JP6039519B2 - Hydroponics equipment - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a hydroponic apparatus Ru is grown in culture plants.

  There is a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that floats a cultivation container holding a plant to be grown in a state where roots are immersed in the culture solution in a water channel through which the culture solution is circulated, and moves the cultivation container on the flow of the culture solution. This hydroponic cultivation apparatus includes a stirring unit having a blade that is rotationally driven by a motor in order to generate a flow in the water channel. The agitation unit is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the water channel, and refluxes the culture solution along the rotation direction of the blade.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-946

  When a plant is planted, there is a difference in growth depending on the light irradiation direction, irradiation amount, and irradiation time. Therefore, a method of moving the position of the light source is also known in order to make the light hitting degree uniform for the planted plants.

  The same applies to the case of growing a plant while moving it along a water channel in hydroponics, and it is desirable to shine light uniformly on the plant. However, even when the cultivation container floated on the culture solution is circulated as described above, the orientation of the plant does not always change so that the light is evenly applied. As a result, if plant growth is biased, the cultivation container floated on the culture solution may tilt depending on the position of the center of gravity of the grown plant. And by tilting, it further accelerates the bias of growth. Moreover, when moving a cultivation container along a water channel, when a cultivation container inclines, it will become difficult to move. Even when the plant grows unevenly, the cultivation container can be made larger with respect to the plant so that the buoyancy can be stabilized so that the cultivation container is not easily tilted. However, when a cultivation container is enlarged, the harvest rate with respect to the area which the apparatus for hydroponics occupies will fall.

Therefore, object of the invention to provide a leaf hydroponic apparatus that can be homogeneously illuminate the plants in hydroponic culture.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment is provided with the flow path through which a culture solution is poured, and the at least 1 cultivation container floated on the said culture solution of the said flow path. And this cultivation container is provided in the central part of the floating part which has buoyancy with respect to the culture solution, the supporting member holding at least one plant grown by the culture solution, and fixes the supporting member And an arm attached to the floating portion and extending in the radial direction of the floating portion. Moreover, the flow path of this hydroponic cultivation apparatus has a convex part which interferes with the arm of the cultivation container which moves a flow path, and rotates a cultivation container when an arm collides with a convex part.

The perspective view of the cultivation container and hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view of the cultivation container of FIG. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 2 from the bottom. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 3rd Embodiment. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 4th Embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 6 from the bottom. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 5th Embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 8 from the bottom. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 6th Embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 10 from the bottom. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 7th Embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 12 from the bottom. The perspective view of the cultivation container and hydroponics apparatus of 8th Embodiment. The perspective view of the cultivation container and hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 9th Embodiment. The perspective view of the cultivation container of 10th Embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cultivation container of FIG. 16 from the bottom. The perspective view of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 11th Embodiment. The partial perspective view of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 12th Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the flow path of the upstream of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 13th Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the flow path of the middle stream of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of FIG. Sectional drawing of the flow path of the downstream of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of FIG. The perspective view of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of 14th Embodiment.

  The cultivation container 10 of 1st Embodiment and the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 which uses this are demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 1-3. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a flow path 2 through which a culture solution B flows and a plurality of cultivation containers 10 floated on the culture solution B in the flow path 2. This hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 includes a pump 21 for flowing the culture solution B, a filter 22 for removing impurities in the culture solution B, a supply device 23 for adding nutrients to the culture solution B, the pH of the culture solution B, and the like. An adjustment device 24 that adjusts the water quality, a mooring mechanism 25 that holds the cultivation container 10 in a certain section so that the cultivation container 10 is not washed away by the flow of the culture solution B, and an illumination device that supplies light to the plant P planted in the cultivation container 10 3 and a control device 4 connected to these devices.

  The cultivation container 10 is provided with the floating part 11, the supporting member 12, the planting part 13, and the wing | blade 14 as shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3. The floating part 11 has sufficient buoyancy with respect to the culture solution B. The floating portion 11 is made of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the culture solution B, such as foamed resin such as foamed polystyrene or urethane foam, a sealed container having a hollow inside, or the opened lower portion is closed with the culture solution B. It may be a case that holds air by being peeled off. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a foamed resin 112 is filled in a ring-shaped (so-called donut-shaped) case 111 that opens downward.

  The support member 12 holds at least one plant P grown by the culture solution B. Here, “one strain” does not mean only seedlings grown from one seed, but also includes a plurality of seedlings bundled together. As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 12 is formed of a sponge-like member into which the culture solution B is immersed, and holds and holds one plant P. The support member 12 is preferably made of an antibacterial material so that germs are less likely to propagate by the soaked culture solution B. The support member 12 may be cut so as to easily sandwich the plant P, or may hold the plant P by bending or rounding a rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. Moreover, the supporting member 12 may not be comprised only by one member, for example, may hold | maintain the plant P on both sides of two members.

