JP5456605B2 - Plant cultivation machine with simplified hygiene management and cleaning method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivating machine used for cultivating plants in a cultivation room of a plant factory, for example, and in particular, the present invention is for maintaining a cultivation tank for cultivating a plant by immersing the plant in a hydroponic solution. The present invention relates to a plant cultivation machine that simplifies hygiene management of a suitable structure and a cleaning method for a plant cultivation machine that simplifies hygiene management for keeping a cultivation tank hygienic.

  Conventionally, as a typical plant cultivating machine, there are those in which a cultivation tank for cultivating a plant such as vegetables in a hydroponic liquid is provided in multiple stages, and the plant is directed above the cultivation tank in each stage. An illumination device for irradiating light is installed. In this type of plant cultivating machine, a sheet made of synthetic resin (hereinafter referred to as “resin sheet”) is attached to the upper surface of each cultivation tank and the inner surface of the tank in order to prevent leakage of the hydroponic liquid in each cultivation tank. It has been proposed to cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 58-158114 A

  In this type of conventional plant cultivating machine, the bottom of the cultivation tank is provided with a drainage of hydroponic liquid, and after introducing the hydroponic liquid extracted from this sampling port into an external tank and adjusting the nutrients, the water The cultivation liquid is sent to the cultivation tank and circulated. The resin sheet placed on the cultivation tank has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to the extraction opening of the cultivation tank, and the hydroponic liquid flowing out of the through hole is between the resin sheet and the bottom of the cultivation tank. In order to prevent entry into the gap, caulking is applied to the entrance portion of the gap around the through hole.

  Hydroponics contains nutrients essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium, and because the light from the lighting device is directly applied, algae and fungi are generated on the resin sheet. It is easy to do and tends to become unsanitary. In addition, the resin sheet may deteriorate due to long-term use, and liquid leakage may occur. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the resin sheet with a new one periodically.

  However, in the plant cultivation machine configured as described above, the components of the caulking material are dissolved in the hydroponic liquid and not only adversely affect the plant, but also when removing the old resin sheet, the work of removing the caulking material is also possible, When a new resin sheet is mounted, a work of caulking is required, and there is a problem that it takes time to replace the resin sheet.

  This invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the structure of the caulking material can be dissolved in the hydroponic liquid by making the structure that can eliminate the coking process when the resin sheet is attached to the cultivation tank. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant cultivating machine and a cleaning method for the same that do not adversely affect the plant and simplify hygiene management in which a cleaning operation including replacement of a resin sheet can be easily performed.

  The plant cultivating machine with simplified hygiene management according to the present invention is adjacent to a cultivation tank for cultivating a plant by immersing the plant in a hydroponic liquid, and has a bowl-like shape for receiving a hydroponic liquid to be discharged from the cultivation tank. The drainage tank is disposed in a detachable state, and the upper surface of the cultivation tank and the upper surface of the drainage tank are covered with a series of synthetic resin sheets along the inner surface of each tank. The wall adjacent to the drainage tank of the cultivation tank overflows the hydroponic liquid to the drainage tank, and the edge of the bottom of the cultivation tank drains the hydroponic liquid led to the bottom of the sheet during cleaning A drainage port to which a drainage pipe is connected is formed on the bottom surface of the drainage tank. The drainage pipe communicates with a hydroponic liquid tank for adjusting nutrients in the hydroponic liquid and circulating it to the cultivation tank.

