JP2015223102A - Plant cultivation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant cultivation device that uniformly irradiates growing plants with light.SOLUTION: A plant cultivation device (1) has an optical path adjustment member (22) that is disposed between a light source (14a) and a plant (7a) and diffuses light from the light source (14a), and a support part (21) that supports the optical path adjustment member (22) so that distance between the optical path adjustment member (22) and the plant (7a) can be adjusted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus.

  Plant cultivation devices that efficiently cultivate plants using artificial light sources such as fluorescent lamps and LEDs are known.

  FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a conventional plant cultivation apparatus 101. As shown in FIG. 9, the plant cultivation apparatus 101 is arranged on the facing surface of the shelf 112 for arranging the plant 107, the four columns 111 for supporting the ceiling 113, and the shelf 112 on the ceiling 113. Light source 114. The light source 114 has a fixed height position.

  In the plant cultivation apparatus 101, the plant 107 is cultivated by irradiating the plant 107 placed on the shelf 112 with light from the light source 114 including a fluorescent lamp or LED.

  In recent years, various devices have been devised for plant cultivation devices.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a mechanism capable of adjusting the height of a light source. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is said that by adjusting the height of the light source according to the growth of the plant, it is possible to irradiate the plant with the light having the illuminance necessary for the growth of the plant.

JP 2013-59290 A (published April 4, 2013) JP 2001-69853 A (published on March 21, 2001) JP 2008-237161 A (released on October 9, 2008) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-262733 (published on October 19, 1989)

  Here, the light from the light source 114 is not diffused and is irradiated locally on the plant 107. For this reason, the plant 107 may be burnt.

  Moreover, in the plant cultivation apparatus 101, the light source 114 and the plant 107 are fixed. Since the plant 107 changes in plant height as it grows, the distance between the plant 107 and the light source 114 changes as the plant 107 grows, and it is difficult to always irradiate the plant 107 with uniform light.

  Further, as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, simply moving the position of the light source in the height direction does not change that the light from the light source is not evenly irradiated to the plant, and obstructions such as leaf burning. May cause.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus that uniformly irradiates light to a growing plant.

  In order to solve the above problems, a plant cultivation apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is arranged between a light source, the light source, and a plant that is cultivated, and adjusts an optical path for diffusing light from the light source. It is provided with the support part which supports the said optical path adjustment member so that adjustment of the distance of a member and the said plant grown and the said optical path adjustment member is possible.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an effect of providing a plant cultivation apparatus that uniformly irradiates a growing plant with light.

It is a side view showing the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an enlarged view of the support | pillar and support part in the said plant cultivation apparatus. It is a side view showing the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a side view showing the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure showing the aspect when the plant height of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 is measured, and the plant height of the plant is measured. It is a figure showing the side of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4, and a mode except the time of measuring the plant height of a plant. It is a figure showing the side surface of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5, and showing a mode when measuring the plant height of a plant. It represents the side of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5, and is a figure showing a mode except the time of measuring the plant height of a plant. It is a side view showing the structure of the conventional plant cultivation apparatus.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 includes a shelf 12 for arranging plants 7 a, a plurality of support columns 11 for supporting a ceiling 13, and supported by the plurality of support columns 11 and arranged above the shelf 12. And a light source unit 14 disposed on the back surface of the ceiling 13 that is closer to the shelf 12. Furthermore, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 has an optical path adjusting member 22 disposed between the light source unit 14 and the shelf 12 and a support portion 21 that supports the optical path adjusting member 22 so as to be movable up and down along the extending direction of the support column 11. And a measuring device (measuring unit) 31 disposed below the optical path adjusting member 22.

  The plurality of columns 11 are frames for supporting the ceiling 13, the light source unit 14, and the optical path adjusting member 22. The plurality of support columns 11 extend in the vertical direction. As an example, the four support | pillars 11 are distribute | arranged mutually spaced apart. The four columns 11 support the ceiling 13, the light source unit 14, and the optical path adjusting member 22 from the four corners. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, the plurality of support columns 11 are provided with a scale for measuring the plant height of the plant 7a. Although the description will be made assuming that four support columns 11 are arranged, the number of support columns 11 is not limited to four, and the ceiling 13 is supported and the optical path adjusting member 22 can be moved in the vertical direction. In addition, it is sufficient that the number of the optical path adjusting members 22 can be supported via the support portion 21.

