JP6431806B2 - Plant cultivation equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus for cultivating a plant by supplying a nutrient solution to a cultivation shelf arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the growing interest in safe and secure food, plant factories that cultivate plants such as crops indoors without using pesticides have attracted attention. In plant factories, artificial light sources are used to illuminate plants and fertilizer is administered as needed, and the temperature and humidity in the cultivation room are controlled to artificially realize the optimal environment for plant growth. Therefore, it becomes possible to grow a plant of stable quality without being affected by pests and not affected by the weather.

  In such a plant cultivation device, a plurality of cultivation trays for cultivating plants are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction to increase the efficiency of the space. For example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of mounting shelves on which plants are placed are provided in the vertical direction, a nutrient solution tank is disposed below the lowermost mounting shelf, and liquid is fed to the uppermost mounting shelf by a pump. In addition, a plant cultivation apparatus is described in which the nutrient solution is circulated by supplying the nutrient solution to the lower placement shelf sequentially from the uppermost placement shelf to the lower placement shelf by a natural fall and returning it to the solution tank. . Moreover, in patent document 2, with respect to the multi-stage cultivation tray arrange | positioned above a nutrient solution tank, a nutrient solution is pumped up with a pump from a nutrient solution tank, and it feeds to the uppermost cultivation tray, and the uppermost cultivation is carried out. A plant cultivation apparatus is described in which a nutrient solution is circulated through a circulation pipe from a tray to a lower cultivation tray. Moreover, in patent document 3, with respect to the plant growth tank provided in multiple steps in the up-down direction, a nutrient solution is sent from the nutrient solution tank to the uppermost plant growth tank by a pump, and piping is provided from the uppermost plant growth tank. A plant growing apparatus is described in which a nutrient solution is circulated to a lower plant growing tank through the above.

JP 2012-090573 A JP 2013-111039 A Japanese Patent No. 5535390

  In the conventional plant cultivation apparatus described above, the nutrient solution tank is arranged below the cultivation shelf, and the nutrient solution is fed from the nutrient solution tank to the uppermost cultivation shelf by a pump, and the nutrient solution is sequentially flowed down to the lower cultivation shelf. The nutrient solution is returned to the nutrient solution tank and circulated. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange | position a nutrient solution tank in the lowest part, and the cultivation shelf arrange | positioned above it is set in the high position by that much. Since management of plants cultivated on the cultivation shelf is generally performed by an operator, the cultivation shelf is arranged up to a height that the worker can reach, and the number of stages in which the cultivation shelf is arranged is limited.

  Moreover, in order to increase the number of plant strains grown on the cultivation shelf, it is necessary to expand the cultivation area of the cultivation shelf, but it is also necessary to increase the capacity of the nutrient solution tank in accordance with the expansion of the cultivation shelf. . When the capacity of the nutrient solution tank is increased with the plant placed below the cultivation shelf, the nutrient solution tank must be enlarged in a horizontal direction, and the concentration of the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank becomes uneven. It becomes easy. Therefore, restrictions also arise when expanding the cultivation shelf. Although it may be possible to remove the location of the nutrient solution tank from the bottom of the cultivation shelf, placing it under the floor or installing it away from the cultivation shelf is costly and requires installation space. is not.

  In addition, because the cultivation shelf is arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction so that the nutrient solution flows down from the top, the nutrient solution flowing down from the cultivation shelf is stored in the nutrient solution tank when the pump stops during a power failure. It needs to be stored and not overflowed. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the water level of the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank in consideration of the amount of nutrient solution flowing in at the time of a power failure, and there is a restriction on the amount of nutrient solution that can be stationed in the nutrient solution tank.

  Therefore, in view of the problems of the conventional plant cultivation device, the present invention provides a plant cultivation device that can easily change the layout of the cultivation shelf and can quickly adjust the nutrient solution to a predetermined concentration. It is intended to provide.

