JP2021029173A - Plant cultivation apparatus and plant production method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a plant cultivation apparatus that can reduce the number of parts.SOLUTION: The plant cultivation device comprises: a plurality of cultivation trays 40; a plurality of light period space-forming sections 51; one or more dark period space-forming sections 53; a growing light source 61 with the ability to generate the amount of light required for industrial growth of plants; and transporting means 300. The light period space-forming section 51 and the dark period space-forming section 53 can accommodate a plurality of cultivation trays 40. The total capacity of all the cultivation trays in the dark period space-forming sections 53 is smaller than the total capacity of all the cultivation trays in the light period space-forming sections 51. The growing light source 61 is disposed in the light period space-forming section 51, while the dark period space-forming section 53 has no growing light source 61 or has simplified growing light sources as compared with the above growing light sources.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus for continuously cultivating plants such as agricultural products.

A plant cultivation device for cultivating agricultural products indoors is known. The plant cultivation device is used in a cultivation form commonly called a crop factory. That is, the plant cultivation device is a device for growing crops by using artificial lighting to give appropriate sunshine to the crops and keeping the temperature and humidity suitable for growth in the building or indoors.
According to the plant cultivation device, it is possible to grow crops in an environment in which sunlight, temperature, water content, fertilizer concentration, etc. are appropriately controlled, so that the period required for harvesting is shorter than that in open-field cultivation.
In addition, most of the plant cultivation devices grow crops by hydroponics, which is cleaner than open-field cultivation. Furthermore, since the crops are cultivated indoors, pests do not adhere and the crops can be cultivated without pesticides. Therefore, the plant cultivation device is suitable for cultivating vegetables such as lettuce that are eaten without peeling.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-60529 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-78577

The plant cultivation device can produce crops and the like regardless of the season and the environment of the area where it is installed.
However, the conventional plant cultivation apparatus has a problem that the number of parts is large and the manufacturing cost is high.

In order to solve this problem, the present inventors have verified the problems of the prior art. This will be described below.
In the plant cultivation device, sunshine is secured by artificial lighting as described above. Here, in the prior art, the illumination is uniformly provided on the upper part of the conveyor device.
In order to grow plants, it is necessary not only to irradiate the leaves with light for photosynthesis, but also to provide a dark period to translocate the products produced on the leaves by photosynthesis. That is, in order to grow a plant, it is necessary to continuously irradiate the leaves with light for a certain period of time and stop the irradiation of light for a certain period of time.
Therefore, in the prior art, the artificial lights are turned on all at once for a certain period of time to create an environment for the light period, and then the artificial lights are turned off all at once for a certain period of time to create a dark period.
As described above, the plant cultivation apparatus of the prior art has a low operating rate of artificial lighting. Therefore, the present inventors thought that the number of light emitting elements such as fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes could be reduced by increasing the operating rate of artificial lighting.

An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to develop a plant cultivation apparatus capable of reducing the number of parts.

A mode for solving the above-mentioned problems is to generate a plurality of cultivation trays, a plurality of light-stage space forming portions, one or a plurality of dark-stage space forming portions, and an amount of light necessary for industrial growth of plants. The light-season space forming portion and the dark-stage space forming portion can accommodate a plurality of cultivation trays, and the light-season space forming portion has the above-mentioned light-season space forming portion and a transporting means. There is a growing light source, and there is no growing light source in the dark space forming portion, or the growing light source is simplified as compared with the growing light source, and the bright light period period is fixed. The cultivation tray retained in the period space forming portion is moved to the dark period space forming portion by the transport means, and the cultivation tray retained in the dark period space forming portion is moved to the dark period space forming portion for a certain dark period time. It is a plant cultivation apparatus characterized in that it is moved to the light stage space forming portion by the transport means.

The plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment has a light period space forming portion and a dark period space forming portion, and the dark period space forming portion has a light source for growing or is simplified. Therefore, the total number of light emitting elements required for the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment is small. Therefore, the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment has a small number of parts.

In each of the above embodiments, the cultivation tray is provided with a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, the light period space forming portion has a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray, and the dark period space forming portion is supplied with water. It is desirable that there is no means or that the water supply means is simplified as compared with the space forming portion in the light period.

The plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment is for hydroponics, and the cultivation tray has a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution.
Here, plants actively photosynthesize in the light period and absorb water from the roots. On the other hand, the dark period is a period during which the product produced in the leaves by photosynthesis is translocated, so that the amount of water absorption is small.
Therefore, in the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, the water supply means is not provided in the dark space forming portion, or the water supply means is simplified as compared with the light space forming portion.
According to this aspect, the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the cultivation tray is provided with a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, and the cultivation tray that has been retained in the light period space forming portion for a certain light period time is the light period space forming portion. The culture in the cultivation tray is discharged from the portion and introduced into the dark space forming portion, and between the end of the light space forming portion and / or from the light space forming portion to the dark space forming portion. It is desirable that there is a drainage means for draining the liquid, and there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray at the end and / or near the end of the dark space forming portion.

The plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment is for hydroponics, and the cultivation tray has a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution.
In the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, there is a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray between the end of the light period space forming portion and / or the light period space forming portion to the dark period space forming portion. Therefore, the cultivation tray can be transported with the culture solution removed from the cultivation tray. Further, in the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray near the start end of the dark space forming portion. Therefore, the cultivation tray can be accommodated in the dark space forming portion with the culture solution in the cultivation tray.

In each of the above embodiments, the cultivation tray includes a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, and the cultivation tray kept in the dark period space forming portion for a certain dark period time forms the dark period space. The culture in the cultivation tray is discharged from the portion and introduced into the light period space forming portion, and between the end portion of the dark period space forming portion and / or from the dark period space forming portion to the light period space forming portion. There is a drainage means for draining the liquid, and there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray between the end portion of the light period space forming portion and / or the dark period space forming portion and the light period space forming portion. Is desirable.

The plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment is for hydroponics, and the cultivation tray has a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution.
In the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, there is a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray from the end of the dark space forming portion and / or from the dark space forming portion to the light space forming portion. Therefore, the cultivation tray can be transported with the culture solution removed from the cultivation tray. Further, in the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray between the end portion of the light period space forming portion and / or the dark period space forming portion and the light period space forming portion. Therefore, the cultivation tray can be accommodated in the light-season space forming portion with the culture solution in the cultivation tray.

In each of the above aspects, the light period space forming portion has a carbon dioxide concentration controlling means, and the dark period space forming portion has no carbon dioxide concentration controlling means, or the carbon dioxide concentration is controlled as compared with the growing light source. It is desirable that the means source be simplified.

According to this aspect, the carbon dioxide concentration around the plant can be increased at the time when the plant needs carbon dioxide. Further, since the consumption of carbon dioxide in the plant is small in the dark period, there is no carbon dioxide concentration control means, or the source of the carbon dioxide concentration control means is simplified as compared with the above-mentioned light source for growing.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable that the total capacity of the cultivation trays of all the dark space forming portions is smaller than the total capacity of the cultivation trays of all the light season space forming portions. Therefore, the number of parts is small and the entire device can be miniaturized.

In the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment, the total capacity of the cultivation trays of all the dark space forming portions is smaller than the total capacity of the cultivation trays of all the light season space forming portions. Therefore, the number of parts is small and the entire device can be miniaturized.
The reason for this will be described below.
As mentioned above, in order to grow plants, it is necessary not only to irradiate the leaves with light for photosynthesis, but also to provide a dark period to translocate the products produced in the leaves by photosynthesis. .. That is, in order to cultivate a plant, it is necessary to alternately create a "light period" in which the plant is irradiated with light and a "dark period" in which the plant is dark.
Here, the time required for the dark period is shorter than the time required for the light period. For example, if the light period time is 14 hours, the dark period time is 10 hours. Therefore, in the plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention, the amount of cultivation trays that can be accommodated in the dark period space forming portion that creates the "dark period" is made smaller than the amount that can be accommodated in the cultivation tray of the light period space forming portion that creates the "light period". We succeeded in reducing the occupied area occupied by the entire device.

In the above embodiment, it is desirable that the dark period space forming portion is provided and the total number of the dark period space forming portions is smaller than the total number of the light period space forming portions.

In each of the above aspects, the plurality of the light period space forming portions are installed in a plurality of stages in the height direction, the dark period space forming portions are provided, and the dark period space forming portions are also provided in the height direction. It is desirable that they are installed in multiple stages.