  The planting part 13 is provided in the center part of the floating part 11, and fixes the support member 12. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the planting part 13 is a hole penetrating the floating part 11 in the vertical direction, and the supporting member 12 may be fixed so that a part of the supporting member 12 is immersed in the culture medium B. . Therefore, the root R of the plant P extending from the support member 12 is immersed in the culture solution B.

  The wing 14 receives the fluid flowing uniformly around the floating portion 11, thereby rotating the floating portion 11 at a constant speed around a rotation axis perpendicular to the liquid surface of the culture solution B. The wing 14 is disposed at a position where at least a part of the wing 14 is submerged in the culture broth B, and rotates the floating portion 11 by the flow of the culture broth B. In the case of this embodiment, the wing | blade 14 is installed in the lower part of the floating part 11 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and the culture solution B flows horizontally along the flow path 2 as shown in FIG. The floating part 11 is rotated in response to the flow of the liquid B. Therefore, the wing | blade 14 has a shape suitable for rotating the floating part 11 because the culture solution B flows horizontally.

  In the case of this embodiment, the cultivation container 10 is provided with five wings 14 extending in the vertical direction as shown in FIGS. The shape of each wing 14 is an asymmetric wing in which an arc is gently drawn from the outer peripheral side of the floating portion 11 toward the center. In the case of the present embodiment, each wing 14 is attached so that the leading edge 141 is located on the outer peripheral side, and the wing 14 located upstream generates lift, so that it is counterclockwise (counterclockwise) when viewed from directly above. ) To gently rotate the floating portion 11, that is, the entire cultivation container 10. In this embodiment, the upper wall 113 and the outer peripheral wall 114 of the floating portion 11 are continuously formed of the same member.

  The direction in which the cultivation container 10 is rotated is not limited to the counterclockwise direction but may be clockwise. Therefore, when rotating the cultivation container 10 clockwise, the wing | blade 14 should just be provided in the shape and angle suitable for it. The number of wings 14 is not limited to five and may be four or less or six or more. Moreover, the shape of the wing | blade 14 may be a spherical surface or a triangular prism as long as it can generate the drive force which rotates the cultivation container 10 to one direction, and is not limited to what was shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. In addition, the shape of the floating portion 11 is a circle centered on the planting portion 13 in order to minimize the rotational resistance when rotating while being floated on the culture medium B, and to prevent the surroundings from being ruffled. Preferably there is.

  The cultivation container 10 configured as described above rotates at a constant speed by being floated on the culture solution B flowing through the flow path 2 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 at a constant speed. In the case of this embodiment, the flow path 2 is provided with the mooring mechanism 25 shown in FIG. 1 for every fixed area. The mooring mechanism 25 is rotatably attached to the side wall of the flow path 2, and the bar 251 that prevents the cultivation container 10 from moving along the flow path 2 and the bar 251 so that the cultivation container 10 can pass therethrough. And an actuator 252 that moves the actuator. While the bar 251 is descending, the cultivation container 10 on the upstream side of the bar 251 rotates on the spot.

  The lighting device 3 is disposed above the flow path 2 and emits light necessary for promoting the growth of the plant P held in the cultivation container 10, for example, light having a wavelength necessary for photosynthesis. . A section in which the cultivation container 10 is not moored may be provided in a part of the flow path 2, and the lighting device 3 that irradiates ultraviolet rays for sterilization may be installed.

  The control device 4 drives the pump 21 to circulate the culture solution B at a constant flow rate in the flow path 2. Further, the control device 4 monitors the components and pH of the culture solution B, and periodically adjusts the state of the culture solution B by supplying nutrients from the supply device 23 and drugs from the adjustment device 24, respectively. The light quantity of the lighting device 3 is controlled in accordance with the growth of the plant P.

  This hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 can apply light uniformly to each leaf L of the plant P grown in the cultivation container 10 by using the cultivation container 10 provided with the wings 14. Therefore, the plant P tends to grow evenly from the position where the plant P is initially held in a seedling state, and there is no inclination that prevents the cultivation container 10 from rotating by growing. As a result, the rotation of the cultivation container 10 can be maintained, and light can continue to be applied uniformly while the plant P grows.

  In addition, since hydroponics grows the plant P with the culture solution B, it is not exposed to the agrochemicals for weeding and pest control, and the microbe which exists in the soil. In addition, since it can be prevented from touching as much as possible, hygiene management is easy. Therefore, it is suitable for cultivation of vegetables that are harvested and used for food after washing as they are.

  Below, the cultivation container 10 and the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 2nd to 14th embodiment are demonstrated. In each embodiment, the structure which has the same function as the cultivation container 10 and hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol in description of each embodiment, and its corresponding figure, and is detailed description. Is omitted, and the corresponding description of the first embodiment is referred to as necessary. In addition, the cultivation container 10 in each of the following embodiments or the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 using the same has at least the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and exhibits the same effects between components that are common to each other. To do.