  The plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention includes a cultivation shelf arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and a pump that feeds nutrient solution from the lowermost cultivation shelf to the uppermost cultivation shelf. In the plant cultivation device in which the nutrient solution flows down and supplied from the cultivation shelf to the lower cultivation shelf in order, the nutrient solution is stirred to adjust the concentration of the nutrient solution and provided in the flow path between the cultivation shelves. A stirring tank into which the nutrient solution flows from the cultivation shelf and the nutrient solution flows out to the lower cultivation shelf, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the lower cultivation shelf. Further, the agitation tank adjusts the concentration by introducing raw materials of nutrient solution. Furthermore, the water supply part supplies water so as to maintain the nutrient solution of the bottom cultivation shelf at a predetermined water level.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the bottom cultivation shelf is used as a nutrient solution storage tank, so the layout of the cultivation shelf can be easily changed, and the stirring tank is placed between the cultivation shelves. By providing in this flow path, it is possible to set the nutrient solution concentration to an adjustable volume, and the nutrient solution can be quickly adjusted to a predetermined concentration.

It is a schematic block diagram regarding embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the flow path of the nutrient solution of a plant cultivation apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram regarding the modification of the plant cultivation apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to an embodiment of the present invention. The plant cultivation device includes four stages of cultivation shelves 2 to 5 arranged in a vertical direction on a support frame 1 configured by assembling frame members in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. It is arranged on the surface. The cultivation shelves 2 to 5 are formed in a liquid tank shape having a predetermined depth, and are attached and fixed to the horizontal frame 1 a of the support frame 1 in a rectangular shape in plan view. On one side in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 1, a stirring tank 20 that stirs the nutrient solution and adjusts the solution concentration is disposed, and the stirring tank 20 is fed with the nutrient solution from the upper cultivation shelf. It is piped so that the nutrient solution flows out to the lower cultivation shelf. Below the agitation tank 20, a pump 10 for feeding the nutrient solution is disposed. The pump 10 is configured to feed the nutrient solution from the lowermost cultivation shelf 5 to the uppermost cultivation shelf 2, and the fed nutrient solution is the cultivation shelf 2 → the cultivation shelf 3 → the stirring tank 20 → It flows down in order of the cultivation shelf 4-> cultivation shelf 5, and circulates. And the bottom cultivation shelf 5 is supplied with water from the outside, and the agitation tank 20 is appropriately charged with fertilizers, pH adjusters and the like as components of nutrient solution to adjust the concentration. Done.

  The nutrient solution is stored inside the cultivation shelves 2 to 5, and a plurality of cultivation trays 6 are arranged in the horizontal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1) on the water surface of the nutrient solution. . The cultivation tray 6 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and both side portions along the arrangement direction serve as locking portions that are locked to both side edge portions of the cultivation shelf. Therefore, the cultivation tray 6 is arranged to be removable with respect to the upper edge portion of the cultivation shelf. The cultivation tray 6 is provided such that a plurality of cylindrical members that support the plant penetrates in the vertical direction on the substrate portion facing the water surface of the nutrient solution. A medium substance is attached in the cylindrical member, and the nutrient solution is absorbed and supplied to the medium substance. An illuminating device 7 is attached above each cultivation shelf, and the illuminating device 7 is set to irradiate light toward the cultivation tray 6 arranged below.

  By planting the medium substance attached to the cultivation tray 6, plant germination and growth are promoted by irradiating light from above and supplying nutrient solution from below. . And in the case of the harvest of a plant, the cultivation tray 6 can be removed from a cultivation shelf, and a harvesting operation can be performed easily.

  The uppermost cultivation shelf 2 is provided with a liquid supply port of a supply pipe 11 connected to the pump 10 at a corner on one side in the longitudinal direction, and the nutrient solution fed from the pump 10 is supplied to the supply pipe. 11 to flow in. In addition, a straight tubular outflow pipe 12 is fixedly attached to the bottom surface at the corner on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The nutrient solution overflows from the upper end opening of the outflow pipe 12 and passes through the outflow pipe 12. It flows out to the corner of the shelf 3. For this reason, the nutrient solution is stored in the cultivation shelf 2 up to the height of the upper end opening of the outflow pipe 12, so that a constant water level is always maintained. By adjusting the height of the upper end opening of the outflow pipe 12 and setting the water level so that the nutrient solution comes into contact with the medium material attached to the cultivation tray 6, the nutrient solution is constantly supplied to the medium material. In the cultivation shelf 2, the nutrient solution always flows from one side in the longitudinal direction to the other side in a state where the water level is maintained, and the nutrient solution stays in the roots of the plants cultivated in the cultivation tray 6. Will be supplied without.