As the hydroponic liquid is supplied to the cultivation tank, the hydroponic liquid overflows from the overflow section of the cultivation tank to the drainage tank. The hydroponic liquid received in the drainage tank is guided to the drainage port and discharged from the drainage port to the drainage pipe. Since the drainage pipe communicates with the hydroponic liquid tank, the hydroponic liquid discharged from the drainage port is guided to the hydroponic liquid tank. In the hydroponics tank, the nutrients are adjusted and then sent to the cultivation tank for circulation.
In the plant cultivation tank that simplifies the hygiene management described above, the hydroponic liquid overflows and circulates to the drainage tank adjacent to the cultivation tank. There is no need to caulk, and the components of the caulking material do not dissolve into the hydroponic liquid. Further, it is not necessary to remove or install the caulking material when exchanging the resin sheet. Moreover, since the drainage tank is removed and cleaned, a cleaning operation including exchanging the resin sheet can be easily performed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cultivation tank has a rectangular planar shape, and preferably a drainage tank is disposed adjacent to one short side of the cultivation tank having such a shape. Or arranged adjacent to both short sides. In the case of the former, the hydroponic liquid supply part for supplying the hydroponic liquid sent from the hydroponic liquid tank to the cultivation tank is disposed on one long side and near the other short side. Is desirable. In the latter case, it is desirable to arrange the hydroponic liquid supply unit at the center position on one long side.
According to said embodiment, it is prevented that the hydroponic liquid supplied from the hydroponic liquid supply part stops in the specific area | region in a cultivation tank, or is discharged | emitted before spreading widely in a cultivation tank. The nutrients in the cultivating solution are effectively and reliably given to all the plants in the cultivation tank.

Moreover, in the preferable embodiment of this invention, the said overflow part supplies the hydroponic liquid sent from a hydroponic liquid tank to a cultivation tank among the both ends of the wall adjacent to the drainage tank of a cultivation tank. For this reason, it is formed at a position where the distance from the position where the hydroponic liquid supply section for the position is far away from the end on the far side.
According to this embodiment, the hydroponic liquid supplied from the hydroponic liquid supply section is prevented from overflowing from the overflow section before reaching the cultivation tank.

  The cleaning method of the plant cultivation machine which simplified sanitary management by this invention extracts the hydroponic liquid in a cultivation tank from a discharge port by forming a through-hole in the position corresponding to the discharge port of the cultivation tank of the resin sheet. A step, a step of winding and removing the resin sheet from a position opposite to the position of the through-hole, a step of removing the drainage tank and cleaning, and then disposing the cleaned drainage tank adjacent to the cultivation tank And a step of covering the upper surface of the cultivation tank and the upper surface of the drainage tank with a new resin sheet in series with the inner surface of each tank to sequentially clean the plant cultivation machine.

  According to this invention, the cultivation tank is not wetted or soiled more than necessary, the resin sheet can be efficiently removed and replaced with a new resin sheet, and plant cultivation can be resumed quickly.

  According to this invention, when the resin sheet is attached to the cultivation tank, the caulking process is unnecessary, and the components of the caulking material are not dissolved in the hydroponic liquid and adversely affect the plant. Moreover, the cleaning operation including the replacement of the resin sheet can be performed efficiently and easily.

It is a front view which shows the whole structure of the plant cultivation machine which simplified hygiene management which is one Example of this invention. It is a front view which expands and shows the one side edge part of the plant cultivation machine of FIG. It is a side view which expands and shows the height center part of the plant cultivation machine of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the longitudinal direction of a cultivation tank. It is sectional drawing of the cultivation tank in alignment with the direction orthogonal to FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the circulation path | route of a hydroponic liquid. It is a top view which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning of a drainage tank and a hydroponic liquid supply part. It is a side view of the cultivation tank which expands and shows an overflow part.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a plant cultivating machine that simplifies hygiene management according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 further illustrate one end of the plant cultivating machine. The configuration is shown enlarged.
The plant cultivation machine which simplified the hygiene management of the example of illustration is provided with the fixed stand 1 which supports the cultivation tank 2 for cultivating by immersing a plant in a hydroponic solution horizontally over several steps. A plurality of lifting platforms 3 are arranged side by side in parallel with the fixed table 1 above the cultivation tank 2 of each stage.

  The fixed bases 1 at each stage are integrally attached to and fixed to a plurality of columns 10 that are vertically provided on the front side and the rear side, respectively, and front and rear frame members 11A and 11B (shown in FIG. 5). And the left and right frame members 11C and 11D (shown in FIG. 4) are provided at regular intervals between the rectangular frame 11 and the front frame member 11A and the rear frame member 11B. It consists of a plurality of intermediate frame members 12.