  The cultivation container 10 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. The cultivation container 10 of 2nd Embodiment has the cylinder part 15 extended from the floating part 11 below. The tube portion 15 bundles the roots R of the plant P extending from the planting portion 13 into the culture solution B so as not to spread too much. Moreover, since the cylinder part 15 has a clearance gap with respect to the surrounding wing | blade 14, the flow of the culture solution B around the cylinder part 15 is stabilized. That is, the cylinder part 15 functions also as a stabilizer which stabilizes the attitude | position of the floating part 11, ie, the cultivation container 10. As shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the cultivation container 10 of the first embodiment.

  Since the cultivation container 10 of the second embodiment has the tube portion 15, the flow resistance in the culture solution B is constant unless the root R of the plant P extends longer than the tube portion 15. As a result, the rotation of the cultivation container 10 is stabilized, and light can be uniformly applied to each leaf L of the plant P. As a result, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 that uses the cultivation container 10 is less likely to be biased in the growth of the plant P, as in the first embodiment.

  In addition, the spiral vane which is provided in the inner wall of the cylinder part 15 and sucks the culture solution B from the lower end of the cylinder part 15 so that the culture solution B in the cylinder part 15 circulates when the cultivation container 10 rotates, and In addition, each of the outlets for discharging the culture solution B sucked up to the upper part of the cylindrical portion 15 may be provided. Further, the tip (lower end) of the wing 14 extending from the lower surface of the cultivation container 10 may be connected to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 15.

  The cultivation container 10 of 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. The cultivation container 10 of 3rd Embodiment has the cylinder part 15 similarly to the cylinder part 15 of the cultivation container 10 of 2nd Embodiment, as shown in FIG. It has a permeation hole 151 through which the culture solution B passes. Instead of providing the transmission hole 151, the cylindrical portion 15 may be formed of a net-like member.

  By having the permeation holes 151, the culture solution B can easily flow into the inside of the cylindrical portion 15, and the nutrients of the culture solution B can be distributed evenly to the roots R of the plant P. Therefore, since the cultivation container 10 is rotated and the leaves L of the plant P are uniformly irradiated with light, and the culture solution B is sufficiently supplied to the root R, it is difficult to cause a bias in the process of growing the plant P. Easy to grow.

  The cultivation container 10 of 4th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7. In the cultivation container 10 of the fourth embodiment, the wings 14 are fixed in parallel to the cylindrical portion 15. At this time, the upper end of the wing 14 may be connected to the lower portion of the floating portion 11. The cultivation container 10 of this embodiment receives the culture solution B which flows along the flow path 2 with the wing | blade 14 similarly to the case of 1st Embodiment, and rotates the floating part 11, ie, cultivation container 10 itself. Since the wings 14 are attached to the tube portion 15, even when cultivating the plant P that extends the leaf L high above the floating portion 11, the position of the center of gravity can be lowered, so that the cultivation container 10 can be prevented from tilting. it can.

  The cultivation container 10 of 5th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.8 and FIG.9. In the cultivation container 10 of the fifth embodiment, the wing 14 extends downward from the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the floating portion 11. The cultivation container 10 of this embodiment has increased the number of the wing | blades 14 instead of the width | variety of the wing | blade 14 smaller than the wing | blade 14 of the cultivation container 10 of 1st Embodiment in the radial direction of the circular floating part 11. FIG. Further, the lower ends of the blades 14 are connected by an annular stabilizer 16 arranged along a plane perpendicular to the rotation center of the floating portion 11 so that the blades 14 do not vibrate. The stabilizer 16 also contributes to stabilize the posture of the floating part 11. The stabilizer 16 may be joined to the cylindrical portion 15.

  The cultivation container 10 rotates in response to the flow of the culture solution B that flows horizontally along the flow path 2 and grows from the bottom of the flow path 2 to the water surface, like the cultivation containers 10 of the first to fourth embodiments. It can rotate by receiving the flow of the culture solution B forcedly convected in the direction toward the floating part 11 floating on the surface. That is, the cultivation container 10 is rotated by the culture solution B flowing as shown by an arrow B1 shown in FIG. 8, and is also rotated by the culture solution B flowing as shown by an arrow B2 shown in FIG.

  The flow of the culture solution B along the arrow B2 in FIG. 9 may be created by the culture solution B supplied from the nozzle installed at the bottom of the flow path 2 or for aeration installed at the bottom of the flow path 2 May be caused in the culture medium B by bubbles supplied from the nozzle. Thus, the cultivation container 10 of the fifth embodiment floats when the culture solution B flows uniformly around the floating portion 11 regardless of whether the culture solution B flows along the flow path 2 or forced convection. A stable rotation can be produced in the part 11.

  The cultivation container 10 of 6th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.10 and FIG.11. In the cultivation container 10 of 6th Embodiment, the wing | blade 14 is arrange | positioned at the lower part of the floating part 11, and is joined to both the floating part 11 and the cylinder part 15 similarly to 1st-5th embodiment. Yes. Moreover, the lower end of the wing | blade 14 is connected by the stabilizer 16 similarly to 5th Embodiment. The cultivation container 10 is rotated by the culture solution B flowing as shown by an arrow B1 shown in FIG. 10, and is also rotated by the culture solution B flowing as shown by an arrow B2 shown in FIG.

