plant cultivation system that performs hydroponics to plants by using liquid fertilizer has: a first floor 58 having a first region which includes a region where first plant cultivation shelves 1A are arranged, a region where second plant cultivation shelves 1B are arranged, and a region between the first plant cultivation shelves 1A and the second plant cultivation shelves 1B; a second floor 57 which has a second region different from the first region and is equipped with ventilation holes 57a; and an air conditioning equipment 61 which circulates air from a ceiling 53 having air supply holes 53a to the second floor 57 having the ventilation holes 57a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivation system.

  In the field of cultivating plants such as vegetables, medicinal herbs, and flower buds, there is a plant cultivation method using a plurality of shelves and steps, and according to this, plants can be produced at a high density in a relatively narrow space. Of the plant cultivation methods, the hydroponics method facilitates plant disease, contamination control and growth control, and enables year-round production. In order to realize this, a closed type plant production system that uses artificial light in a closed space has been put into practical use, and there is a plant cultivation system that uses, for example, a clean room as the closed space.

  For example, a plant cultivation system provided with a unitized container having a cultivation room constituted by a clean room is known. In the cultivation room, one or two or more cultivation shelves capable of detaching a plurality of medium blocks are arranged. Moreover, the inside of the cultivation room has a robot mechanism having a handling robot that attaches / detaches the medium block to / from the cultivation shelf and a rail that moves the handling robot in the cultivation room. Further, the cultivation room has a nutrient solution supply means capable of supplying the cultivation nutrient solution to the culture medium block mounted on the cultivation shelf, and a light irradiation means capable of irradiating the medium block mounted on the cultivation shelf. Is provided.

  The clean room is used for manufacturing an electronic device such as a semiconductor device, and has a downflow type, for example. In the downflow clean room, a ceiling is provided with a space below the ceiling slab surface, an air supply hole is formed in the ceiling, and an air filter is disposed on the ceiling. In addition, a floor having a large number of suction holes is arranged below the ceiling, and air supplied from the ceiling is directly sucked into the suction holes directly below and exhausted to the outside.

JP 2007-289056 A JP-A-8-68554

  Plant cultivation does not require the formation of a fine pattern like an electronic device, but it is possible to divert a clean room built in an electronic device manufacturing factory. However, the clean room for plant cultivation does not require the strict conditions such as dust, suspended solids, and air flow rate required for the lean room for manufacturing electronic devices. There are problems that must be overcome, such as excessive power consumption.

  Moreover, the environment in a clean room differs between electronic device manufacture and plant cultivation. For example, since water, liquid manure, etc. are used for plant cultivation, the humidity in the clean room becomes high, and the air conditioning equipment suitable for the clean room for electronic devices is not suitable.

  Moreover, when trying to cultivate a large amount of plants in a closed space using a cultivation shelf as described above, the proportion of the plant occupied in the clean room increases as the plant grows, and the flow of air is inhibited. Furthermore, when a cultivated plant is moved, a liquid containing nutrients may fall on the floor, and it is necessary to consider the treatment in such cases in terms of equipment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation system suitable for plant growth.

According to one viewpoint of this embodiment, it is a plant cultivation system which hydroponically cultivates a plant using liquid fertilizer, Comprising: The area | region where the 1st plant cultivation shelf is arrange | positioned, and the 2nd plant cultivation shelf arrange | position A first floor having a first area including an area being formed, and an area between the first plant cultivation shelf and the second plant cultivation shelf, and a second area different from the first area And a second floor having a ventilation hole, and an air conditioning facility for circulating air from a ceiling having an air supply hole to the second floor having the ventilation hole. A system is provided.
The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention.

  According to this embodiment, it can adapt to plant growth.

1A (a) and (b) are a side sectional view and a plan sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a plant cultivation apparatus introduced into a plant cultivation system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a cultivation unit attached to the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cultivation tray and its transport device in the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the embodiment. Drawing 4 (a)-(c) is a top view showing an example of a lid of a cultivation tray in a plant cultivation device introduced into a plant cultivation system concerning an embodiment. Drawing 5 (a) and (b) is a front view showing an example of a liquid manure hose connected between cultivation trays of a plant cultivation device introduced into a plant cultivation system concerning an embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are front views showing a modification of the liquid manure hose connected between the cultivation trays of the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of a liquid fertilizer supply system in the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the embodiment. Drawing 8 (a) and (b) is a perspective view showing an example of a cultivation tray in a plant cultivation device introduced into a plant cultivation system concerning an embodiment, a lighting fixture, an elevator for lighting fixture, and a light reflector. Fig.9 (a) is a perspective view which shows the modification of the light reflecting plate in the plant cultivation apparatus introduce | transduced into the plant cultivation system which concerns on embodiment, FIG.9 (b), (c) is the plant cultivation which concerns on embodiment. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the reflecting plate and lighting fixture of the modification in the plant cultivation apparatus introduce | transduced into a system. 10A and 10B are a side sectional view and a plan sectional view showing another example of the schematic configuration of the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to the embodiment. .

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, similar components are given the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1A (a) is a side cross-sectional view showing a clean room and air conditioning equipment in the plant cultivation system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1A (b) is a plan view showing a cross section taken along line XX of FIG. 1A (a). .

  In FIG. 1A, a ceiling plate 53 that divides an air supply region 52 from the top surface 51a is attached to an upper portion of a clean room 51 in the plant cultivation system. The ceiling plate 53 is formed with a plurality of air supply holes 53a through which air supplied to the air supply region 52 passes. An air filter 54 may be disposed on the air supply hole 53 a of the ceiling plate 53.

  An exhaust passage 55 is disposed at the bottom of the clean room 51, and a ventilation floor plate 57 and a ventilation defense floor plate 58 are stretched thereon via a base 56.

  The ventilation floor plate 57 has ventilation holes 57 a and is mounted on the exhaust passage 55 at the bottom of the clean room 51. For example, a punching metal plate having punch holes is used as the ventilation floor plate 57, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a floor plate or a wire net having holes formed in a plate made of resin, ceramic, or the like is used. Also good.

  The ventilation protection floor board 58 is overlapped and stretched on the ventilation floor board 57 at least at the place where the plant cultivation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1B is installed, and closes the ventilation holes 57a. In addition, the floor board 58 for ventilation | gas_flow prevention may have the area which covers the 1st channel | path A and the 2nd channel | path B which are shown in FIG. Thereby, in the area | region of the floor board 58 for defense, it will be in the state from which the air of the cultivation space 59 flowed directly into the exhaust path 55 under the floor. Of the floor of the clean room 51, the installation area of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 or the vicinity of the installation area is a non-exhaust area, and an area outside the area, for example, at least a part of the ventilation floor plate 57 in the area near the wall of the clean room 51 is an exhaust area. . The ventilation floor board 57 may be stretched only in a region that does not overlap the ventilation prevention floor board 58. That is, the floor of the clean room 51 may be in a state where a part of the floor plate 57 for ventilation is stretched and a part of the floor plate 58 for ventilation prevention is partially stretched. By doing so, there is no level difference corresponding to the thickness of the ventilation barrier floor plate 58 that occurs when the ventilation barrier floor plate 58 is overlaid on the ventilation floor plate 57.

  Liquid fertilizer is supplied to each of the plurality of plant cultivation apparatuses 1 installed on the air defense floor board 58, but the plant cultivation apparatuses 1 to which different liquid fertilizers are supplied may coexist in the same clean room 51. . For example, the first plant cultivation apparatus 1A to which the first liquid fertilizer is supplied and the second plant cultivation apparatus 1B to which the second liquid fertilizer is supplied may be arranged so as to face each other with the first passage A interposed therebetween. Details thereof will be described later.