  On the fixed base 1 of each stage, the cultivation tank 2 having a rectangular planar shape is supported horizontally. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a resin sheet 6 is covered in series on the upper surface of each cultivation tank 2 and the upper surface of a drainage tank 4 described later so as to follow the inner surface of each tank. The resin sheet 6 covers the entire top surface of the cultivation tank 2, and the hydroponic solution is filled on the resin sheet 6 inside the cultivation tank 2. This hydroponic liquid contains nutrients essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium, and is supplied from the hydroponic liquid supply unit 7.

  The cultivation tank 2 includes a bottom plate portion 20, a front wall portion 2 a, a rear wall portion 2 b, and end wall portions 22, 22 along the periphery of the bottom plate portion 20. The upper surface of the cultivation tank 2 is opened, and the front wall portion 2a and the rear wall portion 2b are bent at their upper edges outward to form flanges 21a and 21b having a predetermined width. The bottom plate portion 20 is provided with a discharge port 24 for removing the hydroponic liquid at the time of cleaning at the end position on the one end wall portion 22 side. In addition, the discharge port 24 is covered with the resin sheet 6 and closed with a stopper during normal times. A liquid storage box 71 constituting the hydroponic liquid supply unit 7 is installed at the center of the length on the flange 21b on the rear side.

  This liquid storage box 71 is for temporarily storing the hydroponic liquid and discharging it into the cultivation tank 2 from a lower outlet (not shown). As shown in FIG. Hydroponic liquid is supplied from 70. In the hydroponic liquid tank 8 shown in FIG. 6, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium are adjusted, and the hydroponic liquid is sucked up from the hydroponic liquid tank 8 by the pump 81 and sent to each supply pipe 70. On the other hand, since the hydroponic liquid discharged from the drainage tank 4 of each stage to be described later is collected and sent to the hydroponic liquid tank 8, the hydroponic liquid is being replenished with nutrients in the hydroponic liquid tank 8. Circulate the above path. In the figure, reference numeral 44 denotes a hydroponic solution recovery pipe that communicates with the lowermost drainage tank 4.

  Returning to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a plurality of synthetic resin cultivation panels 25 are arranged in the cultivation tank 2 so as to be vertically and horizontally aligned in a floating state on the hydroponic liquid. Each cultivation panel 25 has a rectangular planar shape, and a plurality of planting portions 26 are provided on the upper surface in a state of being vertically and horizontally aligned. The plant f is planted in each planting portion 26 while being supported by a support 27 such as urethane, and grows in a state where the root portion is immersed in the hydroponic liquid.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the end wall portions 22, 22 of the cultivation tank 2 is formed with an overflow portion 23 in which the hydroponic liquid in the cultivation tank 2 gets over the end wall portion 22 and overflows. The overflow part 23 of this Example is formed so that the upper end edge of the end wall part 22 of the cultivation tank 2 may incline gradually lower toward the center part, as shown in FIG. In order to position the overflow part 23 as far as possible from the storage box 71 with respect to the storage box 71 of the hydroponic liquid supply part 7 installed on the flange 21b at the rear part of the cultivation tank 2, the lowermost part of the slope Is offset to the front wall 2a side of the cultivation tank 2. The overflow portion 23 may be formed by partially cutting the upper end of the end wall portion 22 of the cultivation tank 2.

  The hydroponic liquid overflowing from each overflow portion 23 of the cultivation tank 2 is received by the drainage tanks 4, 4 disposed adjacent to both end wall portions 22, 22 of the cultivation tank 2. Each drainage tank 4 is detachably mounted on a plurality of support fittings 41 projecting outward from both end wall portions 22, 22 of the cultivation tank 2.

The drainage tank 4 is a rod-like body having a length larger than the front-rear width of the cultivation tank 2, and the front and rear end surfaces are closed. The bottom surface of the drainage tank 4 is inclined lower from the front side (the front wall part 2a side of the cultivation tank 2) to the rear side (the rear wall part 2b side of the cultivation tank 2). A drainage port 42 for discharging the cultivation liquid is formed. The hydroponic liquid in the drainage tank 4 is led to a drainage pipe 43 connected to the drainage port 42. The drainage pipes 43 of each stage except the lowest stage extend into the drainage tank 4 immediately below, and the lower ends thereof are opened directly above the drainage port 42. The lowermost drainage pipe 43 is connected to a collection pipe 44 that communicates with the hydroponic liquid tank 8.