  In the cultivation container 10 of the sixth embodiment, the length of the wing 14 extending downward from the floating part 11 is shorter than the wing 14 of the cultivation container 10 of the fifth embodiment, and the outer periphery of the floating part 11 in the radial direction. And a sufficient width to be joined to the cylindrical portion 15 attached to the center. Here, the length of the cylinder part 15 should just be selected suitably according to the length of the root R when the plant P to grow grows. Therefore, if the grown root R is a plant P with a short grown root R, the cultivation container 10 of the present embodiment can be employed in the flow path 2 having a shallower depth than the cultivation container 10 of the fifth embodiment. Moreover, the projection area with respect to the culture solution B, ie, the projection area of the wing | blade 14 of the cultivation container 10 seen along arrow B1 and arrow B2, is larger in the case of arrow B2 than the case of arrow B1. That is, it is easier to control the rotation speed of the cultivation container 10 when it is rotated by forced convection.

  The cultivation container 10 of 7th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.12 and FIG.13. In the cultivation container 10 of 7th Embodiment, the wing | blade 14 is arrange | positioned at the lower part of the floating part 11, and is joined to both the floating part 11 and the cylinder part 15 similarly to 6th Embodiment. The wings 14 of the cultivation container 10 are arranged in a so-called propeller shape that is straight in the radial direction of the floating portion 11 and has an elevation angle with respect to the central axis of the cylindrical portion 15. Therefore, this cultivation container 10 receives the flow of the culture solution B forcedly convected along the arrow B2 in FIGS. 12 and 13 by the wings 14 and rotates the floating portion 11, that is, the cultivation container 10 itself.

  Moreover, this cultivation container 10 is equipped with the cyclic | annular stabilizer 16 so that the outer peripheral part of the lower end of each wing | blade 14 may be connected. This stabilizer 16 is different from the fifth and sixth embodiments, and is formed along a cylindrical surface around the rotation axis of the cultivation container 10. Therefore, the cultivation container 10 is easy to be stabilized when it rotates by receiving the flow of the culture solution B that is forcedly convected. The flow of the culture medium B or bubbles for causing forced convection is changed in the centrifugal direction after hitting each wing 14, and is discharged to the outside from between the lower surface of the floating portion 11 and the upper edge of the stabilizer 16. Since the cultivation container 10 rotates by the flow of the culture solution B forcedly convected, it is easy to manage the rotation speed individually.

  The cultivation container 10 and the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 8th Embodiment are demonstrated with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 according to the eighth embodiment includes a wind tunnel 5 through which air flows on a flow path 2 through which the culture solution B flows. The airflow A1 of the air that flows in the wind tunnel 5 is created by the blower 51 connected to the wind tunnel. In FIG. 14, the direction of the airflow A1 of the air flowing through the wind tunnel 5 is set in parallel to the flow of the culture solution B (arrow B1) flowing through the flow path 2. Since the direction of the air flow A1 and the direction of the flow of the culture solution B do not affect each other, the direction of the air flow A1 may be orthogonal to the direction of the flow of the culture solution B or may be reversed.

  The cultivation container 10 uses an air flow A1 produced by the blower 51 as a fluid that flows uniformly around the floating portion 11, and receives the air flow A1 to center on a rotation axis perpendicular to the liquid surface of the culture solution B. Have a wing 14 for rotating the floating portion 11 at a constant speed. In this embodiment, the wing | blade 14 is arrange | positioned at the upper part of the floating part 11 above the liquid level of the culture solution B, receives the airflow A1 which flows along a liquid level, and rotates a floating part.

  Each wing 14 extends upward from the floating part 11 and rotates the floating part 11, that is, the entire cultivation container 10 by receiving the air flow A <b> 1 perpendicular to the rotation axis. These wings 14 correspond to a state in which the wings 14 of the cultivation container 10 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are attached to the upper part of the floating portion 11. The cultivation stage 17 joined to the upper end of each wing 14 is arranged in parallel with the floating part 11, and a communication hole 171 and a connecting cylinder part 172 that communicate with the planting part 13 of the floating part 11 are provided in the central part. The support member 12 fixed to the planting part 13 is filled up to the communication hole 171 through the connecting cylinder part 172.

  The cultivation stage 17 is not limited to a flat one as shown in FIG. 14, and may be formed in a funnel shape that directly and gently leads to the planting part 13. In this case, the communication hole 171 and the connecting cylinder part 172 are integrated with the cultivation stage 17. The cultivation stage 17 may have a large number of ventilation holes so that a part of the airflow A1 generated by the blower 51 passes, or may be configured of a mesh-like one.