  The space of the room sandwiched between the ventilation floor plate 57, the ventilation defense floor plate 58 and the ceiling plate 53 is a cultivation space 59.

  An air supply pipe 62 connected to the air supply unit of the outside air conditioning equipment 61 is inserted into the air supply region 52 on the ceiling board 53 of the clean room 51. In addition, an exhaust pipe 63 connected to an intake portion of the air conditioning equipment 61 is connected to the exhaust passage 55 connected to the ventilation hole 57 a of the floor plate 57 for ventilation.

  The air conditioning equipment 61 includes, for example, a recirculation mechanism that processes air taken from the exhaust pipe 63 and returns the air to the air supply pipe 62, and an outside air processing mechanism that cleans the outside air and supplies the air to the air supply pipe 62. The air taken into the air conditioning equipment 61 is purified through an air filter (not shown).

  In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 50 indicates a door at the entrance / exit of the clean room 51.

  In the above embodiment, when the air purified from the air conditioning equipment 61 through the air supply pipe 62 is sent to the air supply area 52 of the ceiling, the air passes through the air filter 54 and is further purified, and the air supply holes of the ceiling plate 53 It blows out to the lower cultivation space 59 through 53a.

  The air coming out of the ceiling board 53 moves toward the ventilation floor board 57 in the clean room 51 while passing through the plant cultivation apparatus 1. However, in the part of the ventilation floor board 57 covered with the ventilation prevention floor board 58. Since the vent hole 57a is blocked or there is no vent hole 57a, the air released from above the plant cultivation device 1 passes through the plant cultivation device 1 while spreading, toward the ventilation hole 57a of the floor plate 57 for ventilation. Moving. That is, it moves from the ceiling plate 53 in a wide area to the vent hole 57a in a narrow area. Further, the air is returned to the air conditioning equipment 61 through the ventilation hole 57 a of the floor plate 57 for ventilation and the exhaust passage 55 and the exhaust pipe 63 therebelow.

  Now, as the clean room 51 used as a closed space in which the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is disposed, for example, a clean room used for manufacturing a semiconductor device can be diverted. In the clean room, in order to keep indoor air clean, a so-called down-flow air flow is formed in which air that has flowed into the room from the back of the ceiling flows from the ceiling toward the floor. A plurality of air holes provided in the floor, for example, holes formed in the floor, are sucked down the floor and exhausted to the outside.

  In order to create such a flow of air, for example, a punching metal with a fine punch hole formed on one side or a part of the floor is stretched on the floor. The inventors have found that a serious problem occurs.

  For example, the air exhausted from the room is passed through a filter by the air conditioning equipment 61 or the like to filter dust and the like. At this time, if the amount of water vapor in the air is large, the filter is quickly deteriorated, for example, clogged. Since liquid fertilizer is supplied, the air around the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is partially in a state where there is a lot of water vapor. Further, when liquid manure leaks, the liquid manure may spill on the floor surface and enter the exhaust pipe 63 through the vents on the floor surface. Therefore, the inventors have realized that it is preferable that the floor surface in the vicinity where the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed has no vent holes.

  Therefore, the clean room used for the manufacture of the semiconductor device is remodeled, and the ventilation hole 57a on the floor surface in the area where the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is arranged is out of the ventilation holes 57a provided on the floor surface. Blocked by.

  On the other hand, air flow is necessary for plant growth. The reason is that if there is no air flow, the heat generated from the lighting will cause the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the plant to become locally hot, or the carbon dioxide required for plant growth This is because it will not be sufficiently supplied. As described above, it is not desirable for moisture to enter the exhaust pipe 63 from the vent hole 57a on the floor surface. However, on the other hand, all of the vent holes 57a on the floor may be blocked, thereby inhibiting the circulation of indoor air. Not desirable. In addition, as the number of plants to be cultivated increases, that is, as the closed space where a plurality of plant cultivation apparatuses 1 are installed becomes wider or the number of plant cultivation apparatuses 1 per installation area increases, Flow stagnation is likely to occur. Therefore, when mass cultivation is performed, it is more important to control air to flow without stagnating indoors.

  Therefore, the inventors have found out which part of the ventilation holes 57a provided on the floor is to be left and which part is to be closed.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the ventilation hole 57a at the wall of the room in the clean room 51 is left, and the ventilation hole 57a at the center of the room is closed with a ventilation barrier plate 58 or the like. In other words, the vent hole 57a is not provided in the floor where the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is arranged, and the vent hole 57a is provided in the work passage. For example, the ventilation hole 57a is not provided on the floor surface in the center of the room of the clean room 51, and one or more plant cultivation apparatuses 1 are arranged thereon. And the ventilation hole 57a is provided in the floor surface near the wall of a room, and the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is utilized, for example as an operator's passage, without arrange | positioning. In addition, although the ventilation hole 57a may be provided in the floor surface of all four sides near a wall here, the ventilation hole 57a should just be provided in at least one wall side.

  By doing in this way, even if liquid manure leaks by any chance, possibility that liquid manure will enter into the ventilation hole 57a connected with the exhaust path 55 can be made very small. Moreover, even if there is a lump of air with a lot of water vapor in the vicinity of the plant cultivation device 1, it can be relaxed when the air reaches the ventilation hole 57a. Can be expected to lengthen.

  Alternatively, the ventilation holes 57a on the floor surface near the exhaust pipe 63 connected to the floor of the clean room 51 may be left, and the ventilation holes 57a on the other floor surfaces may be blocked with a ventilation barrier plate 58 or the like. By doing so, the ventilation hole 57a close to the exhaust pipe 63, that is, a portion having a strong intake force is left, so that indoor air is easily sucked in, and as a result, a place where the air is stagnated is obtained. It can be expected that air circulation will be smooth without generating it.

  Furthermore, in order to further assist the indoor air circulation, it is conceivable to install a blower in the room. By blowing air from the place where the vent hole 57a on the floor surface is not vacant in the direction of the vent hole 57a, circulation of air in the entire room can be assisted.

  FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the clean room of the plant cultivation system according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plant cultivation apparatus introduced into the plant cultivation system according to this embodiment. It is a front view which shows an example. The plant cultivation apparatus 1 is an example of a plant cultivation shelf for hydroponically cultivating a plant.

  In FIG. 1B, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) is in a plant cultivation room that is a closed space, for example, a first passage A in the clean room 51 (a region indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1A (b)). A plurality of adjacent installations are provided along the second passage B in the depth direction substantially orthogonal to the first passage A. In addition, when a plurality of first passages A and second passages B are arranged vertically and horizontally, a plurality of plant cultivation devices 1 are attached in the respective areas defined by the first passage A and the second passage B. In the following description, the 1st channel | path A side at the time of looking down at the plant cultivation apparatus 1 from right above may be expressed as a front side.

  In addition, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 demonstrated below is mainly used for hydroponics. As the plant to be cultivated, for example, leafy vegetables can be considered, but naturally, plants other than leafy vegetables may be used as cultivation targets. FIG. 1B shows an example in which four plant cultivation devices 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are connected and integrated. One of these may be referred to as a plant cultivation device 1.

  The plant cultivation apparatus 1 has a cultivation rack 2. The cultivation rack 2 has a framework structure, and a plurality of support columns 2 a are attached to the floor E along the first passage A in a plurality of rows at intervals. The support 2a is erected substantially perpendicular to the floor surface E. Further, the plurality of columns 2a adjacent in the row direction along the second passage B are supported in the lateral direction via the first beam 2b at a plurality of locations, and the first beam 2b and the column 2a are, for example, screws. It is fixed with rivets or the like.

