JPH0664448U - Hydroponics equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Excess nutrient solution in the medium can be quickly drained and the medium can be maintained at an optimum water content. [Structure] Frame 2 having a downward slope in the longitudinal direction
The support part 8 installed on the top surface and having the groove 10 in the center of the inner surface.
Is formed so as to project, and has a heat insulating tray member 7 having both sides of the support portion 8 as nutrient solution flow paths 11, a water impermeable sheet 13 that covers the inner surface of the tray member 7, and is placed on the support portion 8. A bed 16 made of rock wool, a water absorbent sheet 14 provided in contact with the back surface 16b of the bed 16 and having an edge 14a hanging down into the flow path 11, and a groove 10 in the tray 7. Temperature control tube 15 for controlling the temperature of the bed 16
And a liquid supply pipe 18 which is disposed on the upper surface 16a of the bed 16 and supplies a nutrient solution to the bed 16.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a hydroponic cultivation device for growing plant seedlings with a nutrient solution.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 The method for cultivating plant seedlings with a nutrient solution is a medium method using sand, gravel, rice husk and charcoal, and cultivating the culture solution by submersion (submersion) in a cultivation tank or NFT (culture). A hydroponics method of free flowing such as a liquid thin film method) is generally known. Among these methods, hydroponics using a medium provides better oxygen supply to the roots of seedlings and less growth damage due to deficiency of trace elements (such as iron) compared to hydroponic cultivation. There is a feature of. In recent years, hydroponics equipment that uses a medium has a configuration in which rock wool, which is formed by melting rocks and the like, is used as an artificial medium, seedling blocks are planted in this medium, and the culture solution is poured over. There are many things.

However, in the above-mentioned hydroponic cultivation apparatus, it is necessary to drain excess water without retaining the culture solution in the medium. However, rockwool, which is a medium, has a high water-retaining ability and sufficient water content in the medium. Since the water is not removed and the drainage efficiency is low, the humidity in the medium becomes excessive and oxygen deficiency occurs, which easily causes the problem of spoiling the roots of the seedlings.

Therefore, the present inventor provided a rock wool floor of the same material in the shape of clogs in the lower portion of the rock wool, and set the height as a cultivation floor to 100 to 175 mm, and the rock wool portion of the lower portion and the upper portion. A hydroponic device that guides the water inside rockwool to lower the water content and keeps the optimum rhizosphere environment (moisture, etc.) for plants, with a fabric intervening between rockwool medium. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-21 9323).

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above-mentioned conventional hydroponic cultivation apparatus, since the rock-wool that is the cultivation bed has a good water-retaining power, the nutrient solution retained in the rock-wool cannot be efficiently drained of excess water. However, it has the drawback of staying.

[0006] In order to solve this problem, the cultivation floor is inclined to have a structure that promotes the discharge of water in the rock wool, or the water content is reduced by suction due to the capillary phenomenon of rock wool. The difficulty is that the materials and equipment are complicated.

There is also a problem that the cloth interposed between the upper rock wool and the lower rock wool may be clogged by root waste and the like, which may hinder drainage.

Further, in addition to the above, in order to avoid the overwhelming state of the rockwool medium and to control it to the optimum humidity, a liquid supply device equipped with a solar radiation sensor, a moisture sensor, etc., corresponding to the transpiration amount of the plant is provided. Although an additional configuration has been devised, it has the drawback of increasing the cost of the entire device.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is capable of quickly draining the excess nutrient solution in the medium, and at the same time, it is possible to maintain the optimal moisture content in the medium, which is resource saving and economical. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a conventional hydroponics device.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Next, means for achieving the above object will be described with reference to the drawings corresponding to the embodiments. The hydroponic cultivation device 1 of the present invention comprises a frame 2 which is erected on an installation surface G and is slightly inclined in the longitudinal direction, and a substantially concave shape which is installed on the frame 2 and whose upper surface is opened. A tray 6 that is formed and has a heat insulating tray member 7 having a support portion 8 protrudingly formed on the inner surface thereof, and a water impermeable sheet 13 that covers the inner surface thereof, and that serves as a channel 11 for the nutrient solution. The bed 16 is placed on the supporting portion 8 in the tray member 7 and is in contact with the lower surface 16b of the bed 16 and the bed 16 formed of rock wool, and at least one end 14a of the bed 16 has a flow path of the tray 6. The water absorbing sheet 14 hung down to 11 and the liquid supply pipe 18 arranged on the upper surface 16a of the bed 16 and supplying the nutrient solution are provided.