  Moreover, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment is the frame 25A provided with the opening part 253 in which the floating part 11 of the cultivation container 10 fits as the mooring mechanism 25 which holds the cultivation container 10 in the fixed area of the flow path 2. It has. The wind tunnel 5 has a cover panel 52 installed at almost the same height as the cultivation stage 17 of the cultivation container 10 moored by the frame 25A in order to efficiently apply the air flow A1 to the wings 14 of the cultivation container 10. . At this time, the culture solution B may be filled up to the frame 25A or may have a gap between the frame 25A. The position of the wind tunnel 5 can be adjusted to the wing 14 of the cultivation container 10 by changing the liquid level of the culture solution B or the height of the frame 25A in accordance with the growth of the plant P.

  As for the cultivation container 10 comprised as mentioned above, the floating part 11, ie, cultivation container 10 itself, rotates with airflow A1. Therefore, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 using this can rotate the cultivation container 10 at a suitable speed regardless of the flow of the culture solution B. Since the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment can change the flow volume of the culture solution B and the rotation speed of the cultivation container 10 individually according to the growth of the plant P, it becomes easy to manage the growth of the plant P. .

  The cultivation container 10 and the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 9th Embodiment are demonstrated with reference to FIG. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 according to the ninth embodiment includes a frame 25 </ b> A as a mooring mechanism 25 that holds the cultivation container 10 in a certain section of the flow path 2. As with the cultivation container 10 of the eighth embodiment, the cultivation container 10 of this embodiment uses the airflow A1 as a fluid flowing around the floating portion 11 and receives this airflow A1 on the liquid surface of the culture solution B. A wing 14 is provided for rotating the floating portion 11 at a constant speed around a vertical rotation axis. Therefore, the wing 14 is disposed above the floating portion 11 that is above the liquid level of the culture solution B.

  The wing 14 extends in parallel with the rotation axis and is disposed at an outer peripheral position surrounding the plant P grown on the support member 12. The upper ends of the wings 14 are connected to each other by a ring 142. This cultivation container 10 not only obtains the rotational force by the airflow A1 flowing in the direction along the liquid surface of the culture solution B as in the eighth embodiment, but also by the airflow A2 blown down from above as shown in FIG. A rotational force can be obtained. The wing 14 and the ring 142 may be made of a transparent member so that the shadow of the wing 14 and the ring 142 is not applied to the plant P.

  The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 using the cultivation container 10 configured as described above can rotate the cultivation container 10 with the airflow A1 or the airflow A2 regardless of the flow of the culture solution B in the flow path 2. Therefore, the naturally flowing wind may be used, or the airflow A1 and the airflow A2 may be generated artificially by the blower 51. When generating the airflow A2 to be blown down, a duct 53 provided with a nozzle 531 is installed in accordance with the position where the cultivation container 10 is moored, and air is fed into the duct 53 by the blower 51. In this case, the blower 51 and the duct 53 can be provided in common with or as part of the air conditioning equipment. This air conditioning equipment is installed, for example, to adjust the temperature and humidity of air and the concentration of oxygen and nitrogen or carbon dioxide to grow the plant P.

  Since the blower 51 and the duct 53 for generating the airflow A2 used for rotating the cultivation container 10 can be installed separately from the flow path 2, the equipment cost of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 can be suppressed at a low cost. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 can be made with the same configuration from a large-scale product with a large number of cultivation containers 10 to a small-scale product with a small number of cultivation containers 10.

  The cultivation container 10 of 10th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.16 and FIG.17. The cultivation container 10 of 10th Embodiment has the planting part 13 which fixes the some support member 12. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the planting part 13 fixes the four support members 12 as shown in FIG. Each support member 12 holds one plant P seedling. The planting part 13 has the cylinder part 15 in the position corresponding to each lower supporting member 12, as shown in FIG. These four cylindrical parts 15 may be one cylindrical part 15 surrounding the root R of the plant P extending from all the supporting members 12 instead of being provided individually.

  Since the cultivation container 10 configured as described above is provided with the cylindrical portion 15 individually, when the plant P is harvested from the cultivation container 10, the roots R of the plant P are not entangled with each other. Easy to divide. The cultivation container 10 can be employed in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the planting unit 13 of the cultivation container 10 is changed to the cultivation container 10 of the first to ninth embodiments. It is also possible to apply.

  The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 11th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 18 includes a flow path 2 that is bent back multiple times so as to meander, and a plurality of cultivation containers 10 that are floated on the culture solution B flowing in the flow path 2. As the cultivation container 10, the cultivation container 10 of the first to seventh embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 and the cultivation container 10 of the tenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 can be adopted. Moreover, the cultivation container 10 of 8th Embodiment shown in FIG. 14 can be employ | adopted by providing the wind tunnel 5 with the flow path 2 like 8th Embodiment, and the duct 53 and 9th like 9th Embodiment can be employ | adopted. By providing the nozzle 531, the cultivation container 10 of the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. 15 can be employed.