According to this aspect, the floor area occupied by the entire device can be made smaller.

In each of the above embodiments, a plurality of cultivation trays form a group of trays, the tray group is plural, some tray groups are housed in individual light space forming portions, and some other tray groups are accommodated. It is desirable that the tray groups are housed in the dark space forming portion, and each tray group is moved by shifting the start time of the light period time and / or the start time of the dark period time for each tray group.

According to this aspect, the waiting time when moving the cultivation tray can be shortened, and the operating rate of the plant cultivation apparatus can be increased.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable that at least one of the cultivation trays is provided with a recording means or an identification means.

According to this aspect, for example, information on the plants planted in the cultivation tray and the cultivation status can be grasped.

It is desirable to produce plants using the plant cultivation apparatus of each of the above embodiments.

The plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention has an effect that the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the prior art.

It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the light-term space formation part of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows through the inside of the state which the cultivation tray is not accommodated. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows through the inside of the state which accommodated the cultivation tray. It is a front view which shows the inside of the cultivation equipment of FIG. 1, and shows the state which the cultivation tray is not accommodated. It is a front view which shows the inside of the cultivation facility of FIG. 1, and shows the state which the cultivation tray is housed. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the dark space formation part of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows through the inside of the state which the cultivation tray is not accommodated. It is an exploded perspective view of the cultivation tray used in the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. (A) to (c) are explanatory views which show the operation of the drainage means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the replacement process of the cultivation tray in the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 9 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 10 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 11 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 12 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process following FIG. 13 of the plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 14 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 15 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process which follows FIG. 16 of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the light-term space formation part of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention, and shows through the inside of the state which the cultivation tray is not accommodated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be further described.
The plant cultivation device 50 of the embodiment of the present invention has a light period device 100 and a dark period device 200. It also has a transport means 300 that connects the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the light period device 100 has two rows and seven stages of light period side shelf members 52, and lift devices 101 and 102 are arranged before and after the light period device 100. Further, an external conveyor device 103 is installed on the ground, and lift devices 101 and 102 at both ends are connected.

A light period space forming portion 51 is installed on each shelf 7 of the light period side shelf member 52. In the present embodiment, the light period space forming portions 51 are stacked in a plurality of rows by the light period side shelf member 52.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the light period space forming portion 51 has an outer shell member 71 formed by connecting a plurality of cell members 70. The inside of the outer member 71 is a tubular cultivation space 57 extending in the horizontal direction.

The light-season space forming unit 51 carries in a cultivation tray 40 in which plant seedlings are planted in the cultivation space 57, and grows plants inside the cultivation tray 40.
On the inner surface of the cultivation space 57, the lighting substrate 61 as shown in FIG. 4, the air stirring means 62 and 63 for stirring the air in the cultivation space 57 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the cultivation tray 40 can be moved. It has a traveling path 15 on which it is placed. Further, in the plant cultivation apparatus 50 of the present embodiment, the nutrient solution control means 17 supplies the culture solution to the cultivation tray 40 inside the cultivation space 57 and causes the culture solution discharged from the cultivation tray 40 to flow out to a predetermined position outside. Is provided.

The lighting substrate 61 is a thin resin substrate on which a large number of LEDs are attached as light emitting elements, and irradiates plants inside with artificial lighting. The lighting substrate 61 is a growing light source having an ability to generate an amount of light necessary for industrial growing of plants.

The runway 15 has two roller conveyors 21 arranged in parallel at intervals.
The roller conveyor 21 has a frame member 22 extending in the longitudinal direction of the light space forming portion 51, and a plurality of roller members 23 attached to the frame member 22. Each roller member 23 has no power and idles.

In the present embodiment, the upper side air stirring means 62 and the lower side air stirring means 63 are provided as the air stirring means.
The upper side air stirring means 62 is provided in the upper part of the cultivation space 57, and is composed of two blower pipes 25 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation space 57. The blower pipe 25 is provided with a plurality of blower ports 26 at regular intervals. The blower pipe 25 is connected to a blower (not shown), and is blown from the blower port 26 toward the center side of the cultivation space 57 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the air in the cultivation space 57 is agitated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower air stirring means 63 is an axial fan or a centrifugal fan provided on the bottom member 27 of the outer member.