  As illustrated in the front view of FIG. 2 as viewed from the first passage A, the plurality of second beams arranged at intervals in the height direction on the pillars 2a arranged on both sides of the cultivation rack 2 respectively. 2c is passed in the horizontal direction, and the column 2a and the second beam 2c are fixed by, for example, screws, rivets or the like. The cultivation tray 4 and the lighting fixture 5 are attached adjacent to the plurality of second beams 2c arranged in the height direction in the height direction.

  In FIG. 1B, two plant cultivation apparatuses 1, for example, 1A and 1B, are arranged adjacent to each other along the second passage B, and the struts 2a of the adjacent plant cultivation apparatuses 1 are connected via a beam 2b. Although these examples are shown, these two plant cultivation devices 1 can be combined and regarded as one plant cultivation device. That is, the plant cultivation devices 1A and 1B may be combined into one plant cultivation device. How many struts 2a, how many beams 2b, how many beams 2c are included in one plant cultivation apparatus 1 is the amount of plants to be cultivated, the size of the space where the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed, You may determine suitably considering the intensity | strength with respect to the weight including the plant and instrument to mount.

  In addition, the 1st plant cultivation apparatus 1A and 2nd plant cultivation apparatus 1B which adjoined along the 2nd channel | path B, and the 3rd plant cultivation apparatus 1C and 4th plant cultivation apparatus 1D are cultivation racks, respectively. 2 is shared. Furthermore, the 1st plant cultivation apparatus 1A and 3rd plant cultivation apparatus 1C which adjoined along the 1st channel | path A, and the 2nd plant cultivation apparatus 1B and the 4th plant cultivation apparatus 1D also used the cultivation rack 2. Sharing.

  Next, the cultivation tray 4 and the conveyance tool 6 for conveying this will be described with reference to the front view of FIG. 2 and the perspective view of FIG.

  The cultivation tray 4 has a horizontally long concave cultivation container 4 a and a rectangular flat lid 4 b that covers the upper opening thereof, and is carried into the cultivation rack 2 using the transport device 6, and carried out from the cultivation rack 2. Is done.

  The transfer device 6 slides on the rail 7 passed over the second beams 2c of the plurality of cultivation racks 2 adjacent to each other in the depth direction along the second passage B and moves in the front-rear direction, that is, the second passage B. It is moved in the depth direction along. The rails 7 have a quadrangular cross section, and at least two rails 7 are attached in parallel on the second beam 2c at intervals in the width direction. The transport device 6 is formed in a frame shape having a substantially rectangular plane shape, and sliding portions 6a having a Γ-shaped cross section that are fitted from the inside to the corners of the upper surface and the side surface of the rail 7 run along the rail 7 on both sides thereof. It is formed in a straight line.

  On each of the sliding parts 6a on both sides of the transport device 6, there is a portion where the cultivation tray 4 is placed horizontally along the front end portion and the rear end portion of the transport device 6, and the cultivation tray is included in these portions. A U-shaped container insertion portion 6b into which 4 is inserted is formed by two or more in the front-rear direction as viewed from the first passage A side. Thereby, the some cultivation tray 4 will be positioned and attached on the conveyance instrument 6. FIG.

  Further, one or more handles 6 c are attached to the front end of the transfer device 6 when viewed from the first passage A. For example, a plurality of handles 6c are attached at intervals in the lateral direction. Further, a reinforcing beam 6 d may be attached to a portion near the center of the frame-shaped transport device 6.

  When the cultivation tray 4 is stored in the cultivation rack 2, the operator first inserts the cultivation container 4 into the container insertion portion 6 b of the conveyance device 6 from the top, and then the conveyance device 6 from the first passage A side. The rear end portion of the sliding portion 6 a is placed on the rail 7 in the cultivation rack 2. Further, the operator puts his / her hand on the handle 6c of the conveying device 6 and slides the sliding portion 6a on the rail 7 while pushing the conveying device 6 and stops at the set position. Thereby, the attachment work of the cultivation tray 4 with respect to the cultivation rack 2 is complete | finished. On the other hand, when taking out the cultivation tray 4 from the cultivation rack 2, an operator pulls out the conveyance device 6 toward the 1st channel | path A, grasping the handle 6c with a hand, and the sliding part 6a of the conveyance device 6 is railed. The cultivation tray 4 is taken out from the cultivation rack 2 together with the conveyance device 6 while being slid on the substrate 7 and supporting the conveyance device 6.

  In addition, for example, the first plant cultivation apparatus 1A and the second plant cultivation apparatus 1B can store the cultivation units 3 having multiple stages, for example, seven stages in the vertical direction. In that case, it is difficult for an operator standing on the floor E to perform an operation on the upper cultivation unit 3. By making the cultivation tray 4 movable from the first plant cultivation apparatus 1A, the position of the cultivation tray 4 can be changed to a position corresponding to the work.

  An operator stores the removed cultivation tray 4 in the cultivation rack of another processing apparatus while being placed on the conveyance device 6 or moves the cultivation tray 4 to the conveyance device 6 so that the cultivation tray 4 can be easily operated during cultivation. Or take it down.

  As described above, when the conveyance device 6 that slides on the rail 7 provided in the cultivation rack 2 is used, a plurality of cultivation trays 4 can be taken in and out at a time, so that work efficiency is increased. Moreover, since a plurality of container fitting portions 6b for fitting the cultivation tray 4 are formed on the front and rear of the conveying device 6 at intervals, the plurality of cultivation trays 4 can be easily positioned. The space | interval of the area | region of the several plant S to grow can be ensured easily.

  Moreover, in consideration of the fact that the number of plants S to be cultivated and, in turn, the yield can be increased by increasing the number of installed cultivation trays 4 as much as possible relative to the installation area of the plant cultivation device 1. Instead of providing a passage, as shown in FIG. 1, two plant cultivation apparatuses 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B are installed adjacent to each other in a so-called back-to-back state, and work is performed on one plant cultivation apparatus 1. It is conceivable to provide the first passage A only on the front side to be performed. In that case, by using the transport device 6 having the above-described structure, it becomes easy to work on the cultivation tray 4 in the back of the plant cultivation apparatus 1, and the work is facilitated when the cultivation tray 4 is moved.

In addition, the conveyance apparatus 6 is formed in a size that can also mount the cultivation trays 4 placed on the same stage of the plant cultivation apparatuses 1A and 1B adjacent to each other in the depth direction, that is, the direction along the second passage B in FIG. 1B. May be. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 3, when two cultivation trays 4 are placed in the depth direction at one stage in the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the plant cultivation apparatuses 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B are connected to each other. Four cultivation trays 4 can be placed in one stage. Then, while enlarging the conveying instrument 6 rather than the illustration of FIG. 3, by increasing the number of container fitting parts 6b, for example, it is possible to place four cultivation trays 4 on one conveying instrument 6 Also good.
In the example of FIG. 3, an example is shown in which the pot insertion holes 4 d into which the cultivation pot 9 is fitted are opened in a row in the cultivation tray 4, but it is not necessary to be limited to this. For example, as the cultivation tray 4, a breeding cultivation tray with a wide depth in which a plurality of cultivation pots 9 are arranged vertically and horizontally may be placed on the transport device 6. In this case, only one set of container fitting portions is provided. You can also.

  The cultivation tray 4 placed on the transport device 4 having such a structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a), a hose insertion hole 4c into which the liquid manure hose 8 is inserted from above is formed near both ends of the plate-like lid 4b of the cultivation tray 4, and between them. In the region, a plurality of pot insertion holes 4d into which the cultivation pots 9 are inserted are formed on a straight line at intervals in the longitudinal direction.