  On the shelf 12, one or a plurality of plants 7a cultivated in a planter are arranged. The plant 7a is a plant in an early stage of seedling raising and has a relatively low plant height. As an example, the plant 7a is a plant in the early stage of growing with a crown diameter of less than 3 mm.

  The light source unit 14 includes light sources 14a and 14b and a light source drive control unit (not shown). Each of the light source 14a and the light source 14a includes one or a plurality of fluorescent lamps or LEDs. The light sources 14a and the light sources 14b are alternately arranged. The light source 14a and the light source 14b can be switched on and off individually by an instruction from the light source drive control unit. Thereby, adjustment of a required light quantity is possible according to growth of the plant 7a.

  Each of the light source 14a and the light source 14b may be one or plural. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that a plurality of light sources 14a and light sources 14b are arranged.

  In this embodiment, since the plant 7a is in the initial stage of raising seedlings, the required amount of light is not large. For this reason, the light source unit 14 is turned on by thinning the light sources 14a and 14b. In the present embodiment, only the light source 14a is turned on and the light source 14b is kept off.

  Thereby, since the plant cultivation apparatus 1 can prevent unnecessary electric power being consumed, it can suppress power consumption.

  The light source unit 14 may turn on both the light source 14a and the light source 14b with a reduced amount of light. Further, the light amount need not be set as long as the light amount of the light source 14a and the light source 14b is sufficiently low and the light amount necessary for the plant 7a can be secured.

  The support portion 21 is arranged on all four columns 11 so as to be movable along the extending direction of the columns 11. The optical path adjusting member 22 is supported from the back surface by the four support portions 21. In addition, the detailed structure of this support part 21 and the support | pillar 11 is later mentioned using FIG.

  The optical path adjusting member 22 is a plate-like member for diffusing the light emitted from the light source unit 14. The optical path adjusting member 22 is arranged so as to cover the shelf 12. Specifically, the optical path adjustment member 22 includes a lens plate, a diffusion plate, or the like. The material constituting the optical path adjusting member 22 can be made of a material generally used for a lens plate, a diffusing plate, or the like, and is made of, for example, polycarbonate or acrylic. The optical path adjusting member 22 may be constituted by a single sheet or a plurality of laminated layers.

  The optical path adjusting member 22 is supported at the four corners by the support portion 21 from the back side. Thereby, the optical path adjusting member 22 can move in the vertical direction and in the extending direction of the support column 11 in parallel with the shelf 12.

  In addition, the shape of the optical path adjusting member 22 is not limited to a plate shape, and the surface close to the plant 7a may be a flat surface. As will be described later, this is because the plant height of the plant 7a is measured on the surface close to the plant 7a.

  The measuring device 31 is arranged on the surface of the shelf 12 below the optical path adjusting member 22 with the light receiving surface facing upward.

The measuring device 31 measures the amount of light per unit area of the light emitted from the light source 14a and transmitted through the optical path adjusting member 22. As an example, the measuring device 31 is a measuring device for measuring photosynthetic effective photon density (PPFD). The operator confirms the display of the measuring instrument 31 and adjusts the light amount of the light source unit 14 and the position of the optical path adjusting member 22 in the height direction so that the PPFD 200 (μmolm / m ² / s) is obtained.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the support column 11 and the support portion 21 in the plant cultivation apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 21 is a plate-like member, and the support column 11 passes therethrough. The support portion 21 can be fixed at a desired height position by inserting a fixing member 23 such as a screw. The support portion 21 is movable along the extending direction of the support column 11 by removing the fixing member 23. As described above, the support portion 21 is fixed to the column 11 so as to be movable along the extending direction of the column 11.

  The support portion 21 supports the back surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 on the top surface of the portion protruding from the support 11 to the inside of the plant cultivation apparatus 1. The support portion 21 and the optical path adjusting member 22 are fixed with an adhesive or a screw.