  In this hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1, the flow path 2 includes the number of growing days required for the plant P to be cultivated until it is sufficiently grown until it can be harvested as a product, and the daily shipment amount of the plant P. It has sufficient length to flow the cultivation container 10 by the number corresponding to it. The flow path 2 is provided with the mooring mechanism 25 as shown in 1st Embodiment for every fixed area. The mooring mechanism 25 suppresses the cultivation container 10 from being unnecessarily flowed downstream due to the flow of the culture solution B. As for the cultivation container 10, the moving distance in the flow path 2 is restricted by the mooring mechanism 25, and the cultivation container 10 reaches the most downstream of the flow path 2 by the number corresponding to the shipment amount.

  Here, an example of the operating conditions of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 is described for reference. Assuming that the time required for the plant P to grow until it is harvested is about 40 days, and once harvested is 100 strains (100 pieces of the cultivation container 10), the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 is about 4000 pieces at the same time. It is necessary to have the flow path 2 which floats the cultivation container 10 of this. If the size of one cultivation container 10 is about 20 cm in diameter, the total length of the flow path 2 is at least 800 m. The flow rate of the culture solution B is set to about 200 to 300 mm per second. Therefore, the culture solution B is circulated once every hour.

  In order to improve the working efficiency of the new seedling input operation and the harvesting operation of the grown plant P, and to improve the efficiency of the equipment for circulating the culture solution B, the upstream end of the flow path 2 shown in FIG. The culture medium B may flow continuously by connecting the downstream ends. By doing in this way, a new seedling can be thrown in immediately using the cultivation container 10 after harvesting the plant P.

  Moreover, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 has installed the illuminating device 3 above the flow path 2, and supplies the light of the light quantity and wavelength according to a growth stage. Since the cultivation container 10 rotates, the lighting device 3 may not necessarily be directly above the flow path 2. The pump 21 for flowing the culture medium B along the flow path 2 and the supply path of the culture liquid B sent from the pump 21 are not only the most upstream end of the flow path 2 but also the components and pH of the culture liquid B, etc. It is connected to the position that is necessary to adjust. In the case of the meandering flow path 2 as shown in FIG. 18, piping can be simplified by connecting a supply path to each folded portion.

  A hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 and a cultivation container 10 according to a twelfth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 shows a part of the flow path 2 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1. The channel 2 has a so-called “U-shaped” cross-sectional shape with a rounded bottom. The cultivation container 10 has a wing 14 submerged in the culture medium B at the lower part of the floating part 11, and a cylinder part 15 is attached to the lower part of the planting part 13. Since the wings 14 and the cylindrical portion 15 are made in a round shape along the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 2, that is, the outer shape is formed in a shape along the spherical surface, even if the cultivation container 10 rotates, it does not interfere with the flow path 2. Absent.

  Furthermore, the flow path 2 in the hydroponics apparatus 1 of this embodiment has the convex part 26 on one side wall. This convex part 26 is installed in the position which interferes with the arm 18 extended in the radial direction of the floating part 11 of the rotating cultivation container 10. In the case of the twelfth embodiment, since the wing 14 functions as the arm 18, the convex portion 26 is installed at a position lower than the liquid level of the culture solution B. The arm 18 and the convex portion 26 may be installed at a position higher than the liquid level, and the arm 18 and the convex portion 26 may interfere with each other when the cultivation container 10 moves along the flow path 2. The convex part 26 is installed along the flow path 2 at a constant interval or a point where the cultivation container 10 is to be forcibly rotated.

  In the cultivation container 10 and the hydroponics apparatus 1 configured as described above, the cultivation container 10 moves along the flow path 2, so that the arm 18 collides with the convex portion 26, forcing the cultivation container 10. Rotate. Moreover, by doing so, the cultivation container 10 can be rotated reliably and the light can be uniformly irradiated to the leaf L of the plant P. And since the cultivation container 10 moves by the flow of the culture solution B, the arm 18 collides with the convex portion 26 and rotates, and therefore receives the fluid flowing uniformly around the floating portion 11 and receives the fluid level of the culture solution B. It can also be said that the floating portion 11 is rotated around a rotation axis perpendicular to the axis.

  When the flow path 2 is meandering like the flow path 2 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of the eleventh embodiment, the folded portion of the flow path 2, the front and back thereof, or a large number of cultivation containers 10 are arranged side by side and are floating portions 11. It is also conceivable that the cultivation container 10 cannot obtain a sufficient rotational force due to the flow of the culture solution B in the straight line portion in contact with. Even in such a case, the hydroponics apparatus 1 can give the cultivation container 10 a stable rotation by having the arm 18 in the cultivation container 10 and the convex portion 26 in the flow path 2.