  By the way, in view of increasing the yield of plants, it is desirable to increase the number of plants cultivated in one cultivation tray 4. However, if the leafy vegetables such as lettuce and komatsuna are used, for example, 15 centimeters on the lid 4b so that the leaves do not overlap with each other when the adjacent plants grow, for example, in a moderate width for the growth of the plant. Some width is required. Of course, depending on the type of plant to be cultivated, it is possible to appropriately determine the width of the plant.

  The cultivation tray 4 has a cultivation container 4a such as a cocoon for storing or flowing liquid fertilizer as described above, and a lid body 4b that covers the upper opening of the cultivation container 4a. A pot insertion hole 4d and a hose insertion hole 4c are formed. In the pot insertion hole 4d, a cup-shaped cultivation pot 9 in which the plant S grown is planted is inserted. Since the upper edge of the cultivation pot 9 is caught by the edge of the pot insertion hole 4d, when the lid 4b is lifted, the cultivation pot 9 is also lifted.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4B, the pot insertion holes 4d formed in the lid 4b may be formed in two or more rows so as to be zigzag in the longitudinal direction. In this case, even if the pitch L of the pot insertion holes 4d adjacent in the oblique direction is set to be the same as that of one row, and the pitch of the pot insertion holes 4d in each row is set to L or more, the pot insertion 4d per length is set. Can be increased from 8 holes to 10 holes, for example. Moreover, since the pot insertion holes 4d are arranged in two or more rows in the width direction, when the lid body 4b in which the cultivation pot 9 is fitted is placed on the opening of the cultivation container 4a, it is illustrated in FIG. In this way, the root grown from the cultivation pot 9 or the plant in the cultivation pot 9 hits the inner wall surface of the cultivation container 4a with a slight amount of deviation x in the depth direction. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide structures such as protrusions and steps for positioning between the lid 4b and the cultivation container 4a on the back of the lid 4b or the opening of the cultivation container 4a. As a result, the center of gravity is biased when the cultivation tray 4 is transported and the balance is lost, or the lid 4b is displaced together with the cultivation pot 9 so that the roots of the plants protruding into or outside the cultivation pot 9 do not touch the liquid fertilizer. Can be avoided. In addition, positioning of the lid 4b is facilitated.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cultivation pot 9 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening at the upper end, and has a tapered outer peripheral surface whose upper end is wider than the lower end. It has a structure in which a sponge (not shown) serving as a medium in which a plant S, such as a lettuce seedling, is grown for a predetermined period is inserted. For example, a cubic urethane sponge is used as the sponge. In addition, a plurality of vertically long slits 9a having a width that allows plant roots to protrude are formed in the circumferential direction around the lower portion of the cultivation pot 9, and a plurality of holes (not shown) are formed at the bottom. .

  Liquid fertilizer is supplied through a liquid fertilizer hose 8 inserted into the hose insertion hole 4c on one end side of the lid 4b so that one end of the cultivation container 4a of the cultivation tray 4 is surrounded by a wavy line in the cutaway cross section of FIG. 2 and FIG. This is the liquid fertilizer introduction region 4e. Further, as shown in the partially cutaway cross section of FIGS. 2 and 5A, a liquid fertilizer discharge hole 4f is formed in the bottom portion near the other end of the cultivation container 4a. A liquid amount adjuster 10 that adjusts the liquid amount so that the liquid fertilizer in the cultivation container 4a of the cultivation tray 4 does not exceed the set height is attached to the liquid fertilizer discharge hole 4f and its periphery.

  The liquid amount adjuster 10 has a funnel structure, and a tubular foot 10b extending downward is formed in the liquid fertilizer discharge hole 4f at the bottom thereof. Furthermore, a plurality of vertically long drainage slits 10 a are formed along the circumferential direction in a region exceeding the set height from the bottom of the liquid amount adjuster 10. As a result, the liquid fertilizer R that has reached the set height in the cultivation container 4a of the cultivation tray 4 overflows into the liquid amount adjuster 10 through the drainage slit 10a, and is discharged downward through the tubular legs 10b below it. The

  In the cultivation tray 4, the liquid fertilizer R is usually flowing for liquid fertilization, and the liquid fertilizer R discharged from the upper cultivation tray 4 is used to circulate the liquid fertilizer R between the upper and lower cultivation trays 4. Is flowed to the lower cultivation tray 4 with a liquid manure hose 8.

By growing in a state where there are very few bacteria compared to an unclosed space such as in a clean room, leaves that are edible parts of leafy vegetables such as lettuce and Japanese mustard can be eaten without washing Keep it clean. On the other hand, in the liquid fertilizer R, there is a possibility that plant wastes or various germs originally contained in the fertilizer are mixed. Therefore, in order to keep the edible portion in a clean state, it is necessary to avoid the liquid fertilizer R from splashing and being applied to the leaves. For this purpose, the cultivation tray 4 is provided with a lid 4b that spatially separates leaves that do not want to come into contact with liquid fertilizer and roots that need to be in contact with liquid fertilizer. It is necessary to move the cultivation tray 4 from the cultivation rack 2 by the transport device 6 as described above. For example, it moves to another shelf in order to change the type of liquid fertilizer, or the cultivation tray 4 is lowered from the shelf so that it is easy to work during cultivation.

  Therefore, in order to make the cultivation tray 4 movable with respect to the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the liquid manure hose 8 and the cultivation tray 4 can be easily separated because it becomes an obstacle if the liquid manure hose 8 is fixed to the cultivation tray 4. Need to be able to Furthermore, it is necessary to make it possible to circulate the liquid manure between the plurality of cultivation trays 4 without scattering and to easily remove the liquid manure when the cultivation tray 4 is moved. For this reason, the liquid manure hose 8 having the following structure is employed.

  The liquid manure hose 8 connected to the tubular foot 10b of the liquid amount adjuster 10 is fitted to the first hose 8a and the lower portion of the first hose 8a so as to be movable up and down as illustrated in FIG. 5A. And a second hose 8b. The inner diameter of the second hose 8b is larger than the outer shape of the first hose 8a so that the first hose 8a can be inserted. Further, at the lower part of the second hose 8b, a liquid flow hole 8d penetrating the side part is formed in at least one place. The liquid flow hole 8d is in a state where the liquid flow hole 8d is opened in a state where the second hose 8b is extended from the first hose 8a and inserted into the cultivation tray 4 housed in the lower stage of the cultivation rack 2. A fitting 12 for fixing to the support column 2a may be attached to the outer periphery of the first hose 8a.

  In addition, at least the first hose 8a of the liquid manure hose 8 has a shape that is curved in an initial state, and may have elasticity that returns to an initial shape by resolving the external force after being deformed by an external force. . For example, if you cut a rubber hose that is bundled in a circle and is commercially available to a length of, for example, about 20 centimeters, the hose that has been cut off will have a circular arc shape because it has wrinkles that were bundled in a circle. It is loosely curved. This curvature can be used as it is. The second hose 8b may be formed so as not to be deformed. In addition, when the second hose 8b is formed to be curved, the curvature thereof may be different from the curvature of the first hose 8a. The first hose 8a and the second hose 8b are made of resin, for example.