  When the operator moves the support portion 21 along the extending direction of the support column 11, the optical path adjusting member 22 moves along the extending direction of the support column 11. In addition, the method of moving the support part 21 along the extending | stretching direction of the support | pillar 11 not only moves an operator manually, but provides the support part 21 automatically by providing an elevating structure in the support part 21, for example. You may make it move along the extending | stretching direction of the support | pillar 11. FIG. As an example of the elevating structure, a structure in which a pulley is attached to the support column 11 and a string connected to the support portion 21 is wound with a winch can be exemplified.

  The column 11 is provided with a scale 11a in the extending direction. The scale 11a is, for example, a scale attached to a measuring instrument for measuring a person's height. Thereby, the height position of the optical path adjustment member 22 which the support part 21 supports can be read.

  In addition, by making the operation of the elevating structure a structure that can be remotely operated using a controller, the operator moves the optical path adjusting member up and down using the controller to match the height of the target plant 7a, The position of the support part 21 at that time can be read.

  In addition, since the optical path adjustment member 22 can move up and down so that the back surface is parallel to the shelf 12, the scale 11 a may be attached to at least one of the plurality of columns 11. Thereby, the operator can read the height position of the optical path adjusting member 22.

(Main advantages of plant cultivation device 1)
As mentioned above, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is arranged between the light source 14a, the light source 14a, and the plant 7a, and includes the light path adjusting member 22 that diffuses the light from the light source 14a, and the plant 7a and the light path adjusting member 22. And a plurality of support portions 21 that support the optical path adjustment member 22 so that the distance can be adjusted.

  Thereby, after the light irradiated from the light source 14a is diffused by the optical path adjustment member 22, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is irradiated to the plant 7a arranged on the shelf 12. Since the light passing through the optical path adjusting member 22 is diffused and applied to the plant 7a, the optical path adjusting member 22 functions as a surface light source. For this reason, it can prevent that the plant 7a is irradiated with light locally.

  Moreover, the optical path adjustment member 22 can adjust the distance with the plant 7a. Specifically, the support portion 21 that supports the optical path adjusting member 22 is fixed so as to be movable in the extending direction of the column 11. Thereby, the optical path adjustment member 22 can adjust the distance with the plant 7a according to the growth of a plant. In this way, by adjusting the height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 and arranging the optical path adjusting member 22 close to the plant 7a, the light as a surface light source that is not direct light but is friendly to the plant 7a is increased with growth. It is possible to always uniformly irradiate the plant 7a in which changes.

  Furthermore, since the light intensity can be optimally adjusted according to the growth of the plant 7a, for example, it is possible to prevent the plant 7a from being irradiated with excessively strong light when the growth is not solid. .

  Furthermore, the surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 on the side close to the plant 7a is a flat surface, and each of the four support columns 11 is provided with a scale 11a in the extending direction.

  Thereby, the optical path adjusting member 22 is moved along the extending direction of the support column 11, the upper end portion of the plant 7a and the back surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 are brought into contact with each other, and the position of the support portion 21 at that time is determined from the scale 11a. By reading, the plant height of the plant 7a can be measured. Thereby, growth of the plant 7a currently grown can be managed.

  Here, in the cultivation of plants in an artificial environment like the plant cultivation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 9, the light source 114 is arranged above the plant 107, and the shelf 112 arranged below the light source 114. Plant 107 is arranged in the area. In such a structure, in order to easily measure the plant height without imposing a burden on the plant 107 and without using a high-performance camera or robot, the arrangement of the light source 114 and the plant 107 is left unchanged. There is a need.

  For this reason, the measurement of the plant height of the plant 107 is a manual operation. However, if a measurer uses a ruler to measure manually one by one, the amount of work is enormous.

  Furthermore, it is difficult to define where the top of the plant 107 is measured as the upper end, and the measured value varies depending on the measurer even in the same strain.

