JP2901601B1 - Plant growing container and plant growing system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to supply a nutrient solution evenly to a plant medium in a number of containers without spilling the nutrient solution outside the container. A nutrient solution is supplied to a medium 7 supported on a porous medium support 4 inserted into a main body 2 of each plant cultivation container 1 until the nutrient solution is evenly distributed. However, the nutrient solution is sucked through the float valve 6. When the liquid absorption is completed, the float 6B of the float valve 6
Descends and naturally closes. In a system having a large number of containers 1, the float valve 6 is sequentially closed on the container 1 for which suction has been completed, so that air does not enter the vacuum path.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation container and a plant cultivation system having a plurality of the plant cultivation containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a plant cultivation container in which a container body is filled with a medium such as rock wool or vermiculite, a nutrient solution supply pipe is inserted above the medium, and a dry / wet sensor is inserted into the medium. I was In the above-mentioned plant cultivation container, the humidity in the culture medium is measured by a dry / wet sensor, and when the moisture in the culture medium evaporates and the humidity becomes a predetermined level or less, the valve of the nutrient solution supply pipe is opened and the culture medium is opened. Supply nutrient solution.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional container for cultivating plants, the nutrient solution in the medium is not evenly distributed, and if the nutrient components in the medium are unbalanced and the plants do not grow smoothly. There was a problem to say. In order to spread the nutrient solution evenly in the medium, a large amount of nutrient solution is supplied into the container body to sufficiently penetrate the medium, and excess nutrient solution is withdrawn by overflowing the nutrient solution. A method is conceivable. However, according to the overflow, there is a problem that the nutrient solution spills on the floor and the nutrient solution is not smoothly extracted from the culture medium.

[0004]

According to the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, a porous medium support (4) is inserted into the inside of a container body (2), and the support is placed on the support (4). The medium
(7) and a nutrient solution supply pipe above the medium (7).
(8), and the container body (2) is provided below the support (4).
From the outside of the vacuum device (22,2) via the float valve (6)
3) Plant cultivation container connected to the liquid absorption pipe (6) connected to
(1), wherein the porous medium support (4) is preferably a cage. Further, the present invention provides a plant cultivation system comprising a plurality of the plant cultivation containers (1), wherein the liquid absorbing pipe (6) of each container (1) is connected to a common vacuum system (22, 23). The nutrient solution supply pipe (8) of each container (1) is desirably connected to a common system of nutrient solution supply sources.

[0005]

[Function] Nutrient supply pipe to medium (7) in container body (2)
From (8), the nutrient solution S is supplied to the medium (7) so as to be evenly distributed, and the medium (7) is sufficiently penetrated into the medium (7). The excess nutrient solution S is transferred to the float valve below the medium (7).
The float (6B) is floated by the nutrient solution S, the float valve (6) is opened, and the container body is opened.
(2) The nutrient solution S inside is sucked by a vacuum device (22,23).
(5) is sucked. When a predetermined amount of the nutrient solution S in the container body (2) is sucked, the float (6B) floated by the nutrient solution S sinks, and when the float valve (6) is closed, the suction of the nutrient solution is stopped.

In the plant cultivation system having a plurality of the plant cultivation containers (1), a vacuum device connected to the liquid absorbing pipe (5) is used.
(22, 23) is used as one system common to each container (1) to facilitate management and maintenance. In this system, the supply of the nutrient solution and the suction of the nutrient solution to each plant cultivation container (1) are not uniform depending on the position. However, since the float valve (6) of the container (1) for which the nutrient solution has been sucked is closed one after another, the liquid suction pipe
Air does not enter (5), and vacuum is effectively applied to the suction pipe (5) to the end.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS.
(2) a cage body (4) which is a porous medium support inserted into the container body (2) and supported by a step (3) of an inner peripheral wall of the container body (2); The liquid absorbing pipe (5) communicating with the bottom of (2) and the basket at the bottom of the container body (2).
And a float valve (6) arranged above the liquid absorbing pipe (5) below (4), and a medium (7) such as rock wool or vermiculite is filled in the basket (4). A nutrient solution supply pipe (8) is provided at the top. The valve used in this system is an automatic opening / closing valve such as a motor valve or an electromagnetic valve.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plant cultivation containers (1) are arranged in large numbers, for example, divided into groups of 1 to 10, and the nutrient solution supply pipes (8) of the containers (1) of each group are arranged. Is the main nutrient solution supply route from the nutrient solution supply source (9)
Each branch path (11) branched from the valve via a valve (10)
To each group via a distribution path (12).
The liquid suction pipe (5) is connected via a communication path (16) to each branch path (15) branched from the main vacuum path (13) via a valve (14).

The main vacuum path (13) has a nutrient solution separation tank (17)
Are interposed, filters (18, 19) before and after the tank (17).
The terminal is branched into two stages and connected via a valve (20, 21) to two vacuum pumps (22, 23) constituting a vacuum device. Valve from the bottom of the nutrient solution separation tank (17)
A drain pipe (24) with (25) is sent out, and a vacuum gauge (2
6) and a water level sensor (27), and a valve (2
An overflow pipe (28) with 9) is connected.