  In the cultivation shelf 3 arranged at the lower stage of the cultivation shelf 2, a straight tubular outflow pipe 13 is attached and fixed to the bottom of the corner on one side in the longitudinal direction. Overflows through the outflow pipe 13 and flows out into the stirring tank 20. As described above, since the nutrient solution flows down from the outflow pipe 12 to the other side in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 3, the nutrient solution is supplied to the height of the upper end opening of the outflow tube 13 in the cultivation shelf 3. As the cultivation shelf 2 is maintained, a constant water level is maintained and the nutrient solution flows without stagnation.

  The stirring tank 20 is arrange | positioned at the side part of the support frame 1, and is formed in the vertically long container shape. A nutrient solution is stored in the stirring tank 20, and raw materials such as a fertilizer and a pH adjuster as components of the nutrient solution are appropriately added to adjust the concentration. For concentration adjustment, for example, fertilizers, pH adjusters, and the like may be stored in separate containers, and appropriate amounts may be charged into the stirring tank 20 by a metering pump. In this case, the nutrient solution concentration can be constantly adjusted to a predetermined value by controlling the operation of the metering pump by the controller based on the detection signal from the concentration detection sensor that detects the solution concentration in the stirring tank 20. An agitator 21 is attached to the inside of the agitation tank 20, and the internal screw member is rotated to perform an agitation operation by rotationally driving a motor fixed to the upper part of the agitation tank 20. The nutrient solution flows in the vertical direction by the stirring operation of the screw member, and convection is generated in the entire interior of the agitation tank 20, so that the concentration of the nutrient solution in the agitation tank 20 can be made uniform quickly.

  The lower end opening of the outflow pipe 13 is inserted into the stirring tank 20 from above, and the outflow pipe 14 is connected to the side part. The outflow pipe 14 is extended above the cultivation shelf 4 arranged at the lower stage of the cultivation shelf 3, and the nutrient solution in the stirring tank 20 passes through one end in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 4 from the lower end opening of the outflow pipe 14. It is designed to flow out to the side. Therefore, the nutrient solution in the stirring tank 20 flows out from the opening part to which the outflow pipe 14 is connected, and the water level is set to a height up to the opening part. In this case, by setting the inner diameter of the outflow pipe 14 to be larger than the inner diameter of the outflow pipe 13, the nutrient solution in the stirring tank 20 can be smoothly circulated and maintained at a predetermined water level.

  In the cultivation shelf 4, a straight tubular outflow pipe 15 is attached and fixed to the bottom surface at the corner on the other side in the longitudinal direction, the nutrient solution overflows from the upper end opening of the outflow pipe 15, and passes through the outflow pipe 15. It flows out to the corner of the lower cultivation shelf 5. As described above, since the nutrient solution flows down from the stirring tank 20 through the outflow pipe 14 to one side in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 4, the upper end opening of the outflow pipe 15 is provided in the cultivation shelf 4. The nutrient solution comes to be stored up to the height, and a constant water level is maintained as in the cultivation shelf 2 and the nutrient solution flows without staying.

  A suction pipe 16 connected to the pump 10 is attached and fixed to the bottom of the cultivation shelf 5 at a corner on one side in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the water supply pipe | tube 17 connected to the external water source which is not shown in figure is provided as a water supply part which supplies water to a plant cultivation apparatus, and water is supplied to the cultivation shelf 5 from the water supply pipe | tube 17. FIG. The water supply pipe 17 has a water supply port disposed above the cultivation shelf 5, and a water stopper 18 is attached to the water supply port portion of the water supply pipe 17. The water supply pipe 17 is connected to an external water source such as a water supply, and can always supply water to the cultivation shelf 5. The water stop device 18 includes a float arranged on the surface of the nutrient solution in the cultivation shelf 5 and operates a water stop valve provided in the water supply pipe 17 by a connecting member connected to the float. . And if a float rises in response to the raise of the water level of a nutrient solution, a water stop valve will operate | move and the water supply of the water supply pipe | tube 17 will be stopped. Therefore, the nutrient solution in the cultivation shelf 5 is maintained at a constant water level by the operation of the water stop 18. Moreover, since the nutrient solution flows down from the cultivation shelf 4 through the outflow pipe 15 to the other side in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 5, the nutrient solution is sucked by the pump 10 on one side. As a result, the nutrient solution flows without stagnation in the cultivation shelf 5.