The nutrient solution control means 17 is composed of a culture solution supply means 31 and a trough 32.
That is, in the cultivation space 57 of the light period space forming portion 51, a culture solution supply means 31 for supplying the culture solution to the cultivation tray 40 is provided.
The culture solution supply means 31 is a water supply means having a main pipe 35 and a large number of branch pipes 36 branched from the main pipe 35.
In the present embodiment, there is a nutrient solution tank (not shown) outside, and the culture solution is pumped to the main pipe 35 by a pump (not shown) and supplied from the branch pipe 36 to the cultivation tray 40.
The culture solution overflowing from the cultivation tray 40 is collected in the gutter 32 and collected in the nutrient solution tank. As described above, the cultivation space 57 is provided with a water supply means for supplying the culture solution to the cultivation tray 40 and a drainage means for draining the culture solution overflowing from the cultivation tray 40.

In the light period device 100, lift devices 101 and 102 are arranged in front of and behind the row of the light period side shelf members 52. The lift device 101 is a lift device 101 on the insertion side, and the lift device 102 is a lift device 102 on the discharge side.
The lift device 101 on the insertion side has an elevating table 106, and the elevating table 106 is provided with a pressing device (not shown).
On the other hand, the lifting device 102 on the discharge side is provided with the tilting device 105 as shown in FIG. The tilting device 105 is a drainage means for tilting the cultivation tray 40 to drain the culture solution inside.

The external conveyor device 103 is a roller conveyor device, which can convey the cultivation tray 40 by power.

Further, the light period device 100 is equipped with a carbon dioxide concentration control means 80. The carbon dioxide concentration control means 80 has a carbon dioxide cylinder (not shown), a pressure reducing valve, and the like, and can supply carbon dioxide into the light period side shelf member 52.

Next, the dark period device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the dark period device 200 has two rows and five stages of dark period side shelf members 68, and lift devices 201 and 202 are arranged before and after the dark period device 200. Further, an external conveyor device 203 is installed on the ground, and lift devices 201 and 202 at both ends are connected.

A dark period space forming portion 53 is installed on each shelf of the dark period side shelf member 68. In the present embodiment, the dark period space forming portions 53 are stacked in a plurality of rows by the dark period side shelf member 68. However, the dark side shelf member 68 has two rows and five stages, and the number of cultivation trays 40 that can be accommodated is smaller than that of the light period side shelf member 52.
The dark space forming portion 53 is merely a space, and there is no cell member 70 or outer member 71.
A traveling path 15 is installed inside the dark space forming portion 53. The structure of the traveling path 15 is the same as that installed in the light period space forming portion 51 described above.
The dark space forming unit 53 does not have the following members installed in the light space forming unit 51.
(1) Case 5
(2) Lighting board 61
(3) Air stirring means 62, 63
(4) Nutrient solution control means 17
A water supply means 55 is provided at the starting end of the dark space forming portion 53. Further, the dark space forming unit 53 is provided with lighting for confirming the internal state (not shown).

In the dark period device 200, lift devices 201 and 202 are arranged in front of and behind the row of the dark period side shelf members 68. The lift device 201 is a lift device 201 on the insertion side, and the lift device 202 is a lift device 202 on the discharge side.
The lift device 201 on the insertion side has an elevating table 205, and the elevating table 205 is provided with a pressing device (not shown).
On the other hand, a tilting device (not shown) is installed in the lift device 202 on the discharge side.
The dark period device 200 has no carbon dioxide concentration control means.

The external conveyor device 203 on the dark period device 200 side is also a roller conveyor device, and can convey the cultivation tray 40 by power.
In the present embodiment, the external conveyor device 103 on the light period device 100 side and the external conveyor device 203 on the dark period device 200 side are partially connected to form a series of transport means 310 as a whole. ..
In the plant cultivation device 50 of the present embodiment, the cultivation tray 40 can be moved back and forth between the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200 by the transport means 310.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cultivation tray 40 has a nutrient solution storage tank 41 for storing the culture solution inside, and is a member capable of temporarily storing the culture solution. Further, the cultivation tray 40 has a plant holder 28 attached so as to cover the nutrient solution storage tank 41, and can hold a plurality of plants to be grown in a state of being arranged in a matrix.
The plant holder 28 is a board made of a material having a light specific gravity.
The plant holder 28 is installed in the nutrient solution storage tank 41 in a state where the plant is held in the opening 42.