  In addition, in this Example, the cultivation tank 2 has a rectangular planar shape, and the drainage tanks 4 and 4 are disposed on both short sides, that is, adjacent to the end wall portions 22 and 22, respectively. The hydroponic liquid supply unit 7 is arranged at the central position on one long side, that is, on the central part on the rear flange 21b, but as shown in FIG. The drainage tank 4 is disposed on the side, that is, adjacent to the end wall portion 22, and the water is placed at positions P1 and P2 on one long side and near the other short side, or at a position P3 on the other short side. You may arrange | position the cultivation liquid supply part 7. FIG.

  In any embodiment, the hydroponic liquid supplied from the hydroponic liquid supply unit 7 is stopped in a specific area in the cultivation tank 2 or discharged to the drainage tank 4 before it is widely distributed in the cultivation tank 2. And the nutrients in the hydroponic liquid are effectively and reliably supplied to the plant f.

  The elevator 3 is formed of a plurality of frame members, and three elevators 3 are arranged side by side for each stage. Each lifting platform 3 of each stage is supported at a position above the fixed platform 1 so as to be movable up and down by an individual lifting mechanism 5 in parallel with the fixed platform 1. Each elevating mechanism 5 is attached to a longitudinally symmetrical position across the position of the center of gravity of the elevating table 3, and the elevating table 3 moves up and down by manual operation with an operation handle (not shown).

  A positioning plate 51 is vertically installed at each vertical position of the support column 10, and a stopper 52 is attached and fixed at the same height position of each positioning plate 51. After the stoppers 52 are positioned and fixed to the four positioning plates 51 at the front, rear, and left and right, the lifting platform 3 is raised or lowered. When the upper surface or the lower surface of the lifting platform 3 hits all the stoppers 52, the lifting platform 3 is positioned in a horizontal state.

  On each lifting platform 3, a lighting device 9 for irradiating light toward the plant f planted in each cultivation panel 25 in the cultivation tank 2 and the plant f planted in each cultivation panel 25. And an air supply mechanism 91 for supplying various gases such as carbon dioxide. The illuminating device 9 of this embodiment uses a plurality of light sources such as fluorescent lamps 90 and LEDs on the same plane of the lower surface of each lifting platform 3 so that light is irradiated to all the cultivation panels 25 in the cultivation tank 2. It is configured to be attached over the entire length at equal intervals. The air supply mechanism 91 of each elevator 3 communicates with a supply source (not shown) of various gases such as carbon dioxide.

  In the plant cultivation machine which simplified the hygiene management of the above-described configuration, when the hydroponic liquid is supplied from the hydroponic liquid supply unit 7 onto the resin sheet 6 inside the cultivation tank 2, the hydroponics in the supplied hydroponic liquid Nutrients are ingested by the plant f. With the supply from the hydroponic liquid supply unit 7, the hydroponic liquid inside the cultivation tank 2 overflows from the overflow parts 23 at both ends of the cultivation tank 2 and is received by the drainage tanks 4 and 4 at both ends. The hydroponic liquid received in each drainage tank 4 flows through the drainage tank 4, is guided to the drainage port 42, and is discharged from the drainage port 42 to the drainage pipe 43. Since the drainage pipes 43 of each stage except the lowermost stage communicate with the drainage tank 4 directly below, the lowermost drainage pipe 43 is connected to the recovery pipe 44 that communicates with the hydroponic liquid tank 8. Hydroponic liquid flowing down the drainage pipe 43 at each stage is collected and guided to the hydroponic liquid tank 8 through the collection pipe 44. After the nutrients are adjusted in the hydroponic liquid tank 8, the hydroponic liquid in the hydroponic liquid tank 8 is sucked up by the pump 81 and supplied from the liquid supply pipe 70 to the liquid storage box 71 of the cultivation tank 2 of each stage. .