  Drawing 2 is an explanatory view about a channel of nutrient solution of a plant cultivation device. The nutrient solution fed from the cultivation shelf 5 to the cultivation shelf 2 by the pump 10 flows in the longitudinal direction in the cultivation shelf 2 and flows down to the lower cultivation shelf 3 through the outflow pipe 12. The nutrient solution that has flowed down to the cultivation shelf 3 flows in the longitudinal direction in the cultivation shelf 3, flows into the stirring tank 20 through the outflow pipe 13, and the nutrient solution whose concentration is adjusted passes through the outflow pipe 14 to the cultivation shelf 4. leak. The nutrient solution that has flowed into the cultivation shelf 4 flows in the longitudinal direction in the cultivation shelf 4, passes through the outflow pipe 15, and flows down to the lower cultivation shelf 5. The nutrient solution flowing down to the cultivation shelf 5 is stored in the cultivation shelf 5 and flows in the longitudinal direction by suction of the pump 10. When the water level of the nutrient solution in the cultivation shelf 5 is lowered, the water stop 18 is opened and water is supplied from the outside so that the predetermined water level is maintained.

  In the lowermost cultivation shelf 5, water is replenished from the outside so as to maintain a predetermined water level, and functions as a storage tank. Therefore, when the nutrient solution is absorbed and reduced by the plant, water is constantly replenished in the cultivation shelf 5. Moreover, when a pump stops by a power failure etc., the nutrient solution which overflowed from the upper cultivation shelves 2-4 and the stirring tank 20 will flow down, but the cultivation shelf 5 is the cultivation shelves 2-4. Since it has the same capacity, it is possible to store the overflowing nutrient solution and it does not overflow from the cultivation shelf 5. And since the lowermost stage cultivation shelf 5 can be installed in a floor surface, the number of stages of a cultivation shelf can be increased compared with the past, and the height of a cultivation shelf can also be set low.

  The stirring tank 20 is provided in the flow path between the cultivation shelves in which the nutrient solution flows down from the uppermost cultivation shelf 2 to the lower cultivation shelf, and the nutrient solution flows into the lower cultivation shelf from the lower cultivation shelf. Nourishment solution flows into the cultivation shelf. The stirring tank 20 only needs to have a capacity capable of adjusting the concentration of the nutrient solution, and has a vertically long structure, which makes it easy to agitate the nutrient solution inside. Therefore, when a fertilizer, a pH adjuster, etc. are thrown into the stirring tank 20, it can set to a uniform density | concentration quickly by stirring operation of a nutrient solution, and always supplies the nutrient solution adjusted to the predetermined density | concentration to a cultivation shelf. It becomes possible.

  In this way, when the lowermost cultivation shelf is used as a storage tank for nutrient solution and a stirring tank for adjusting the concentration of the nutrient solution is provided separately, the cultivation shelf is expanded to increase the capacity. Since the shelf 5 is also expanded and enlarged, the overflow of the nutrient solution can be reliably prevented even when the cultivation shelf is expanded. It is also possible to increase the number of cultivation shelves within a range in which the bottom cultivation shelf does not overflow. In addition, the design change such as increasing the capacity of the agitation tank 20 in accordance with the layout change such as the expansion of the cultivation shelf becomes unnecessary, the layout of the plant cultivation apparatus can be changed in time according to the installation space, and the degree of freedom of design. Is significantly improved. In this example, the agitation tank 20 has a vertically long structure, and the pump 10 is disposed below the stirring tank 20, whereby the apparatus can be made compact.

  When cleaning the plant cultivation device, it is possible to drain smoothly from the entire cultivation shelf by draining from the drain pipe connected to the bottom surface of the cultivation shelf 5. Moreover, when supplying nutrient solution to the whole cultivation shelf after drainage, water is distributed to the whole cultivation shelf by supplying water to the cultivation shelf 5 from the outside and supplying water to the cultivation shelf 2 by the pump 10. Then, the nutrient solution is introduced into the stirring tank 20 while the water is circulated to adjust the concentration, and the nutrient solution having a predetermined concentration can be supplied to the entire cultivation shelf.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to a modification of the plant cultivation apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, the stirring tank 20 and the pump 10 are installed between the support frame 1a that supports the plurality of stages of cultivation shelves 2a to 5a and the support frame 1b that supports the plurality of stages of cultivation shelves 2b to 5b. The height of the cultivation shelf at each stage of the two support frame bodies is set to be the same height. Two of the same structure as the support frame 1 that supports the multi-stage cultivation shelves shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in parallel, and in FIG. 3, the structure is viewed along the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelves. Yes.