The float valve (6) comprises a perforated tank (6A) and a float (6B) disposed in the perforated tank (6A) as shown in FIG. The float (6B) is made of a material lighter than the specific gravity of the nutrient solution S (usually 1), for example, plastic foam, cork or the like.

In the above construction, the culture medium (7) of each cage (4)
The plant P is cultivated by planting in the basket.
Are germinated and grown in a nursery to produce seedlings.
Place (4) in each container (1). During cultivation in each container (1), the valve (10) is periodically opened to open the nutrient solution supply pipe (8) through the main nutrient solution supply path (9), the branch path (11), and the distribution path (12). Supply the nutrient solution S to the culture medium (7). The nutrient solution S is water in which fertilizers, plant nutrients and the like are dissolved, and may be simply water depending on the type or state of the plant.

In each container (1), the nutrient solution S is filled in a cage (4).
After evenly spreading the medium (7) inside, the container body (2)
Run down to the bottom of the. As shown in FIG. 3, the nutrient solution S that has flowed down to the bottom of the container body (2) is supplied to the porous tank (6) of the float valve (6).
A), the nutrient liquid level in the perforated tank (6A) rises, the float (6B) floats, and the float valve (6) is opened.

With the float valve (6) open, the valve (20) or the valve (21) is opened, the vacuum pump (22) or the vacuum pump (23) is operated, and the valves (25, 29) are closed and the valve (25, 29) is closed. (14) is opened and the nutrient solution S of each container (1) is sucked through the connection path (16), the branch path (15), and the main vacuum path (13).
(5) to the filter (18) through the main vacuum path (13).
The nutrient solution S is filtered and stored in a nutrient solution separation tank (17) or drained through a drain pipe (24). When the nutrient solution S at the bottom of the container body (2) decreases, the nutrient solution level in the porous tank (6A) decreases as shown in FIG.
B) descends and closes the liquid absorbing pipe (5) to be in a closed state.

The nutrient solution supply state and the liquid absorption state are determined in each container (1).
Is not uniform depending on the position, for example, the distance from the nutrient solution supply source or the vacuum device, or the height. Therefore, the end point of the liquid absorption is not uniform for each container (1). However, since the float valve (6) is sequentially closed from the container (1) that has finished absorbing liquid, air does not enter the main vacuum path (13) from the container (1), and the vacuum pump (22) or the vacuum pump (23) is closed. The suction according to ()) is performed efficiently until the end.

In the present embodiment, two vacuum pumps are arranged in one system of vacuum equipment so that one of them can absorb liquid even during failure or repair.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In the plant cultivation container (31) of the present embodiment, the container body (32)
A mesh (34) as a perforated plate is stretched at the bottom of the container, a medium (37) is supported on the mesh (34), and a lower liquid absorbing pipe (35) at the bottom of the container body (32) is further provided. A float valve (36) is interposed between the two.

The float valve (36) of this embodiment has a cylindrical body (36).
A) and a float (36B) disposed in the cylindrical body (36A).
The nutrient solution in the container body (32) flows into the cylinder (36A) of the float valve (36) via the liquid absorption pipe (35),
The float (36B) moves up and down according to the nutrient solution level in the cylinder (36A) to open and close the float valve (36).

[0018]

According to the container for cultivating plants of the present invention, the float valve is opened in a state where the nutrient solution is supplied in a sufficient amount to evenly spread in the culture medium, and the nutrient solution does not overflow from the bottom of the container body without overflowing. The nutrient solution does not spill on the floor because vacuum suction is performed by the liquid suction pipe. Further, even in a system in which a plurality of the containers are arranged, it is possible to efficiently perform the vacuum suction of the nutrient solution. Further, the float valve has a simple structure and can be provided at a low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional side view

Fig. 2 Plant cultivation system diagram

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a float valve in an open state;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a float valve in a closed state.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory side sectional view of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,31 Vegetable cultivation container 2,32 Container body 4 Basket (perforated plate) 34 Net (perforated plate) 5,35 Liquid absorption pipe 6,36 Float valve 7,37 Medium 8 Nutrient solution supply pipe 9 Main nutrient solution supply path 13 Main vacuum path 22,23 Vacuum pump

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hironori Yamade 4-1-1 Akatsukidai, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 78 (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A01G 31/00 601 A01G 27 / 00 502

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A porous medium support is inserted into a container body, a medium is supported on the support, a nutrient solution supply pipe is inserted above the medium, and the container is provided below the support. A plant cultivation container having a liquid absorbing pipe connected to a vacuum device via a float valve from outside the main body. 2. The container for cultivating plants according to claim 1, wherein said porous medium support is a cage. 3. A plant cultivation system comprising a plurality of the plant cultivation containers according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a liquid suction pipe of each container is connected to a common vacuum system. 4. The plant cultivation system according to claim 3, wherein the nutrient solution supply pipe of each container is connected to a common one-system nutrient solution supply source.