  On the other hand, according to the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, only one optical path adjusting member 22 (a plurality of sheets may be configured as a single sheet) may be moved up and down to move the plant 7a. Since the plant height can be measured, the burden required for the plant height work can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the optical path adjusting member 22 whose back surface is flat is brought into contact with the upper end of the plant 7a from above, the upper end of the plant 7a when the plant 7a is viewed from the side can be easily identified. For this reason, the variation of the measured value for every worker can also be controlled.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration for measuring plant growth using a scattered light sensor. In Patent Document 3, a scattered light sensor is arranged inside and outside a plant community, and the growth stage of the plant is determined based on the difference in the amount of scattered light measured by each scattered light sensor. Appropriate automatic liquid supply control without excess or deficiency is made possible.

  In Patent Document 3, a scattered light sensor is arranged inside and outside a community of plants that are cultivated, and by calculating the difference in the amount of light measured by each scattered light sensor, the amount of solar radiation and the plant Monitoring the degree of overgrowth.

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 3, the result output from the scattered light sensor varies depending on the position of the scattered light sensor. The scattered light sensor has a narrow measurable range. For this reason, with the technique of patent document 3, the plant height of the plant currently grown cannot be measured correctly. Furthermore, it is difficult to accurately measure artificial light with a narrow light distribution using a scattered light sensor.

  On the other hand, according to the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the optical path adjusting member 22 is moved by moving the support portion 21 movably disposed along the extending direction of the support column 11 along the extending direction of the support column 11. Can be moved along the extending direction of the column 11. With such a simple structure, the operator can measure the plant height of the plant 7a only by adjusting the height of the optical path adjusting member 22 to the upper end of the plant 7a, thereby suppressing variations in measurement values for each operator. Thus, the plant height of the plant 7a can be accurately measured.

  Here, in order to measure the plant height of the plurality of plants 7a by moving the plate-like optical path adjusting member 22 up and down, when measuring the plant height of the plant 7a having a lower plant height among the plurality of plants 7a, the plant height from the plant 7a is measured. The plant 7a having a high height is suppressed from above.

  However, the plant 7a returns to its original state when the optical path adjusting member 22 that is suppressed from above is removed. For this reason, when measuring the plant height of the plant 7a whose height is lower than the surroundings, there is no need to worry about the plant 7a having a plant height higher than that of the plant 7a.

  In the plant cultivation device 1, the plant 7 a is in the initial stage of seedling raising and the necessary light amount is not large. Therefore, except when measuring the plant height of the plant 7 a, the optical path adjusting member 22 is as close as possible to the plant 7 a, that is, The optical path adjusting member 22 is separated from the light source 14a. Thereby, the light quantity irradiated to the plant 7a can be suppressed.

In the plant cultivation apparatus 1, an operator confirms the measuring device 31 arranged on the shelf 12, and as an example, the measured value indicated by the measuring device 31 is PPFD200 (μmolm / m ² / s). The light amount of the light source unit 14 and the position of the optical path adjusting member 22 in the height direction are adjusted.

  Thus, in the plant cultivation apparatus 1, management can be performed by easily measuring the plant height of the plant 7a, and at the same time, the optical path adjusting member 22 is lowered so as to be separated from the light source 14a. Therefore, it is possible to irradiate the plant 7a with good light gentle to the plant 7a that is not always directly irradiated with a surface light source.

  Moreover, since the optical path adjustment member 22 can move up and down, the radiant heat from the light source 14a can be adjusted by the optical path adjustment member 22.

  Furthermore, in the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the spatial volume in the cultivation area which is the space prescribed | regulated by the shelf 12 and the optical path adjustment member 22 is adjusted arbitrarily by moving the height position of the optical path adjustment member 22 up and down. be able to. Thereby, adjustment of the air conditioning in a cultivation area, such as the air volume in a cultivation area, temperature, and humidity, can be performed easily.

[Embodiment 2]
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the plant cultivation apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The plant cultivation device 2 is different from the plant cultivation device 1 in having a side wall 37. Other configurations of the plant cultivation device 2 are the same as those of the plant cultivation device 1.