  The suction pipes 16 a and 16 b connected to the bottom surfaces of the cultivation shelves 5 a and 5 b join together and are connected to the pump 10. Two outlets are formed on the bottom surfaces of the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, and the suction pipes 16a and 16b are connected to the two outlets, respectively. Therefore, even when one discharge port is clogged, the nutrient solution comes to be sucked from the other discharge port. The supply pipe 11 that feeds the nutrient solution from the pump 10 branches to the supply pipes 11a and 11b above the cultivation shelves 2a and 2b. And the supply pipe | tube 11a is extended to the cultivation shelf 2a, and supplies a nutrient solution, and the supply pipe | tube 11b is extended to the cultivation shelf 2b and supplies a nutrient solution.

  Two outflow pipes 12a and 12b are attached to the bottoms of the cultivation shelves 2a and 2b, respectively, and the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation shelves 2a and 2b flows through the inside through the two outflow pipes and the cultivation shelf It flows down to 3a and 3b, respectively. Therefore, even when one outflow pipe is clogged, it is possible to prevent the nutrient solution from flowing down from the other outflow tube and overflowing from the cultivation shelf.

  Two outflow ports are formed on the bottom surfaces of the cultivation shelves 3a and 3b to prevent clogging, and the outflow pipes 13a and 13b are respectively attached to the two outflow ports. The nutrient solution flowing down from the cultivation shelves 2a and 2b flows through the cultivation shelves 3a and 3b, and flows out to the stirring tank 20 through the outflow pipes 13a and 13b. And the nutrient solution adjusted in concentration in the stirring tank 20 flows into the cultivation shelves 4a and 4b through the outflow pipes 14a and 14b, respectively.

  Two outflow pipes 15a and 15b are attached to the bottom of the cultivation shelves 4a and 4b, respectively, to prevent clogging, and the nutrient solution flowing down from the cultivation shelves 3a and 3b flows through the two outflow pipes. It flows down to the street cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, respectively.

  A water supply pipe 17 connected to an external water source is extended on the cultivation shelf 5a, and a water stop is attached to the water supply pipe 17 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the nutrient solution in the cultivation shelf 5a is appropriately supplied with water from the water supply pipe 17 so that a predetermined water level is maintained. Moreover, the straight tubular connection pipe 8 is connected between the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, and when a water level difference arises between the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, the connection pipe 8 according to the water level difference. The nutrient solution circulates through, so that the water level difference between the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b does not occur. Further, drain pipes 19a and 19b are connected to the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, respectively, in order to prevent overflow, and the drain pipes 19a and 19b merge to communicate with an external drainage facility. When the water level of the nutrient solution rises above a predetermined water level in the cultivation shelves 5a and 5b, the nutrient solution is drained through the drain pipes 19a and 19b so as not to overflow.

  By comprising as mentioned above, it becomes possible to circulate a nutrient solution with respect to many cultivation shelves with one stirring tank and one pump, and the stirring tank and the pump arrangement in the work space between the support frames. Therefore, the installation space can be made compact.

  The present invention is suitable for a plant cultivation apparatus for cultivating edible plants such as salad vegetables, wasabi, lettuce, bean sprouts, kaiedaiko, strawberry, herbs, and ornamental plants such as chrysanthemums and pansies.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Support frame, 2-5 ... Cultivation shelf, 6 ... Cultivation tray, 10 ... Pump, 11 ... Supply pipe, 12-15 ... Outflow pipe, 16 ... Suction pipe, 17 ... water supply pipe, 18 ... water stop, 19 ... drain pipe, 20 ... stirring tank, 21 ... stirrer

Claims (3)

  A plurality of vertically arranged cultivation shelves, and a pump for feeding nutrient solution from the lowermost cultivation shelf to the uppermost cultivation shelf, the lowermost cultivation shelf sequentially from the uppermost cultivation shelf In the plant cultivation device supplied with the nutrient solution flowing down, the nutrient solution is agitated to adjust the nutrient solution concentration and provided in the flow path between the cultivation shelves, and the nutrient solution flows from the upper cultivation shelf And the plant cultivation apparatus provided with the stirring tank from which a nutrient solution flows out to the said cultivation shelf of a lower stage, and the water supply part which supplies water to the said cultivation shelf of the lowest stage.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the agitation tank performs concentration adjustment by introducing a raw material of nutrient solution.   The said water supply part is a plant cultivation apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 which supplies water so that the nutrient solution of the said cultivation shelf of the lowest stage may be maintained at a predetermined water level.

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