Further, the cultivation tray 40 is provided with an information recording member 67 such as a barcode and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In this embodiment, an RFID chip is attached as the information recording member 67. The information recording member 67 records the plants planted in the cultivation tray 40 and the cultivation history up to now.

Next, the basic operation of the plant cultivation apparatus 50 of the present embodiment will be described.
In the plant cultivation device 50 of the present embodiment, the cultivation tray 40 is installed in the light period space forming portion 51 of the light period device 100 described above, and the lighting substrate 61, the air stirring means 62, 63 and the nutrient solution control means 17 are driven. To do.

In the present embodiment, the cultivation tray 40 in which the seedlings are planted is mounted on the lift device 101 on the insertion side, the height is raised to a desired height, and the cultivation tray 40 is used as a pressing device (not shown) to form a space forming portion in the light period. Push it into 51.
Subsequently, the second cultivation tray 40 is mounted on the lift device 101, raised to the same height as before, and pushed into the same bright space forming portion 51 as before by the pressing device. The cultivation tray 40 that has already been inserted into the light space forming portion 51 is pushed by the second cultivation tray 40 and proceeds to the back. This operation is repeated to fill the inside of the light space forming portion 51 with the cultivation tray 40.

In the light period space forming portion 51, the light emitted from the lighting substrate 61 irradiates the seedlings of the cultivation tray 40. The lighting substrate 61 is a growing light source having an ability to generate an amount of light necessary for industrial growing of plants, and photosynthesis is performed on leaves.
Further, the air stirring means 62 and 63 prepare an environment of temperature and humidity suitable for the growth of plants in the space forming portion 51 in the light period. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide concentration in the light period space forming portion 51 is also adjusted by the carbon dioxide concentration controlling means 80.

The cultivation tray 40 is retained in the light period space forming portion 51 for a certain period of time (light period time). The cultivation tray 40 kept in the light period space forming unit 51 for a certain light period time is discharged from the light period space forming unit 51, and is discharged from the light period space forming unit 51, and is discharged from the light period space forming unit 51, and is discharged from the light period space forming unit 51. It is moved to the space forming unit 53.
The discharge of the cultivation tray 40 from the light period space forming section 51 is pushed out by pushing the new cultivation tray 40 into the light period space forming section 51.
The method of inserting the cultivation tray 40 into the dark space forming portion 53 is the same as the method of inserting the cultivation tray 40 into the light period space forming portion 510.

In the present embodiment, immediately after the cultivation tray 40 is discharged from the light-season space forming portion 51, the cultivation tray 40 is tilted by the tilting device (drainage means) 105 as shown in FIG. Discharge.
Further, when the cultivation tray 40 is inserted into the dark space forming portion 53, water is supplied to the cultivation tray 40 by the water supply means 55.

The cultivation tray 40 is retained in the dark space forming portion 53 for a certain period of time (dark time). The cultivation tray 40 that has been retained in the dark space forming section 53 for a certain period of time is returned to the light space forming section 51 again.
In the present embodiment, immediately after the cultivation tray 40 is discharged from the dark space forming portion 53, the cultivation tray 40 is tilted by the tilting device and the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 is discharged.
This step is repeated to allow photosynthesis to occur in the light space forming unit 51 and to retain the photosynthesis in the dark space forming unit 53 for a certain period of time to commutate the product produced in the leaves by photosynthesis.

Next, a guideline for exchanging the cultivation tray 40 between the light period space forming section 51 and the dark period space forming section 53 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 17.
In the following example, the required specified time is set to 14 hours and the dark period time is set to 10 hours.
In each figure, numbers 1 to 12 in the figure indicate a group of cultivation trays 40. For example, the square with the number 1 is the cultivation tray 40 belonging to the first group, and the cultivation tray 40 with the number 2 is the cultivation tray 40 belonging to the second group.

As shown in FIG. 9, the light period device 100 has seven stages of the light period space forming portion 51, and the dark period device 200 has five stages of the dark period space forming portion 53.
The number of cultivation trays 40 that can be accommodated by the light period space forming portion 51 and the number of cultivation trays 40 that can be accommodated by the dark period space forming portion 53 are the same.
Therefore, the total number of cultivation trays 40 that can be accommodated by the light period space forming unit 51 included in the light period device 100 is larger than the total number of cultivation trays 40 that can be accommodated by the dark period space forming unit 53 included in the dark period device 200.