  In order to clean the plant cultivator, first, a through hole is formed at a position corresponding to the outlet 24 of the cultivating tank 2 of the resin sheet 6 placed on the cultivating tank 2 of each stage, and then the water in the cultivating tank 2 is used. The cultivating liquid is extracted from the outlet 24. Next, after removing the resin sheet 6 by winding it from the side opposite to the position of the through hole for each step, the drainage tanks 4 and 4 at both ends are removed and cleaned. After each drainage tank 4 after cleaning is disposed adjacent to the cultivation tank 2, a new resin sheet 6 is attached to the upper surface of the cultivation tank 2 and the upper surface of the drainage tank 4 along the inner surface of each tank. To complete the cleaning.

  In the plant cultivation tank that simplifies the sanitary management described above, the hydroponics liquid overflows and circulates in the drainage tank 4 adjacent to the cultivation tank 2, so that, as in the conventional one, There is no need to provide caulking by connecting through holes, and the components of the caulking material do not melt into the hydroponic liquid. Further, it is not necessary to remove or install the caulking material when replacing the resin sheet, and the drainage pipe 4 is removed and cleaned, so that the cleaning operation including the replacement of the resin sheet 6 can be easily performed.

2 Cultivation tank 4 Drainage tank 6 Resin sheet 7 Hydroponic liquid supply part 8 Hydroponic liquid tank 23 Overflow part 24 Drainage port 42 Drainage port 43 Drainage pipe

Claims (5)

  Adjacent to the cultivation tank for cultivating the plant by immersing the plant in hydroponic liquid, a bowl-shaped drainage tank for receiving the hydroponic liquid to be discharged from the cultivation tank is disposed in a removable state. The upper surface of the cultivation tank and the upper surface of the drainage tank are covered with a series of synthetic resin sheets along the inner surface of each tank, and hydroponics is drained on the wall adjacent to the drainage tank of the cultivation tank An overflow port for discharging the hydroponic liquid led to the bottom of the sheet at the time of cleaning is formed at the overflow position of the overflow portion and the bottom surface of the cultivation tank at the bottom of the drainage tank. A drainage port to which a drainage pipe is connected is formed, and the drainage pipe is connected to a hydroponic liquid tank for adjusting nutrients in the hydroponic liquid and circulating it to the cultivation tank. A plant cultivation machine with simplified management.   The cultivation tank has a rectangular planar shape, a drainage tank is disposed adjacent to one short side, and is located on one long side and close to the other short side. The plant cultivation machine which simplified the hygiene management described in Claim 1 with which the hydroponic liquid supply part for supplying the hydroponic liquid sent from a liquid tank to a cultivation tank is arrange | positioned.   The cultivation tank has a rectangular planar shape, and a drainage tank is disposed adjacent to both short sides, and is sent from the hydroponic liquid tank to a central position on one long side. The plant cultivation machine which simplified the hygiene management described in Claim 1 by which the hydroponic liquid supply part for supplying the coming hydroponic liquid to a cultivation tank is arrange | positioned.   The overflow part is provided with a hydroponic liquid supply part for supplying hydroponic liquid sent from the hydroponic liquid tank to the cultivation tank among both ends of the wall adjacent to the drainage tank of the cultivation tank. The plant cultivation machine which simplified hygiene management according to claim 1, wherein the hygiene management is formed at a position where the distance between the positions is shifted to an end on the far side.   It is a method of cleaning the plant cultivation machine which simplified the hygiene management described in any one of Claims 1-4, Comprising: A through-hole is formed in the position corresponding to the outlet of the cultivation tank of the sheet made of the above-mentioned synthetic resin And removing the hydroponic liquid in the cultivation tank from the outlet, removing the sheet from the side opposite to the position of the through hole, removing the drainage tank, cleaning, and then draining after cleaning. Plant cultivation by sequentially performing a step of arranging a liquid tank adjacent to the cultivation tank and a step of covering the upper surface of the cultivation tank and the upper surface of the drainage tank with a new resin sheet along the inner surface of each tank. Cleaning method of plant cultivation machine which simplified hygiene management characterized by cleaning machine.

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