  The upper end of the first hose 8 a of the liquid manure hose 8 is fitted into the foot 10 b of the liquid amount adjuster 10 in the cultivation tray 4. In a state where the second hose 8b is extended downward from the first hose 8a and inserted into the hose insertion hole 4c of the cultivation tray 4 stored in the lower stage of the cultivation rack 2, the second hose 8b is connected to the hose insertion hole 4c. The amount of bending may be sufficient to contact the inner edge and apply pressure to the lid 4b in the lateral direction.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the liquid manure hose 8 connected to the foot 10b protruding from the liquid manure discharge port 4f of the cultivation tray 4 is a hose of the lid 4b of another cultivation tray 4 arranged at the lower stage thereof. By being inserted into the insertion hole 4 c, the lower end is arranged in the liquid fertilizer introduction region 4 e of the other cultivation tray 4. Furthermore, the liquid manure which flowed into the 1st hose 8a of the liquid manure hose 8 from the upper cultivation tray 4 is discharged | emitted from the opening 8c of the lower end of the 2nd hose 8b. However, when the lower end comes into contact with the bottom of the liquid fertilizer introduction region 4e, the liquid fertilizer hardly flows from the opening 8c at the lower end. However, even in such a state, the liquid manure flows out from the liquid flow hole 8d formed in the lower side portion of the second hose 8b to the side, so that the liquid manure is supplied smoothly in the liquid manure introduction region 4e. Moreover, since the liquid fertilization hose 8 contacts the edge of the hose insertion hole 4c of the lid 4b of the cultivation tray 4 by its curvature and the movement is restricted, the work of fixing or removing the lower end of the liquid fertilization hose 8 with a member Is no longer necessary.

  The liquid manure hose 8 can be easily inserted into the hose insertion hole 4c by having a structure that expands and contracts in the length direction. The stretchable structure is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, a pipe having at least part of a bellows structure that can be folded in the longitudinal direction. In the case where the liquid manure hose 8 having the bellows structure is employed, the movement of the liquid manure hose 8 can be regulated by placing the edge of the hose insertion hole 4c in the concave portion of the bellows.

  By the way, when taking out the cultivation tray 4 from the cultivation rack 2, as shown in FIG.5 (b), supply of the liquid fertilizer to the cultivation tray 4 is stopped, and the liquid fertilizer hose 8 stops flowing. Then, the second hose 8b of the liquid manure hose 8 is slid up and removed from the lid 4b. When the second hose 8b is slid along the outer periphery of the first hose 8a, friction due to mutual contact increases due to the difference in curvature between the elastic first hose 8a and the second hose 8b. It will be in the state where it is hard to shift from hose 8a. Thereafter, the connection between the first hose 8a and the liquid amount adjuster 10 is disconnected. Here, when the second hose 8b is slid, if the liquid flow hole 8d on the side thereof is blocked by the first hose 8a, even if liquid fertilizer leaks from the liquid amount adjuster 10, the leaking direction is Since only the opening 8c is provided, diffusion of liquid fertilizer is prevented.

  8 d of liquid flow holes may be formed in the side part of the upper end part of the 2nd hose 8b, and can fit the 1st hose 8a in the 2nd hose 8b, without having to select the direction of the 2nd hose 8b. Workability is improved. Here, when the liquid flow hole 8d is also formed on the side portion of the upper end portion of the second hose 8b, the liquid manure hose 8 is also in a state where the liquid fertilizer hose 8 is extended to supply liquid fertilizer as shown in FIG. Even in the state where the supply is interrupted and pulled out from the lower cultivation tray 4 as shown in (b), the liquid flow hole 8d formed on the side of the upper end of the second hose 8b is blocked by the first hose 8a. It becomes the state.

  By the way, although the liquid fertilizer hose 8 shown in FIG. 5 has the structure which connects the upper end to the tubular leg | foot 10b of the liquid quantity regulator 10, it does not restrict to this. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a structure in which the foot 11a of the funnel-shaped container 11 is connected to the top of the liquid manure hose 8 may be employed. As the funnel-shaped container 11, a vinyl chloride pipe | tube can be used, for example. The tubular foot 11a of the funnel-shaped container 11 is connected to the upper end of the first hose 8a, and an attachment 12 for fixing to the support column 2a is attached around the connecting portion. The funnel-shaped container 11 at the upper part of the liquid manure hose 8 having such a structure is disposed directly below the tubular foot 10b of the liquid amount adjuster 10 in the cultivation container 4a of the cultivation tray 4.

  According to the liquid manure hose 8 having such a structure, even when the foot 10b and the upper end of the liquid manure hose 8 or the funnel-shaped container 11 are spatially separated from each other, the liquid manure hose 8 flows out from the foot 10b in a substantially connected state. The liquid fertilizer can flow into the liquid fertilizer hose 8 without leakage. Therefore, when the cultivation tray 4 is transported by the transport device 6, it does not take time to connect the liquid fertilizer hose 8 to the liquid amount adjuster 10 or to remove it, and the work efficiency can be increased.

  Moreover, the funnel-shaped container 11 and the 1st hose 8a of the liquid manure hose 8 may be integrated. In this case, the liquid manure hose 8 will have the 1st hose 8a and the 2nd hose 8b which upper end exhibits a funnel-shaped shape, and the funnel-shaped container 11 becomes unnecessary. Alternatively, in other words, it can be said that the tubular leg 11a of the funnel-shaped container 11 is elongated and connected to the second hose 8b. When the foot 11a of the funnel-shaped container 11 is elongated, the second hose 8b is fitted in the lower part of the outlet portion of the funnel-shaped container 11 so as to be movable up and down. The inner diameter of the second hose 8b is larger than the outer shape of the foot 11a of the funnel-shaped container 11, and has a shape into which the outlet portion of the funnel-shaped container 11 can be inserted. Alternatively, the funnel-shaped container 11 and the bellows-structured liquid manure hose 8 may be integrated, and the liquid manure hose 8 as a whole may have a funnel shape, that is, the opening diameter at the upper end may be larger than the opening diameter at the lower end. In any case, the upper end opening diameter of the funnel-shaped container 11 or the upper end opening diameter of the liquid manure hose 8 integrated with the funnel-shaped container 11 should be larger than the opening diameter of the tubular foot 10b of the liquid amount adjuster 10. Thus, the liquid manure that has flowed out of the foot 10b can be received without spilling.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cultivation tray 4 placed on the conveying device 6 is arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction in the plant cultivation apparatus 1. Are arranged in order so that the attachment positions of the liquid fertilizer supply region 4e and the liquid amount adjuster 10 are reversed left and right. That is, every other installation position of the liquid fertilizer supply area 4e of the cultivation tray 4 and the liquid amount adjuster 10 is in the same direction. Then, liquid fertilizer is supplied to the liquid fertilizer supply region 4 e of the uppermost cultivation tray 4 from the liquid fertilizer supply device (not shown) through the liquid fertilizer hose 8, and the supplied liquid fertilizer has a set height in the cultivation tray 4. Then, it leaks through the slit 10a of the liquid amount adjuster 10 toward the lower foot 10b, and is supplied to the liquid fertilizer supply region 4e of the lower stage cultivation tray 4 through the liquid fertilizer hose 8 connected to the foot 10b. Thus, the liquid fertilizer is sent to the plants S cultivated in the cultivation pot 9 fitted in the cultivation trays 4 arranged in a plurality of stages in order from the top to the bottom through the liquid manure hose 8, and sufficient. The liquid fertilizer containing nutrients is always supplied while being exchanged.

  In addition, the foot 10b of the liquid amount adjuster 10 of the cultivation tray 4 attached to the lowest stage is substantially in the opening 14a of the drainage recovery pipe 14 via the relay pipe 13, as shown in FIG. The liquid fertilizer that is connected and collected is processed by a regeneration processing device (not shown) and supplied again to the uppermost cultivation tray 4 as liquid fertilizer.