  The side wall 37 is arranged so as to cover the side portion of the cultivation area which is a space defined by the shelf 12 and the optical path adjusting member 22. The side wall 37 substantially covers the cultivation area by covering the four side portions of the cultivation area. According to the plant cultivation device 2, the temperature and humidity only in the cultivation area may be managed. By drawing around the duct, air such as air conditioners and fans can flow into the cultivation area, and the temperature and humidity in the cultivation area are adjusted. Thereby, power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, by adjusting the height of the optical path adjusting member 22, it is possible to freely adjust the spatial volume of the cultivation zone.

  The side wall 37 is preferably configured such that the height in the vertical direction changes in accordance with the vertical movement of the optical path adjusting member 22, such as a roll-shaped vinyl sheet. Thereby, even if the space volume of a cultivation area changes with the height change of the optical path adjustment member 22, the sealed state of a cultivation area can be maintained.

[Embodiment 3]
Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the support unit of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the plant cultivation device 1 (see FIG. 1) includes a lower support part (first support part) 24 and an upper support part (second support part) 25 instead of the support part 21. Also good.

  The lower support portion 24 and the upper support portion 25 are support portions that support the optical path adjusting member 22 in a pair. The lower support portion 24 and the upper support portion 25 are disposed on all four columns 11.

  The lower support part 24 and the upper support part 25 are plate-like members, and the column 11 penetrates each. The lower support portion 24 and the upper support portion 25 can be fixed at desired height positions in the support column 11 by inserting a fixing member 23 such as a screw. The lower support portion 24 and the upper support portion 25 are movable along the extending direction of the support column 11 by removing the fixing member 23. As described above, the lower support portion 24 and the upper support portion 25 are fixed to the support column 11 so as to be movable along the extending direction of the support column 11.

  The lower support portion 24 supports the back surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 on the upper surface of the portion protruding from the support 11 to the inside of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1). The lower support portion 24 and the optical path adjustment member 22 are fixed with an adhesive or a screw.

  The upper support portion 25 supports the surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 on the lower surface of the portion protruding from the support 11 to the inside of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1). The upper support portion 25 and the optical path adjustment member 22 are fixed with an adhesive or a screw.

  Thus, the lower support part 24 and the upper support part 25 are provided, and the optical path adjusting member 22 is supported while being sandwiched from above and below, so that the optical path adjusting member 22 can be prevented from bending.

  Further, the lower support portion 24 has a larger area than the upper support portion 25. Thereby, the bending of the optical path adjusting member 22 can be further prevented.

  Furthermore, the lower support part 24 and the upper support part 25 can prevent the optical path adjusting member 22 from being bent more by making the area larger than the support part 21 (see FIG. 2).

[Embodiment 4]
The following description will discuss Embodiment 4 of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the plant cultivation device 3 according to the fourth embodiment and a state when the plant height of the plant is being measured. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the plant cultivation apparatus 3 according to the fourth embodiment and a state other than when the plant height of the plant is measured.

  The plant cultivation device 3 is different from the plant cultivation device 1 in that the plant being grown is not the plant 7a but the plant 7b and that not only the light source 14a but also the light source 14b is lit. Other configurations of the plant cultivation device 3 are the same as those of the plant cultivation device 1.

  The plant 7b is a plant in the middle of raising seedlings. The plant 7b grows higher than the plant 7a and has a higher plant height. As an example, the plant 7b is a plant in a mid-growing period in which the seedling has a crown diameter of about 3 mm to 6 mm.

  The amount of light required in the middle period of cultivation is larger than that in the early stage of cultivation. For this reason, in the plant cultivation apparatus 3, the light source unit 14 is not thinned and turned on, but both the light source 14a and the light source 14b are turned on. Thereby, the light quantity required for the cultivation of the plant 7b is ensured.

  The optical path adjusting member 22 is arranged to be movable along the extending direction of the support column 11 by a plurality of support portions 21. The column 11 is provided with a scale 11a. For this reason, even if plant height becomes high like the plant 7b, the plant height of the said plant 7b can be measured by making the back surface of the optical path adjustment member 22 contact the upper end of the plant 7b which is the object which measures plant height. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, assuming that the height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 when measuring the plant height of the plant 7b is a height h1, the amount of light necessary for the plant 7b is obtained except when measuring the plant height of the plant 7b. The height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 is adjusted so as to be the height position h2.