  In addition, when the cultivation container 10 that rotates counterclockwise and the cultivation container 10 that rotates clockwise according to the flow of the culture solution B are alternately arranged in the flow path 2, the cultivation container 10 rotates so that the floating portions 11 come into contact with each other. Therefore, it can reduce that rotation of cultivation container 10 is controlled. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide convex portions 26 corresponding to only the cultivation container 10 that rotates to the left and the cultivation container 10 that rotates to the right. For example, the position where the convex portion 26 is arranged is provided on the opposite side wall for left rotation and for right rotation, and the height is changed. And the arm 18 should just be arrange | positioned in the height which interferes with the corresponding convex part 26, respectively. Alternatively, instead of the arm 18, a pinion is provided on the outer periphery of the cultivation container 10, a rack is laid on one side wall of the flow path 2, and these are fitted to each other, thereby cultivating the cultivation container 10 by a distance swept away by the culture solution B. It is also possible to make a hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 that rotates. This is also an example of the cultivation container 10 that receives the fluid flowing uniformly around the floating part 11 of the cultivation container 10 and rotates the floating part around the rotation axis perpendicular to the liquid surface of the culture solution B. .

  A hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 according to a thirteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22. This hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 includes a flow path 2 similar to that of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the eleventh embodiment, and the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 2 is different from that of the eleventh embodiment. As for the flow path 2 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 13th Embodiment, the flow-path cross-sectional shape of an upstream part is a shape shown in FIG. 20, the flow-path cross-sectional shape of a midstream part is a shape shown in FIG. The flow passage cross-sectional shape of the portion has the shape shown in FIG.

  In the upstream portion of the flow path 2, the plant P is in a seedling state, and the root R does not extend beyond the lower end of the cylindrical portion 15. That is, since the upstream part of the flow path 2 should just be made so that the cultivation container 10 may not contact the flow path 2, the bottom part 2A which opposes the cylinder part 15 of the cultivation container 10 is shallow as shown in FIG. The plant P grows to some extent in the midstream portion of the flow path 2, and the root R also extends to the extent that it protrudes slightly from the tube portion 15. Therefore, the middle portion of the flow path 2 has a shape in which a bottom portion 2A facing the cylinder portion 15 of the cultivation container 10 protrudes downward as shown in FIG. The plant P further grows in the downstream portion of the flow path 2, and the root R also extends from the cylindrical portion 15 for a long time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, the downstream part of the flow path 2 has a shape in which the bottom part facing the cylinder part 15 of the cultivation container 10 is protruded to the section more than the middle part.

  In any of the upstream portion, the midstream portion, and the downstream portion of the flow path 2, the bottom 2A of the flow path 2 protrudes downward so that the flow rate of the culture solution B does not change significantly between the upstream portion and the downstream portion. It is preferable to make the flow path 2 so that the road cross-sectional areas are the same. That is, the flow path 2 has a deeper water depth and a narrower width downstream than upstream. By doing in this way, the clearance gap between the cultivation container 10 and the flow path 2 becomes small as it goes to a downstream part from an upstream part. That is, the ratio of the culture solution B that contributes to the torque for rotating the cultivation container 10 increases.

  As a result, the cultivation container 10 can receive a sufficient rotational torque from the flow of the culture solution B by the wings 14 even when a large plant P is on it, and rotates reliably regardless of the growth of the plant P. . Moreover, if it is the flow path 2 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of 13th Embodiment, since the growth of the root R of the plant P will not be prevented, the plant P will also grow easily.

  In addition, the depth of the bottom 2A may be gradually deepened continuously from the upstream to the downstream, or the depth may be changed by dividing at a portion where the flow path 2 is folded.

  A hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 according to a fourteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 23 includes a flow path 2 having a width for arranging a plurality of cultivation containers 10 in a direction crossing the flow of the culture solution B. The cultivation container 10 is held by a frame 25B that holds a plurality of cultivation containers 10 in a matrix arrangement so that the number corresponding to the amount of plants P to be harvested at a time or the number of shipments can be handled as one group. This frame 25 </ b> B functions as a mooring mechanism 25 that holds the cultivation container 10 in a certain section of the flow path 2.

  Any of the cultivation containers 10 of the first to tenth embodiments can be adopted as the cultivation container 10. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 according to the fourteenth embodiment rotates the cultivation container 10 with the culture solution B flowing along the flow path 2 when employing the cultivation containers 10 according to the first to sixth and tenth embodiments. . When employing the cultivation container 10 of the fifth to seventh embodiments, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 includes a nozzle for forcibly convection of the culture solution B from the bottom of the flow path 2 or an aeration nozzle. The cultivation container 10 is rotated. Moreover, when employ | adopting the cultivation container 10 of 8th Embodiment, the wind tunnel 5 is provided in the upper part of the flow path 2, and when employ | adopting the cultivation container 10 of 9th Embodiment, the duct 53 and each each above a flow path. What is necessary is just to install the nozzle 531 which sends airflow A2 to a cultivation container. In any case, the cultivation container 10 is floated on the culture solution B flowing through the flow path 2 and receives the fluid that flows uniformly around the floating part 11 to rotate the floating part 11, that is, the cultivation container 10 itself. have.