  Now, the type of liquid fertilizer given to a plant may be changed according to the growth stage of the plant. Therefore, as a hydroponic cultivation system including two or more plant cultivation apparatuses 1 of the present embodiment, the components of liquid fertilizer supplied between at least two plant cultivation apparatuses 1 are made different from each other for one plant S. A hydroponics system that provides the first liquid fertilizer in the early order and the second liquid fertilizer in the next stage can be realized. For example, it is possible to realize a hydroponic system that provides the first liquid fertilizer in the first half of the planting period and the second liquid fertilizer in the second half of the planting period. In other words, a plant hydroponics system having a first plant cultivation apparatus 1A connected to the first liquid fertilizer supply system and a second plant cultivation apparatus 1B connected to the second liquid fertilizer supply system is realized. be able to. The first liquid fertilizer and the second liquid fertilizer have different components, and either one may be water. Examples of water include tap water and groundwater. In this case, it is necessary to transfer the cultivation tray 4 including the plant S grown by the first plant cultivation apparatus 1A to the second plant cultivation apparatus 1B. The plant cultivation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can easily move the cultivation tray 4 between the plurality of plant cultivation apparatuses 1A and 1B to which liquid fertilizers of different components are supplied. The component of liquid fertilizer can be changed.

  In this case, as a hydroponics system, the plant cultivation apparatus 1A connected to the first liquid fertilizer supply system 31 and the plant cultivation apparatus 1B connected to the second liquid fertilizer supply system 32 are back to back, A plurality of the first passages A can be arranged side by side. The image figure which looked at the hydroponic cultivation system arrange | positioned in this state from the side is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of plant cultivation apparatuses 1A and plant cultivation apparatuses 1B in which liquid fertilizers of different components are flowing are arranged as a set. Then, the worker in the first passage A takes out the cultivation tray 4 from the plant cultivation apparatus 1A connected to the first liquid fertilizer supply system 31 together with the conveying device 6 or alone. The operator attaches the taken out cultivation tray 4 to the plant cultivation apparatus 1B connected to the second liquid fertilizer supply system 32 on the opposite side of the first passage A by reversing the direction of the body D, thereby The change work of liquid fertilizer given to S is completed. That is, the operator can change the liquid fertilizer by simply inverting the body direction while holding the cultivation tray 4 together with the transport device 6 or the cultivation tray 4 alone while standing at substantially the same position. Can be improved. Moreover, by making it possible to move with a small number of movements with the conveying device 6 while the plurality of cultivation trays 4 are placed, a plurality of cultivations are performed by one transfer operation from the plant cultivation apparatus 1A to the plant cultivation apparatus 1B. The tray 4 can be moved at the same time, and the working efficiency can be improved. As the number of plant strains to be cultivated increases, the effect of shortening the working time by increasing the efficiency of the work for changing the liquid fertilizer increases.
In the example of FIG. 7, an image diagram is shown in which the operator is transferring the cultivation tray 4 between the two plant cultivation apparatuses 1, but naturally, the transfer operation is not performed manually but by a machine. It doesn't matter.

  Now, the liquid fertilizer hose 8 is inserted into the liquid fertilizer supply area | region 4e through the hose insertion hole 4c to the some cultivation tray 4 arrange | positioned at intervals up and down in the plant cultivation apparatus 1, and the cultivation pot is put into the pot insertion hole 4d. 9 is inserted. For example, a plant S that has finished the seedling raising process is planted in a sponge (not shown) in the cultivation pot 9. The plant needs a sufficient amount of light for photosynthesis. Therefore, as will be described below, it is desirable that the distance of the luminaire 5 to the plant can be made variable according to the growth of the plant.

  As illustrated in the front view of FIG. 2 and the perspective view of FIG. 8A, the lighting fixture 5 has a long shape along the cultivation tray 4, for example, a straight tube fluorescent lamp or a linear LED. Are used, and a power supply wiring cord 15 is connected to one or both ends thereof. The luminaire 5 is attached to the web of the second beam 2c via the elevator 16. The elevator 16 has a plurality of foldable arms 16a that are supported at the upper end by the web of the second beam 2c having a T-shaped cross section and can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. The intermediate folded portions of the plurality of arms 16a are connected to each other via a beam 16b so as to be rotatable. A plate 16c having an inverted T-shaped cross section is pivotally supported at the lower end of each of the plurality of arms 16a.

  At the lower end of the plate 16c, support tools 16d for supporting the lighting device 5 in front and rear are attached to a plurality of locations. The support 16d has, for example, a recess formed in the center, and the plate 16c is fixed in the recess by a screw, a rivet or the like, whereby the plate 16c is positioned between the two lighting fixtures 5 and the lighting fixture 5 And the interval between the second beams 2c are reduced. Further, wires 17 drawn upward are attached to the left and right ends of the plate 16c. As shown in FIG. 2, the wire 17 is connected to both ends of the coil spring 19 through a pulley 18 rotatably attached to the web of the second beam 2c, and is pulled upward with a force that does not fall down.

  According to the lighting fixture 5 attached to the elevator 16 having such a structure so as to be movable up and down, the height can be changed in accordance with the growth of the plant, and by raising the lighting fixture 5 higher, Work such as attachment and detachment becomes easy.

  By the way, in order to prevent a difference in coloring and growth of leaves in one plant, it is desirable to irradiate the plant from above and from each surface other than the ground direction. Think of it as However, in the cultivation rack 2 having only a framework as described above, the air flowability can be improved and the temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature for plant growth. However, the light emitted from the lighting fixture 5 is supported by the columns 2a, 2b, The light passes through the open space between 2c and diffuses as it is. For this reason, the inventors have realized that it is necessary to provide a light reflecting member around the cultivation rack 2 so that light does not diffuse and return to the plant direction. Then, even if the distance of the lighting fixture 5 with respect to a plant was changed, the light reflecting plate (light reflection part) 20 of the following structure which can reflect the light emitted from illumination in the plant direction was invented.

  The light reflection plate 20 is arranged on the outer side of the cultivation tray 4 in the state accommodated in the plant cultivation apparatus 1 and outside the region where the plurality of pot insertion holes 4d are formed. The light reflecting plate 20 may be a mirror made of glass, silver film or the like, or a mirror-finished metal plate, but a glossy white plate such as a white vinyl chloride plate is sufficient. The light reflecting plate 20 is disposed in order to make the light intensity distribution on the cultivation tray 4 of the light irradiated from the lighting fixture 5 substantially uniform. That is, the light reflection plate 20 compensates at least the amount of light irradiated to the plant grown in the cultivation pot 9 disposed at the positions below the left and right side ends of the lighting fixture 5 by light reflection. Thereby, the light intensity distribution on the cultivation tray 4 can be made substantially equal, and the plant can be grown under substantially equal conditions regardless of the position of the cultivation pot 9.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, a vertically long slit 20 s through which the wiring cord 15 connected to both ends of the luminaire 5 is passed is formed in the upper part of the light reflection plate 20. The number of slits 20s may be determined in accordance with the number of lighting fixtures 5. In the example of FIG. 8, since there are two lighting fixtures 5 for one light reflection plate 20, slits 20s are formed at two locations. Has been. The length of the slit 20s is determined in accordance with the vertical movement range of the lighting fixture 5. In addition, when the lighting fixture 5 is a fluorescent lamp, as illustrated in FIG. A reflecting mirror 23 is disposed on the fluorescent tube 5a. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the reflecting mirror 23 has a bag shape surrounding the fluorescent tube 5 a, has a reflecting surface on the upper surface side, and has a transparent film on the lower surface side. Further, a clip 24 may be used to fix the bag-like reflecting mirror 23 to the fluorescent tube 5a.