Further, the supporting portion 8 of the tray member 7 is located at the center of the flow path 11 and is formed in a protruding shape, and the water absorbing sheet 14 is provided on the upper surface 8 a of the supporting portion 8, and the water absorbing sheet is provided. At least one end 14a of 14 may be configured to hang down into the flow path 11, and a concave groove 10 is formed in the upper surface 8a of the supporting portion 8, and a temperature adjusting pipe 15 is arranged in the concave groove 10. It may be configured.

[0012]

[Action]

 When the nutrient solution is supplied to the bed 16 from the liquid supply pipe 18 arranged on the bed upper surface 16a, the excess nutrient solution is sucked and discharged by the water absorbing sheet 14 in the bed 16. The excess nutrient solution that has been drained is guided to the flow path 11 in the tray 6 and drained because the tray 6 is inclined by the frame 2. As a result, the plant P of the nursery member 17 is always grown with optimum water content. Further, since the tray member 7 of the tray 6 has a heat insulating property and the temperature adjusting tube 15 is provided, the bed 16 and the nursery member 17 are adjusted to an appropriate temperature.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is roughly configured by a frame 2, a tray 6, a bed 16, and a nursery member 17. As shown in FIG. 2, this hydroponic cultivation device 1 is composed of two groups and is installed so as to face each other. However, since each has the same structure, only one device 1 will be described. .

First, the frame 2 is composed of a plurality of supports 3, and each support 3 is composed of a pair of support legs 4 and a support beam 5. Each supporting body 3 has its supporting legs 4 erected on an installation surface G such as the ground by, for example, inserting the supporting legs 4 into the ground, and a supporting beam 5 is substantially horizontal between the supporting legs 4. It is extended and formed in a substantially H shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the supports 3 are erected at predetermined intervals, and the height of the support beam 5 of each support 3 is, for example, 15/1000 between the supports 3. It is set and provided to have a gentle downward slope.

Next, the tray 6 is roughly composed of a tray member 7 and a water impermeable sheet 13. The tray member 7 is formed of a heat insulating material such as styrofoam, and is formed in a substantially concave shape with an open upper surface. As shown in the transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, the tray member 7 has a rectangular support portion 8 projectingly formed at the center of the inner bottom surface 7a, and the support portions 8 are formed at both corners of the inner bottom surface 7a. A supporting portion 8 having the same height as 8 is formed. Further, a concave groove 10 is formed in the center of the upper surface 8a of the support portion 8 located in the center of the support portions 8.

A pair of spaces between the supporting portions 8 serve as flow paths 11 for draining the nutrient solution. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the tray member 7 is placed and fixed on each of the support beams 5 of the frame 2 via a support piece 12. That is, the tray member 7 is fixed on the frame 2 with a downward slope in the longitudinal direction.

Next, the entire inner surface of the tray member 7 is covered with the water impermeable sheet 13. The water-impermeable sheet 13 is a flexible resin sheet, and is designed to prevent leakage of the nutrient solution from the tray member 7. Both side edges of the water impermeable sheet 13 are provided so as to cover the upper edge portions 7b of both side plates of the tray member 7.

Further, a water absorbing sheet 14 is coated on the central supporting portion 8 of the tray member 7 covered with the water impermeable sheet 13 via the water impermeable sheet 13. The water-absorbent sheet 14 is made of a hydrophilic fibrous material, for example, a non-woven cloth such as felt, covers only the central support portion 8, and both side edges 14a which are the end portions of the water-absorbent sheet 14. It hangs down on both sides of, and its tip edge is in contact with the bottom surface of the flow channel 11.

Further, a temperature control tube 15 is fitted in the recessed groove 10 formed in the central support portion 8 of the tray member 7 with the water impermeable sheet 13 interposed therebetween. The temperature control pipe 15 is connected to a temperature control device (not shown) for cooling and heating so that cold water or hot water flows, and the temperature inside the tray member 7, especially the bed 16 or seed bed member described later. The temperature of 17 can be kept moderate.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the bed 16 has a plate shape with a substantially rectangular cross section, and is made of rock wool in which rock is melted at high temperature to be fiberized. The bed 16 is placed in a state of being in contact with the upper surface 8a of the supporting portion 8 via the water impermeable sheet 13 and the water absorbing sheet 14 and the upper surfaces of both side supporting portions 8 via the water impermeable sheet 13. ing.