  The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of the fourteenth embodiment configured as described above harvests the plant P that has been lifted from the flow path 2 with the frame 25B as a unit and grown in the cultivation container 10. By configuring the cultivation container 10 and the frame 25B so that the cultivation container 10 does not fall when the frame 25B is lifted, the efficiency of the work of introducing new seedlings and the harvesting of the grown plant P is improved. Become. Moreover, since the cultivation container 10 set to one flame | frame 25B is simultaneously thrown into the flow path 2, and is simultaneously withdrawn from a flow path, it becomes easy to manage production.

  A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. These embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Other technical features of the above-described embodiment will be described below.
[1] A floating portion having buoyancy with respect to the culture solution, a support member that holds at least one plant grown by the culture solution, and a support member that is provided at a central portion of the floating portion and fixes the support member A cultivation container comprising: a planting part; and a wing that receives fluid flowing uniformly around the floating part and rotates the floating part at a constant speed around a rotation axis perpendicular to the liquid surface of the culture solution .

  [2] The cultivation container according to [1], wherein the wing is disposed at a position where at least a part of the wing is immersed in the culture solution, and the floating part is rotated by the flow of the culture solution.

  [3] The cultivation container according to [2], wherein the wing receives the flow of the culture solution flowing horizontally and rotates the floating portion.

  [4] The cultivation vessel according to [2], wherein the wing receives the flow of the culture solution forcedly convected and rotates the floating portion.

  [5] The cultivation container according to [2], wherein the wing rotates the floating portion by the bubbles rising toward the floating portion in the culture solution and the flow of the culture solution caused by the bubbles.

  [6] The cultivation container according to [1], wherein the wing is disposed above the liquid level of the culture solution and rotates the floating part by an airflow flowing along the liquid level.

  [7] The cultivation container according to [6], wherein the wing is arranged at an outer peripheral position surrounding a plant to be grown on the support member.

  [8] The cultivation container according to any one of [1] to [7], further including a tube portion that bundles roots of the plant extending from the planting portion into the culture solution.

  [9] The cultivation container according to [8], wherein the cylindrical portion has a plurality of through holes through which the culture solution passes.

  [10] The cultivation container according to [8] or [9], wherein the cylindrical portion includes a stabilizer that stabilizes the posture of the floating portion.

  [11] A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprising a channel through which a culture solution is flowed and at least one cultivation container floated on the culture solution in the channel, wherein the cultivation vessel has buoyancy with respect to the culture solution A floating part having a supporting member that holds at least one plant grown by the culture solution, a planting part that is provided at a central portion of the floating part and fixes the supporting member, and A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprising: a wing that receives a fluid that uniformly flows around and rotates the floating portion at a constant speed about a rotation axis perpendicular to a liquid surface of the culture solution.

  [12] The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to [11], wherein the flow path includes a mooring mechanism that holds the cultivation container in a certain section regardless of the flow of the culture solution.

  [13] The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to [11] or [12], wherein the flow path has a width for conveying the plurality of cultivation containers in a row.

  [14] The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to [13], wherein the channel has a deeper water depth and a narrower width downstream than upstream.

  [15] The cultivation container includes an arm extending in a radial direction of the floating portion, and the flow path includes a convex portion that interferes with the arm of the cultivation container that moves through the flow path, and the arm The hydroponic cultivation apparatus described in any one of [11] to [14], in which the cultivation container is rotated by colliding with the protrusion.

  [16] The flow path has a width for arranging a plurality of the cultivation containers in a direction crossing the flow, and the mooring mechanism is a frame that holds the plurality of the cultivation containers in a matrix arrangement. Hydroponic cultivation equipment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hydroponic cultivation apparatus, 2 ... Flow path, 3 ... Lighting apparatus, 4 ... Control apparatus, 5 ... Wind tunnel, 10 ... Cultivation container, 11 ... Floating part, 12 ... Supporting member, 13 ... Planting part, 14 ... Wing , 15 ... cylinder part, 16 ... stabilizer, 18 ... arm, B ... culture solution, P ... plant, R ... root, L ... leaf, B1 ... arrow (flow of culture solution, fluid flow direction), B2 ... arrow ( Culture fluid flow, fluid flow direction), A1, A2, ... airflow (fluid flow).

Claims (2)

A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprising: a flow path through which a culture solution flows; and at least one cultivation container floated on the culture solution in the flow path,
The cultivation container is
A floating portion having a buoyancy to the culture solution,
A support member holding at least one plant grown by the culture solution;
A planting portion that is provided at a central portion of the floating portion and fixes the support member;
An arm attached to the floating portion and extending in a radial direction of the floating portion;
With
The flow path has a convex portion that interferes with the arm of the cultivation container that moves through the flow path,
The hydroponic cultivation apparatus which rotates the said cultivation container because the said arm collides with the said convex part. The culture vessel, water cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tubular portion that bundles roots of the plants extending into the culture solution from the planting unit.