  According to such a structure, the mountable light reflecting plate 20 can be attached at the end of the work. That is, after performing the operations such as installing the cultivation tray 4 in the frame-shaped cultivation rack 2 and attaching the liquid manure hose 8 and confirming their positions from the second passage B side, the light reflector 20 is cultivated in the plant. It can be attached to the device 1. Moreover, the slit 20s formed in the light reflecting plate 20 also serves as an air flow path, and allows air passing through the space between the lighting fixture 5 and the cultivation tray 3 to pass through to the second passage B side.

  By the way, as illustrated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8B, a part of the second beam 2c supporting the lighting fixture 5 and a part of the elevator 16 enter the center of the upper end of the light reflecting plate 20. The notch 20a may be formed. By providing such a notch 20a, the light reflection plate 20 can be expanded in the height direction, and the amount of light reflection to the plant can be increased.

  Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a hanging tool 21 that crosses the upper portion of the slit 20s of the light reflecting plate 20 may be detachably attached. In the example of FIG. 9A, the hanging tool 21 shows an example of a plate shape, but it is not necessary to be limited to the plate shape, and may be a string shape, for example. The light reflection plate 20 may be hung from the wiring cord 15 in other shapes. According to this, when moving the position of the lighting fixture 5 high, the hanging tool 21 can be hooked on the wiring cable 15 of the lighting fixture 5 and the light reflection plate 20 can be lifted together with the lighting fixture 5.

  For example, when the plants planted on the cultivation tray 4 are small, as shown in FIG. 9B, the lid 4b of the cultivation tray 4 and the light reflection inside the cultivation tray 4 where the plant S is planted. The plate 20 is inclined so that the angle θ formed by the plate 20 is greater than 90 degrees. Thereby, it can adjust so that the light irradiated diagonally downward toward the outer side from the lighting fixture 5 may be reflected in a horizontal direction.

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, as the plant S grows and its height increases, the distance between the lighting device 5 and the cultivation tray 4 is increased to ensure an optimum distance. In this case, the light reflecting plate 20 can be lifted and raised through the hanging tool 21 hung on the wiring cable 15 by raising the position of the lighting fixture 5. Thereby, light can be reflected by the light reflection plate 20 above the leaf of the plant that has grown upward, and the amount of light irradiated to the plant S can be optimized. In this case, by providing a gap between the lower end of the light reflection plate 20 and the cultivation tray 4, it is possible to improve the air circulation that deteriorates due to the increase and growth of the leaves of the plant S.

  In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 as described above, first, the cultivation pot 9 containing the sponge (not shown) in which the germinated plant S is planted is fitted into the pot insertion hole 4 d of the cultivation tray 4. Thereafter, the cultivation tray 4 is fitted into the container fitting portion 6 b of the transport device 6. Furthermore, the sliding parts 6a on both sides of the transport device 6 are placed on the rail 7 in the cultivation rack 2, and the transport device 6 is housed in the cultivation rack 2 by the operation as described above. In this case, the liquid level adjuster 10 of the cultivation tray 4 attached at the bottom is connected to the opening 14 a of the drainage recovery pipe 14 via the relay pipe 13. Moreover, it arrange | positions in order so that the supply area | region 4e of the cultivation tray 4 arrange | positioned up and down and the position of the liquid quantity adjuster 10 may turn right and left.

  After arranging the plurality of cultivation trays 4 in this manner, the length of the liquid manure hose 8 is substantially connected to the tubular foot 10b of the liquid amount adjuster 10 of the upper cultivation tray 4 while the upper end of the liquid manure hose 8 is substantially connected. For example, the second hose 8b is pulled down from the curved first hose 8a and inserted into the hose insertion hole 4c of another cultivation tray 4 at the lower stage. In this case, adjustment is made so that the flow hole 8d provided in the lower end side portion of the second hose 8b is not blocked by the first hose 8a. In addition, the liquid manure hose 8 connected to the liquid supply port (not shown) of a liquid manure supply apparatus is substantially connected to the hose insertion hole 4c of the uppermost cultivation tray 4.

  Thereafter, the wiring cable 15 of the lighting fixture 5 is passed through the slit 20 s of the light reflecting plate 20 and the lower end thereof is placed on the cultivation tray 4. Thereafter, the height of the lighting fixture 5 is adjusted by the elevator 16. Further, the angle and the like of the light reflecting plate 20 are adjusted.

  Further, by supplying liquid fertilizer from the liquid fertilizer supply device to the liquid fertilizer supply region 4 e in the uppermost cultivation tray 4 through the liquid fertilizer hose 8, the volume of the liquid fertilizer increases in the liquid fertilizer tray 4, and the slit 10 a of the liquid amount adjuster 10 is formed. When reaching the height, the liquid fertilizer is supplied to the inside from the liquid fertilizer supply area 4e of another lower cultivation tray 4 through the liquid fertilizer hose 8. When the amount of liquid fertilizer therein reaches the slit 10a of the liquid amount adjuster 10, the liquid fertilizer is supplied from the liquid amount adjuster 10 to the lower cultivation tray 4 through the liquid fertilizer hose 8. The liquid fertilizer supplied as such is discharged to the liquid fertilizer recovery pipe 14 through the liquid amount adjuster 10 of the lowermost liquid fertilizer tray 4, reprocessed by the liquid fertilizer recovery apparatus, and further sent to the liquid fertilizer supply apparatus.

  When such circulation of liquid fertilizer is performed for a set number of days, the plant S that absorbs nutrients from the liquid fertilizer and is irradiated with light from the lighting device 5 grows. The height of the lighting fixture 5 is changed using the elevator 16 according to the growth. When the set number of days elapses, in order to place the plants in the cultivation tray 4 in another environment, the cultivation tray 4 is carried out from the plant cultivation apparatus 1 to an apparatus in another environment.

  In order to take out the cultivation tray 4, first, the supply of liquid fertilizer by the liquid fertilizer supply device is stopped, it is confirmed that the liquid fertilizer has stopped flowing through the liquid fertilizer hose 8, and the length of the liquid manure hose 8 is shortened. For example, the second hose 8b is slid up on the first hose 8a and pushed up. In this case, the liquid flow hole 8d on the lower end side portion of the second hose 8b may be closed by the first hose 8a. Furthermore, you may stop light emission of the lighting fixture 5. FIG. Thereafter, the liquid manure hose 8 is removed from the hose insertion hole 4 c of the cultivation tray 4. After that, the conveying device 6 is slid on the rail 7 and pulled out to the first passage A, the cultivation tray 4 is taken out from the plant cultivation apparatus 1, and the cultivation tray 4 is placed on the conveying device 6 in another state. Transfer to device.

  By the way, the light reflecting plate 20 placed on the cultivation tray 4 can be removed from the cultivation tray 4 before or after removing the liquid manure hose 8 to facilitate the work. The light reflecting plate 20 may stand on the support 2a and the second beam 2c of the cultivation rack 2.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, attachment and detachment of the cultivation tray 4 with respect to the plant cultivation apparatus 1 can be made easy, and work efficiency can be improved.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig.10 (a) is a sectional side view which shows the clean room and air conditioning equipment in the plant cultivation facility concerning 2nd Embodiment, FIG.10 (b) is a top view shown by the YY sectional view of Fig.10 (a). It is. 10, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In FIG. 10A, the arrangement of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 with respect to the exhaust pipe 63 is different from that in FIG. That is, in FIG. 10A and FIG. 1A, the arrangement of the plant cultivation devices 1 is almost orthogonal.

  By arranging the plant cultivating apparatus 1 with respect to the exhaust pipe 63 as shown in FIG. 10B, the flow of the air in the first passage A being sucked into the 57a ventilation holes of the floor plate 57 for ventilation can be made smooth. . As a result, air circulation in the cultivation space 59 can be realized even if the force of sucking air through the exhaust pipe 63 is weak.