In the plant cultivation apparatus 3, an operator confirms the measuring device 31 arranged on the shelf 12, and as an example, the measured value indicated by the measuring device 31 is PPFD300 (μmolm / m ² / s). The light amount of the light source unit 14 and the position of the optical path adjusting member 22 in the height direction are adjusted.

  Thus, according to the plant cultivation apparatus 3, the plant height of the growing plant 7b can be easily measured simply by moving the optical path adjusting member 22 up and down along the extending direction of the support column 11. Furthermore, the intensity | strength of the light which permeate | transmits and diffuses the optical path adjustment member 22 is raised by approaching the light source unit 14 rather than the time of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 while separating the height position of the optical path adjustment member 22 from the light source unit 14. Can do. Thereby, the diffused light of the optimal light quantity can be irradiated with respect to the plant 7b of the growing middle stage.

[Embodiment 5]
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the plant cultivation apparatus 4 according to the fifth embodiment and a state when the plant height of the plant is measured. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the plant cultivation device 4 according to the fifth embodiment and a state other than when the plant height of the plant is measured.

  The plant cultivation device 4 is different from the plant cultivation device 3 in that the plant being grown is not the plant 7b but the plant 7c. Other configurations of the plant cultivation device 4 are the same as those of the plant cultivation device 3. In addition, also in the plant cultivation apparatus 4, the light source unit 14 has lighted both the light source 14a and the light source 14b similarly to the plant cultivation apparatus 3. FIG.

  The plant 7c is a plant in the late stage of raising seedlings, and is a plant in the period immediately before planting. The plant 7c grows higher than the plant 7b and has a higher plant height. As an example, the plant 7c is a plant at a time when the crown diameter of the seedling is larger than 6 mm.

  The optical path adjusting member 22 is arranged to be movable along the extending direction of the support column 11 by a plurality of support portions 21. The column 11 is provided with a scale 11a. For this reason, even if plant height becomes high like the plant 7b, the plant height of the said plant 7b can be measured by making the back surface of the optical path adjustment member 22 contact the upper end of the plant 7b which is the object which measures plant height. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, assuming that the height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 when measuring the plant height of the plant 7b is a height h11, the light amount necessary for the plant 7c is obtained except when measuring the plant height of the plant 7b. The height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 is adjusted so as to be the height position h12.

In the plant cultivation apparatus 4, an operator confirms the measuring device 31 arranged on the shelf 12, and as an example, the measured value indicated by the measuring device 31 is PPFD400 (μmolm / m ² / s). The light amount of the light source unit 14 and the position of the optical path adjusting member 22 in the height direction are adjusted.

  The amount of light required during the post-training period is greater than during the mid-training period. For this reason, the height position h <b> 12 may be a position where the optical path adjustment member 22 contacts the light source unit 14.

  Thus, according to the plant cultivation apparatus 4, the plant height of the growing plant 7c can be easily measured simply by moving the optical path adjusting member 22 up and down along the extending direction of the support column 11. Further, by bringing the height position of the optical path adjustment member 22 into contact with the light source unit 14, the intensity of the light transmitted through and diffused through the optical path adjustment member 22 can be increased. Thereby, the diffused light of the optimal light quantity can be irradiated with respect to the plant 7c of the postscript cultivation.

  In addition, after planting, even in the stage of planting by planting, the plant height is measured by the same method, and the optimal light environment for the plant is adjusted and set at the height position of the optical path adjusting member 22 for cultivation. Thus, it is possible to reduce the risk that the plant is irradiated with light more than necessary when the growth is not solid.

[Summary]
The plant cultivation apparatuses 1 to 4 according to the aspect 1 of the present invention are arranged between the light source 14a and the light source 14a and the cultivated plants 7a to 7c, and diffuse the light from the light source 14a. 22 and the support part 21 (the lower support part 24 and the upper support part 25) which support the said optical path adjustment member 22 so that adjustment of the distance of the plants 7a-7c and the said optical path adjustment member 22 which are cultivated is possible. It is characterized by having.