First, as shown in FIG. 10, the cultivation tray 40 belonging to the first group is put into the light period space forming section 51-1 on the first floor of the light period device 100.
After 2 hours, as shown in FIG. 11, the cultivation tray 40 belonging to the second group is put into the light period space forming section 51-2 on the second floor of the light period device 100. This process is repeated, and as shown in FIG. 12, the cultivation trays 40 from the 3rd group to the 7th group are put into the light space forming portion 51 on the remaining floor. The cultivation tray 40 is inserted into each floor every two hours.
Therefore, when the cultivation tray 40 of the 7th group is finished to be inserted, 14 hours have passed since the cultivation tray 40 of the 1st group inserted first was inserted into the light space forming portion 51-1. , The scheduled tomorrow time (14 hours) has passed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the cultivation tray 40 of the first group in which 14 hours, which is the light period time, has passed, is moved to the dark period space forming section 53-1 on the first floor of the dark period device 200, and the eighth The group cultivation tray 40 is inserted into the light period space forming portion 51-1.

After another 2 hours, as shown in FIG. 14, the cultivation tray 40 of the second group, which was put in the light space forming section 51-2 on the second floor, has passed 14 hours after being inserted. The cultivation tray 40 of the second group is moved to the dark space forming section 53-2 on the second floor of the dark period device 200, and the cultivation tray 40 of the ninth group is inserted into the light space forming section 51-2.
In this way, every 2 hours, the cultivation trays 40 of the 3rd to 5th groups are sequentially moved from the light period space forming section 51 to the dark period space forming section 53, and instead of the 10th to 12th groups. The cultivation tray 40 is placed in the light space forming section 51 (FIG. 15).

When another 2 hours have passed, 14 hours have passed since the cultivation tray 40 of the 6th group was inserted into the light period space forming portion 51-6. On the other hand, focusing on the dark period device 200 side, the cultivation tray 40 of the first group, which was first moved to the dark period space forming section 53-1, was placed in the dark period space forming section 53-1 and then in the dark period. Ten hours have passed.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the cultivation tray 40 of the sixth group of the light period device 100 is moved to the dark period space forming portion 53-1 on the first floor of the dark period device 200, and the dark period device 200 The cultivation tray 40 of the first group is moved to the light period space forming section 51-6 on the 6th floor of the light period device 100. That is, the cultivation tray 40 of the sixth group in which the light period time of 14 hours has passed is replaced with the cultivation tray 40 of the first group in which the dark period time of 10 hours has passed.
After another 2 hours, 14 hours passed after the cultivation tray 40 of the 7th group was inserted into the light period space forming section 51-7, and the cultivation tray 40 of the 2nd group was inserted into the dark period space forming section 53-2. Since the dark period time of 10 hours has passed since it was placed in the dark period device 200, the cultivation tray 40 of the 7th group after the light period time of 14 hours has passed is used in the dark period space forming section 53-2 on the first floor of the dark period device 200. The cultivation tray 40 of the second group of the dark period device 200 is moved to the light period space forming section 51-7 on the 6th floor of the light period device 100.

This rotation is repeated, and the cultivation tray group in which the light period time of 14 hours has passed is replaced with the cultivation tray group in which the dark period time of 10 hours has passed.
As a result, each light period space forming portion 51 and each dark period space forming portion 53 are less likely to be vacant, and plants can be efficiently grown.

In the embodiment described above, the dark space forming unit 53 does not have the lighting substrate 61 at all, but may have a smaller number of lighting substrates 61 than the light space forming unit 51.
Further, the air stirring means 62 and 63, the nutrient solution controlling means 17, and the like may be located in the dark space forming portion 53. Further, there may be a simple carbon dioxide concentration control means on the dark period space forming portion 53 side.