The seedbed member 17 is a block-shaped member having a substantially cubic shape, for example, urethane foam having open cells and having appropriate air permeability and water permeability, rock wool of the same material as the bed 16, or It is made of a porous material such as a polyester fiber formed in a block shape. In this nursery member 17, a recess is formed in the center of the upper surface 17a, and a plant P is planted therein. The seedbed members 17 are arranged on the upper surface 16a of the bed 16 side by side at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.

Further, on the upper surface 16 a of the bed 16, a pair of liquid supply pipes 18 are disposed at both sides of the seed bed member 17. As shown in FIG. 2, these liquid supply pipes 18 are connected to a pump 20 disposed near one end 7c which is the inclined start end of the tray member 7, and the nutrient solution in which the nutrient solution is stored. The nutrient solution is fed from the tank 21 by the pump 20. Then, a supply port is formed at a side portion of each of the liquid supply pipes 18 at predetermined intervals, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the seed bed member 17 from the supply port.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the nutrient solution cultivating apparatus 1, the nutrient solution flowing through the flow path 11 of the tray member 7 is discharged to the other end 7 d which is the inclined end of the tray member 7. A discharge outlet 7e is provided. One end 22a of the circulation pipe 22 is connected to the discharge port 7e, and the other end 22b of the pipe 22 is connected to the nutrient solution tank 21.

The upper opening of the tray member 7 is made of, for example, a heat insulating material such as foamed polystyrene having the same material as the tray member 7, and has a hole portion through which the seed bed member 17 is fitted and fitted. It is closed by the formed lid body 19, and together with this lid body 19, the entire tray member 7 is covered with a sheet 23.

Here, the water content in the bed 16 (rock wool) and the water content in the medium (rock wool) of the conventional hydroponics device in the hydroponics device 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration. The change with time is compared with the content rate. The inclination angle of each device shown below is 1/80.

First, in the conventional apparatus in which the cultivation bed is composed only of rock wool, when the cultivation bed is in the horizontal state, as shown in FIG. The water content is maintained (marked with △ in the figure), and even if the cultivation bed is tilted, the water content is high (more than 80%) (marked with × in the figure). Is not suitable for.

Further, in the conventional apparatus in which rock wools on the cultivation floor are stacked one above the other, in a horizontal state, as shown in FIG. Holds the optimum moisture for growth (marked with ◇ in the figure). However, when rockwool was tilted, the water content in rockwool was optimum immediately after supplying the nutrient solution, but then drainage was rapidly promoted and the water content fell below 70% (marked by □ in the figure). Is not optimal for training

Then, according to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 of the present invention, the optimum water content is obtained immediately after the supply of the nutrient solution, and the water content is maintained at 70 to 80% (circle in the figure), Since the device 1 is tilted, the nutrient solution is gradually drained to be in an optimal state for growing seedlings. That is, according to this device 1, if the nutrient solution is supplied at intervals of 5 to 10 times a day, it is possible to always maintain the optimum water content and maintain the optimum water content for the growth of the plant P. Becomes

Therefore, in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 configured in this way, by adopting the high-floor type using the frame 2, it is possible to largely omit the preparation of the ground on which the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 is installed. The hydroponics device 1 can be easily installed. Further, since the tray member 7 is formed of a heat insulating material such as styrofoam, the bed 16 in the tray member 7 is not affected by the ambient temperature and the bed 16 is controlled to an appropriate temperature. Therefore, it is not necessary to constantly operate the temperature control device for heating and cooling, so that labor can be saved.

Further, since the bed 16 is placed on the support portion 8 and the space serving as the flow path 11 is provided in the lower portion of the bed 16, the bed 16 has good ventilation, and root rot of the plant P is unlikely to occur. Moreover, since the bed 16 is tilted together with the support portion 8, the drainage efficiency is improved.

Further, the bed 16 made of rock wool has a property of sucking up moisture from the bottom water level to a certain height by a capillary phenomenon and keeping the moisture, but the lower surface 16b of the bed 16 absorbs water of hydrophilic fibers. Since the sheet 14 is brought into contact and the end edge 14a thereof is hung down to the flow path 11, the water in the bed 16 is absorbed by the water absorbing sheet 14 and the water is guided in the downward direction. Become. In other words, the bed 16 is placed on the water absorbent sheet 14 made of hydrophilic fiber that covers the upper surface 8a of the central support portion 8 formed on the tray member 7, and the edge 14a of the water absorbent sheet 14 is suspended. As a result, the water drainage capacity of the bed 16 is obtained. As a result, the inside of the bed 16 does not become over-humidified, and it becomes possible to maintain an appropriate humidity, that is, a water content of 70 to 80% that is suitable for the growth of the plant P, and to maintain this. Oxygen deficiency does not occur for P and root rot does not occur. Moreover, since the humidity is maintained appropriately, it is not necessary to attach a humidity sensor or a sunshine sensor.