  According to the said structure, after the light irradiated from the light source is diffused by the optical path adjustment member, it is irradiated to a plant. For this reason, it can prevent that a plant is irradiated with light locally. And since the optical path adjustment member is supported by the said support part so that adjustment of the distance with a plant is possible, according to the growth of a plant, it can adjust the distance with a plant. Thereby, the light as a plant-friendly surface light source that is not direct light from the light source can always be uniformly irradiated to the plant whose plant height changes with growth.

  The plant cultivation apparatuses 1 to 4 according to aspect 2 of the present invention are the above-described aspect 1, in which the support portion 21 is fixed so as to be movable in the extending direction, and the column 11 is provided with a scale 11a in the extending direction. The surface of the optical path adjusting member 22 on the side close to the plants 7a to 7c is a flat surface.

  By the said structure, the plant height of several plants 7a-7c can be measured by moving the optical path adjustment member 22 along the extending direction of the support | pillar 11. FIG. According to this, compared with the case where an operator measures a plurality of plants manually using a ruler one by one, the plant height of the plant can be easily measured.

  The plant cultivation apparatus 2 according to aspect 3 of the present invention is the side part of the space defined by the shelf 12 for arranging the plant 7a, the shelf 12 and the optical path adjusting member 22 in the above aspects 1 and 2. And a side wall 37 covering the same.

  According to the said structure, since only the temperature and humidity of the space prescribed | regulated by the said shelf 12 and the said optical path adjustment member 22 should be adjusted in cultivation of the plant 7a, power consumption can be reduced.

  In plant cultivation devices 1 to 4 according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in aspects 1 to 3, a plurality of light sources 14a and 14b are arranged side by side, and each of the plurality of light sources 14a and 14b is individually turned on or It is preferable to include a light source unit 14 that can be turned off. With the above configuration, it is possible to adjust the amount of light necessary for the growth of the plants 7a to 7c.

  The plant cultivation apparatuses 1 to 4 according to Aspect 5 of the present invention are the measurement units (measuring instruments 31) for measuring the amount of light emitted from the light source 14a and transmitted through the optical path adjusting member 22 in the Aspects 1 to 4. ) May be provided. By the said structure, the height position of an optical path adjustment member can be adjusted so that required light quantity may be ensured according to the cultivation of the plants 7a-7c.

  The plant cultivation apparatus 1 which concerns on aspect 6 of this invention is the 1st which the said optical path adjustment member 22 is plate shape in the said aspects 1-5, and the said support part 21 is supported from the back surface side of the said optical path adjustment member 22. You may have a support part (lower support part 24) and the 2nd support part (upper support part 25) supported from the surface side of the said optical path adjustment member 22. FIG. According to the said structure, the bending of an optical path adjustment member can be prevented.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

  The present invention can be used for a plant cultivation apparatus.

1-4 Plant cultivation apparatus 7a-7c Plant 11 Support | pillar 11a Scale 13 Ceiling 14 Light source unit 14a * 14b Light source 21 Support part 22 Optical path adjustment member 23 Fixing member 24 Lower support part (support part, 1st support part)
25 Upper support part (support part, second support part)
31 Measuring instrument (measuring unit)
37 side walls

Claims (5)

A light source;
An optical path adjusting member that is arranged between the light source and the plant being cultivated and diffuses light from the light source;
A plant cultivation apparatus, comprising: a support portion that supports the optical path adjustment member so that a distance between the cultivated plant and the optical path adjustment member can be adjusted. The support part is fixed so as to be movable in the extending direction, and includes a column having a scale in the extending direction,
The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the optical path adjusting member that is closer to the plant is a flat surface. A shelf for arranging the plant,
The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a side wall covering a side portion of a space defined by the shelf and the optical path adjusting member.   4. The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light sources are arranged side by side, and a light source unit capable of individually turning on or off each of the plurality of light sources is provided. The plant cultivation apparatus as described.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a measurement unit that measures the amount of light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the optical path adjustment member.

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