In the embodiment described above, the nutrient solution control means 17 is provided in the light period space forming portion 51. The nutrient solution control means 17 of the above-described embodiment is composed of a culture solution supply means (water supply means) 31 and a trough 32. The nutrient solution control means 17 has a large number of branch pipes 36 that function as nozzles, and can supply the culture solution to each cultivation tray 40 in the light period space forming portion 51.
However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the light stage space forming portion 51 is provided with a specific water supply point, the culture solution is supplied to the cultivation tray 40 at the water supply point, and the cultivation tray 40 is filled with the culture solution. The cultivation tray 40 may be carried into the cultivation space 57 of the above.

In the plant cultivation device 90 shown in FIG. 18, there is a water faucet (water supply means) 81 under the lift device 101 on the insertion side of the light period device 100, and the culture solution is placed in the cultivation tray 40 carried in an empty state. Be supplied. Then, the cultivation tray 40 filled with the culture solution is raised to a predetermined height by the lift device 101, and is housed in the predetermined light period space forming portion 51.

The dark period device 200 also has a water tap (water supply means) 82 at the same position, and the culture solution is supplied to the cultivation tray 40 that has been carried in an empty state. Then, the cultivation tray 40 filled with the culture solution is raised to a predetermined height by the lift device 201, and is housed in the predetermined dark space forming portion 53.

In the above-described embodiment, the water taps 81 and 82 are provided on the light period device 100 side and the dark period device 200 side, respectively. However, as in the plant cultivation device 92 shown in FIG. 19, the light period device 100 and the dark period device are provided. A water tap 83 may be installed between the 200, and water may be supplied to the cultivation tray 40 when going back and forth between the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, a water tap (water supply means) 85 is provided at the end of the light period space forming portion 91, and water is supplied to the cultivation tray 40 immediately after the cultivation tray 40 is inserted into the light period space forming portion 51. May be done.

The positions of the water taps 81, 82, and 83 are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but the water taps used when water is supplied to the empty cultivation tray 40 and introduced into the light space forming portion 51. Is desirable to be provided as close to the entrance of the light space forming portion 51 as possible. For example, it is desirable to provide the start end portion of the light period space forming portion 51, between each floor of the lift device 101 and the light period space forming portion 51, or the first floor portion of the lift device 101. It may be any of the period from the dark device 200 to the light device 100.
In short, it is sufficient that there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray 40 between the end portion of the light period space forming portion 51 and / or the dark period space forming portion 53 and the light period space forming portion 51.

The same applies to the faucet used when water is supplied to the empty cultivation tray 40 and introduced into the dark space forming portion 53, and it is desirable to provide it as close to the entrance of the dark space forming portion 53 as possible. For example, it is desirable to provide the start end portion of the dark period space forming portion 53, between each floor of the lift device 201 and the dark period space forming portion 53, the first floor portion of the lift device 201, and the like. It may be any of between the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200.
In short, there may be a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray 40 between the end of the dark space forming portion 53 and / or the light space forming portion 51 and the dark space forming portion 53.

Further, it is desirable that the operation of draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 is performed immediately after the cultivation tray 40 is discharged from the light period space forming section 51 or the dark period space forming section 53 as much as possible.
Therefore, it is desirable that the drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 discharged from the light period space forming section 51 is provided as close to the outlet of the light period space forming section 51 as possible. For example, it is desirable to provide the terminal of the light space forming unit 51, between each floor of the lift device 102 and the light space forming unit 51, in the lift device 102, on the first floor of the lift device 101, and the like. It may be any of between the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200.
In short, there may be a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 between the end portion of the light period space forming portion 51 and / or the light period space forming portion 51 and the dark period space forming portion 53.

The same applies to the drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 discharged from the dark space forming portion 53, and it is desirable to provide the drainage means as close to the outlet of the dark space forming portion 53 as possible. For example, it is desirable to provide the terminal of the dark space forming portion 53, between each floor of the lift device 202 and the dark space forming portion 53, in the lift device 202, and on the first floor of the lift device 201. It may be any of the period from the dark device 200 to the light device 100.
In short, there may be a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray 40 between the end of the dark space forming portion 53 and / or from the dark space forming portion 53 to the light space forming portion 51.

The layout shown in FIG. 1 is only an example of the present invention, and the arrangement of the light period device 100 and the dark period device 200 is arbitrary. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the light period space forming unit 51 is collected in the light period device 100, and the dark period space forming unit 53 is collected in the dark period device 200. However, the light period space forming unit 51 and the like are dispersedly arranged. You may.
For example, in an underground space such as a tunnel, there may be a safety zone or an evacuation area in a part of the main line, and the floor area may be partially widened. For example, the light period space forming unit 51 may be installed in the main line portion of the tunnel, and the dark period space forming unit 53 may be installed in the evacuation area or the like.