Moreover, in FIG.10 (b), compared with FIG.1 (b), the arrangement position of the floor board 57 for ventilation | gas_flowing differs. That is, in FIG. 10B, there is no ventilation floor plate 57 shown on the right wall side in FIG. 1A, and there is a ventilation floor plate 57 only on the wall side where the exhaust pipe 63 is present. .
As shown in FIG. 10 (b), by providing the ventilation floor plate 57 on the wall side where the exhaust pipe 63 is provided, the distance between the 57a vent hole and the exhaust pipe 63 can be shortened. Thus, air circulation in the cultivation space 59 can be realized even if the force of sucking air through the exhaust pipe 63 is weak.

  Moreover, in FIG.10 (b), compared with FIG.1 (b), the arrangement position of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 differs. That is, in FIG.10 (b), the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is additionally arrange | positioned in the position which was not in FIG.1 (b), ie, the position by the wall which showed the plant cultivation apparatus 1 with the dotted line. In addition, in FIG.10 (b), although the plant cultivation apparatus 1 shown with the dotted line has shown the example which touches the wall of the clean room 51, you may arrange | position this in the position spaced apart from the wall of the clean room 51. FIG. Compared with the plant cultivation apparatus 1 shown with the continuous line, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 shown with the dotted line is thin in the 2nd channel | path B direction. Therefore, by arranging the touch panel at a position in contact with the wall, it is possible to easily prevent the plant cultivation apparatus 1 from falling down in the event of an earthquake, for example.

  By arranging the plant cultivation device 1 at the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 10B, all the plant cultivation devices 1A and the plant cultivation device 1B face each other across the first passage A. It will be installed at the position to do. Therefore, when performing the operation which replaces the cultivation tray 4 between the plant cultivation apparatus 1A and the plant cultivation apparatus 1B according to the growth time of the plant S, the plant cultivation apparatus 1A (1B) does not exist on the opposite side across the passage. Without causing the plant cultivation apparatus 1B (1A), the work efficiency of replacement and the cultivation efficiency in the clean room 51 can be improved.

  In several said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 10, it is the some installed in the cultivation space 59 as timing when the lighting fixture 5 of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is turned on. It is not necessary to turn on all at the same timing between the plant cultivation apparatuses 1 and turn off all at the same timing. For example, among the plurality of plant cultivation devices 1 installed in one cultivation space 59, when the first plant cultivation device 1 lights the lighting fixture 5, the second plant cultivation device 1 uses the lighting fixture. It is preferable to turn off 5.

  When the lighting fixture 5 is lit, heat is generated. In order to keep the temperature of the cultivation space 59 at a temperature suitable for the growth of the plant S, it is not desirable that the temperature is too high. Therefore, the air conditioning equipment 61 desirably has a function of controlling the temperature. When all the plant cultivation apparatuses 1 in the cultivation space 59 are turned on and off at the same timing, the difference in room temperature between when the light is turned on and when the light is turned off increases, and the air conditioning equipment 61 controls the room temperature. A lot of electricity and capacity are required. Therefore, among the plurality of plant cultivation devices 1 existing in the cultivation space 59, when some are turned on, some are turned off, and the turned-on plant cultivation device 1 is turned off. By mixing the plant cultivation apparatus 1, vertical fluctuations in room temperature can be suppressed. As a result, the amount of electricity for controlling the room temperature by the air conditioning equipment 61 can be reduced.

  As another aspect, while the lighting fixture 5 is lit, the plant S to which light is applied performs photosynthesis, sucks carbon dioxide, and discharges oxygen. Since sufficient carbon dioxide needs to be present in the cultivation space 59 for the growth of the plant S, the air conditioning equipment 61 may have a function of controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the air sent to the cultivation space 59. desirable. Alternatively, it is desirable that there is a function of controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the air in the cultivation space 59 by a separate device shown in the accompanying drawings.

  When all the plant cultivation apparatuses 1 in the cultivation space 59 are turned on and off at the same timing, the difference in the amount of carbon dioxide in the room between when the light is turned on and when the light is turned off increases. A large amount of electricity and ability to control the amount are required. Therefore, among the plurality of plant cultivation devices 1 existing in the cultivation space 59, when some are turned on, some are turned off, and the turned-on plant cultivation device 1 is turned off. By mixing the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the vertical fluctuation of the carbon dioxide amount can be suppressed. As a result, the amount of electricity for controlling the amount of carbon dioxide by the air conditioning equipment 61 can be reduced.

  All examples and conditional expressions given here are intended to help the reader understand the inventions and concepts that have contributed to the promotion of technology, such examples and It is interpreted without being limited to the conditions, and the organization of such examples in the specification is not related to showing the superiority or inferiority of the present invention. While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood that various changes, substitutions and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plant cultivation apparatus 2 Cultivation rack 3 Cultivation unit 4 Cultivation tray 4a Cultivation container 4b Lid 4c Hose insertion hole 4d Pot insertion hole 5 Lighting fixture 6 Transport fixture 7 Rail 8 Liquid manure hose 8a First hose 8b Second hose 8d Liquid flow Hole 9 Cultivation pot 10 Liquid volume adjuster 11 Funnel-shaped container 12 Attachment 15 Wiring cord 16 Elevator 17 Wire 18 Pulley 20 Light reflector 20s Slit 20a Notch 21 Hang 51 Clean room 52 Air supply area 53 Ceiling board 53a Air supply hole 54 Air filter 55 Exhaust passage 56
57 Ventilation floor plate 57a Ventilation hole 58 Ventilation defense floor plate 59 Cultivation space 61 Air conditioning equipment 62 Intake pipe 63 Exhaust pipe

Claims (9)

A plant cultivation system that hydroponically cultivates plants using liquid fertilizer,
The area | region where the 1st plant cultivation shelf is arrange | positioned, the area | region where the 2nd plant cultivation shelf is arrange | positioned, and the area | region between the said 1st plant cultivation shelf and the said 2nd plant cultivation shelf A first floor having a first region comprising:
A second floor having a second region different from the first region and provided with a vent hole;
An air conditioner for circulating air from a ceiling having an air supply hole to the second floor having the ventilation hole. 1st plant cultivation shelf which can take in and out a plant, 2nd plant cultivation shelf which can take in and out the said plant, and the area | region between said 1st plant cultivation shelf and said 2nd plant cultivation shelf A first region;
Unlike the first region, a second region having vent holes in the floor;
An exhaust pipe provided under the floor closer to the second region than the first region;
A plant cultivation system comprising a downflow type clean room that circulates air from a ceiling having an air supply hole to the exhaust pipe through the floor having the ventilation hole. The first liquid fertilizer is used for the first plant cultivation shelf, and the plant is hydroponically cultivated using the second liquid fertilizer for the second plant cultivation shelf. 2. The plant cultivation system according to 2. The plant cultivation system according to claim 3, wherein the first liquid fertilizer and the second liquid fertilizer are liquid fertilizers having different components.   The hydroponics system according to claim 4, wherein water is used as the second liquid fertilizer.   The plant cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a block layer that blocks the first liquid fertilizer or the second liquid fertilizer under the first region.   The plant according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second region is installed substantially in parallel with a direction from the first plant cultivation shelf to the second plant cultivation shelf. Cultivation system.   8. The cultivation according to claim 1, wherein cultivation is performed at different timings during a period in which one plant grows on the first plant cultivation shelf and the second plant cultivation shelf. The plant cultivation system described in 1. The first plant cultivation shelf includes a first lighting device, and the second plant cultivation shelf includes a second lighting device,
The plant cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second lighting fixture is turned off when the first lighting fixture is turned on.

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