Therefore, according to the bed 16, it is possible to drain water rapidly after the liquid is supplied, and it is possible to maintain the optimum water content. The amount of liquid to be supplied per time can be determined without taking into consideration the amount of plant P absorbed. That is, it is sufficient to supply a sufficient amount of liquid in a short time and to perform this intermittently.

Further, the excess nutrient solution in the bed 16 passes through the flow path 11 and is discharged from the drainage port 7e. This nutrient solution returns to the nutrient solution tank 21 and is again pumped to the liquid supply pipe 18. The nutrient solution (water and fertilizer) is not wasted and can be saved because it is sent out, that is, recycled.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the supporting portions 8 formed on the tray member 7 are formed so as to project at three places on the center and on both sides has been described, but as shown in FIG. The structure may be such that the support portions 8 are formed only on both sides of the material 7. In this case, the water absorbing sheets 14 are respectively arranged on both the supporting portions 8 and the end edge 14a, which is one end, is hung in the flow path 11. As a result, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0035]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the present invention, the tray material forming the tray is made of a material having heat insulation property, and the temperature adjusting pipe is arranged in the tray member. Therefore, the bed in the tray member is not affected by the temperature around the device, and it is possible to save energy while always maintaining the optimum temperature for the plant to be grown. Since this bed was placed on the support part inside the tray member, and the space that became the flow path was provided at the bottom of the bed, the bed was well ventilated and root rot of the plant planted in the seedling member occurred. It has the effect of being difficult.

Further, according to this hydroponic cultivation apparatus, the water absorbent sheet of hydrophilic fiber is brought into contact with the lower surface of the bed formed of rock wool, and one end of the water absorbent sheet is hung down to the flow path. The excess water (nutrient solution) inside is absorbed by this water absorbing sheet, and the water is guided in the downward direction, which has the effect of appropriately lowering the water content of the bed. In other words, the inside of the bed is not overhumidified, and it becomes possible to maintain an appropriate humidity immediately after the feeding of the nutrient solution to retain the water, thereby preventing the plants on the bed from being deficient in oxygen and causing root rot. The effect is that it does not occur.

Therefore, according to this bed, it is possible to rapidly drain the excess nutrient solution after the liquid is supplied, and it is possible to maintain the optimum water content. Therefore, if the liquid is supplied after a time necessary for the drainage, The amount of liquid to be supplied once can be performed without taking into consideration the amount of absorption of plants, that is, the liquid is not continuously supplied to the bed but is sufficiently supplied in a short time and is intermittently supplied. This has the effect that the optimum nutrient solution can be supplied to the plant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a hydroponics device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the water content and the elapsed time in the hydroponics device of the present invention and the conventional hydroponics device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hydroponics device according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hydroponics device 2 ... Frame 6 ... Tray 7 ... Tray member 8 ... Support part 8a ... Upper surface 10 ... Recessed groove 11 ... Flow path 13 ... Water impermeable sheet 14 ... Water absorption sheet 14a ... One end (edge) 15 ... Temperature Control tube 16 ... Bed 16a ... Upper surface 16b ... Lower surface 18 ... Liquid supply tube G ... Installation surface (ground)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Creator Masao Shibuya 1-40-11 Minamiogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A frame which is erected on an installation surface and has a slight downward slope in the longitudinal direction, and a frame which is installed on the frame and has a substantially concave shape with an open upper surface and a support portion on the inner surface. A tray, which comprises a protruding tray member having a heat insulating property, and a water impermeable sheet that covers the inner surface of the tray member, and serves as a flow path for the nutrient solution; A bed formed of a water-absorbing sheet that is provided in contact with the lower surface of the bed and has at least one end hanging down into the flow path of the tray; and a liquid supply that supplies nutrient solution to the upper surface of the bed. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprising: a pipe. 2. The support portion of the tray member is located at the center of the flow path and is formed so as to project. A water absorbing sheet is provided on the upper surface of the support portion, and at least one end of the water absorbing sheet has the flow path. 2. The structure according to claim 1, which is hung down.
The hydroponics device described. 3. The support portion of the tray member is located at the center of the flow path and is formed to project, and a groove is formed on the upper surface of the support portion, and a temperature control tube is arranged in the groove. The hydroponics device according to claim 1, which is provided.