The light period time and the dark period time are arbitrary. However, it is desirable to set the dark period time shorter than the light period time.
In the above-described embodiment, in the cultivation tray group, the space between the light period space forming section 51 and the dark period space forming section 53 is replaced every two hours, but the replacement interval is between the light period space forming section 51 and the dark period space. It should be changed according to the number of forming parts 53.
The drainage means is not limited to the one that inclines the cultivation tray 40, and may have a structure such as pulling out a plug, for example.

17 Nutrient solution control means 31 Culture solution supply means (water supply means)
40 Cultivation tray 41 Nutrient solution storage tank 50, 90, 91 Plant cultivation device 51, 92 Light period space forming part 52 Light period side shelf member 55 Water supply means 53 Dark period space forming part 61 Lighting board (light source for growing)
67 Information recording member 81, 82.83 Water faucet (water supply means)
100 Light period device 105 Tilt device (drainage means)
200 Dark period device 300 Transport means

Claims (11)

Multiple cultivation trays, multiple light space forming parts, one or more dark space forming parts, a growing light source having the ability to generate the amount of light required for industrial growth of plants, and transport. Have a means,
The light period space forming portion and the dark period space forming portion can accommodate a plurality of cultivation trays, and can accommodate a plurality of cultivation trays.
The light period space forming portion has the growing light source, and the dark period space forming portion does not have the growing light source, or the growing light source is simplified as compared with the growing light source.
The cultivation tray held in the light period space forming portion for a certain light period time is moved to the dark period space forming portion by the transport means.
A plant cultivation apparatus characterized in that a cultivation tray held in the dark space forming portion is moved to the light space forming portion by the transport means for a certain dark period time. The cultivation tray is provided with a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, and the light stage space forming portion has a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray.
The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dark space forming portion has no water supply means, or the water supply means is simplified as compared with the light period space forming portion. The cultivation tray is provided with a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, and the cultivation tray that has been retained in the light period space forming portion for a certain light period time is discharged from the light period space forming portion and described as described above. Introduced to the dark space formation part,
There is a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray between the end of the light space forming portion and / or from the light space forming portion to the dark space forming portion, and the dark space forming portion is provided. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray between the end portion and / or the light period space forming portion and the dark period space forming portion. .. The cultivation tray is provided with a storage tank portion for storing the culture solution, and the cultivation tray that has been retained in the dark period space forming portion for a certain dark period time is discharged from the dark period space forming portion. Introduced in the light space formation part,
There is a drainage means for draining the culture solution in the cultivation tray between the end of the dark space forming portion and / or from the dark space forming portion to the light space forming portion, and the light space forming portion. The present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is a water supply means for supplying water to the cultivation tray between the end portion and / or the dark period space forming portion and the light period space forming portion. Plant cultivation equipment. The light period space forming portion has a carbon dioxide concentration controlling means, and the dark period space forming portion has no carbon dioxide concentration controlling means, or the carbon dioxide concentration controlling means source is simplified as compared with the growing light source. The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant cultivation apparatus is characterized in that. The present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the total amount of cultivation trays that can be accommodated in all dark space forming portions is smaller than the total amount of cultivation trays that can be accommodated in all light period space forming portions. Plant cultivation equipment. The plant cultivation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plant cultivation has a plurality of dark space forming portions, and the total number of dark space forming portions is smaller than the total number of light space forming portions. apparatus. A plurality of the light period space forming portions are installed in a plurality of stages in the height direction, the dark period space forming portions are provided in a plurality of stages, and the dark period space forming portions are also installed in a plurality of stages in the height direction. The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plant cultivation apparatus is characterized in that. A group of trays is formed by a plurality of cultivation trays, and there are a plurality of the tray groups.
Some trays are housed in separate light space formations, and some other trays are housed in dark space formations.
The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each tray group is moved by shifting the start time of the light period time and / or the start time of the dark period time for each tray group. The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the cultivation trays is provided with a recording means or an identification means. A plant production method comprising using the plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images