JPH078113A - Artificial plant-growing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the consumption of normal electric power, i.e., commercial electric power, reduce the growing cost and utilize a solar battery by saving the consumption of electric power. CONSTITUTION:This artificial plant-growing apparatus is composed of a plant- growing bed 1 and a light source 2 to irradiate the plant-growing bed 1 with artificial light for growing plant. The light source 2 is composed of an artificial plant-growing lamp 3 and a reflector 4 having an almost elliptic cross-section and opened at the light-radiating side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an artificial plant growing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The increase in population in the modern era is a fierce one that has not yet occurred, and it is essential to increase food production. Therefore, various plant growing devices have been developed that irradiate a growing plant with artificial light to grow the plant artificially under various controls.

However, in this case, when cultivating a plant using artificial light having an excellent effect of growing a target plant, for example, artificial visible light, a light source that normally emits light of tens of thousands of lux is required, and the power cost is reduced. The pressure on the cost of growing plants has become a problem.

When the electric power used is the normal electric power, some fossil fuel or the like is consumed, which leads to the destruction of the global environment.

Therefore, there is an increasing need for power saving for plant cultivation. Further, from the viewpoint of the global environment, the use of solar cells can be considered, but at present, more power saving is desired due to the problems of efficiency and price of solar cells.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention intends to reduce the power consumption of an artificial plant growing device by reducing the consumption of ordinary power, that is, commercial power, reducing the cost, and further utilizing a solar cell. to enable.

[0007]

The first aspect of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 which is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment thereof, showing a plant cultivation floor 1 and an artificial plant for the plant cultivation floor 1. In the artificial plant growing device having the light source unit 2 for irradiating the plant growing light, the light source unit 2 is composed of the artificial plant growing light lamp 3 and the reflector 4 having an opening on the light output side thereof.

The reflector 4 has a substantially elliptical cross section, that is, a spheroidal surface or an elliptic cylindrical surface.

In the second aspect of the present invention, as shown in a sectional view of an example in FIG.
Place it on top.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the arrangement curved surface 5 of the plurality of light source portions 2 is used as a reflecting surface.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the arrangement curved surface 5 has a substantially elliptical cross section, and the maximum value of the light distribution characteristic curve of each light source section 2 is shown at or near the focal point E2 farther from the arrangement curved surface 5. The axis, that is, the maximum light amount axis a is passed.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 3, there is provided a change setting means 7 for the relative positional relationship between the reflector 4 of the light source section 2 and the lamp 3.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, as shown in the block diagram of one example, the light source section 2 and the plant cultivation floor 1 are moved relatively to each other so that the distance between the light source section 2 and the plant cultivation floor 1 is increased. The adjusting means 8 for adjusting is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, electric power generated by a solar cell is used as a power source for a plant growing device.

The eighth aspect of the present invention also uses a storage battery in which electricity obtained from a solar cell is stored.

[0016]

In the apparatus of the present invention, the plant of the plant cultivation floor 1 is cultivated by lighting the lamp 3 of the light source unit 2 and irradiating the artificial plant growing light. Since the reflector 4 formed in a substantially elliptical cross section, that is, a spheroidal surface or an elliptic cylindrical surface is arranged in the light source unit 2, the reflector 4
As well as the light from the lamp 3 on one of the focal points e _{1 as} shown in the optical path diagram in FIG. In addition, it is possible to obtain the same efficiency as when the light is emitted from the virtual light source e ₂ , and it is possible to efficiently perform the light irradiation, and it is possible to achieve the power saving.

In the present invention, the light source section 2 and the plant cultivation floor 1 are also provided.
Since the adjusting means 8 for adjusting the interval between and is provided, it is possible to rationally perform irradiation according to the growth stage of the plant, and thus it is possible to save power.

Further, in the present invention, the electric power required for the device is directly applied from the solar cell or is stored in the storage battery before being used, so that the use of commercial electric power can be avoided or reduced. .

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a plant cultivation floor 1 and a light source section 2 for irradiating the plant cultivation floor 1 with artificial plant growing light are provided.

The plant cultivating floor 1 may be a soil floor, a hydroponic floor or the like. Especially, when the hydroponic method is used, water, fertilizer-containing water or the like is fed to the plant cultivating floor 1 although not shown. A pump for supplying or circulating is provided.

The light from the light source unit 2 is directly or indirectly applied to the plants on the plant cultivation floor 1. The light source unit 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, it comprises at least an artificial plant growing light lamp 3 and a reflector 4.

The lamp 3 of the light source unit 2 is suitable for control such as ordinary fluorescent lamps, so-called metal halide lamps, etc., such as growth suppression according to the kind of growing plant or growth suppression for the purpose of adjusting shipment, for example. Lamp 3 is used.

In the light source unit 2, a single lamp 3 is provided with a set of a single or a plurality of reflectors 4. Alternatively, a set of a single or a plurality of sets of reflectors 4 is provided for a set of a plurality of lamps 3 as described above.

A single light source unit 2 or a plurality of light source units 2 having such a structure are provided. When a plurality of light source units 2 are provided, they are arranged along the concave curved surface 5 on the light output side, for example, as shown in FIG.

The reflector 4 of the light source unit 2 has a substantially elliptical cross section and is open on the light output side of the lamp 3. The reflector 4 is a spheroidal surface or an elliptic cylindrical surface, and is selected according to the shape of the lamp 3. For example, for the reflector 4,
When arranging a single point or spherical lamp 3, a spheroidal surface is used, and the lamp 3 has _one of the two focal points e ₁ and e ₂ of the elliptical reflector 4 as shown in FIG. For example, it is placed at or near e ₁ .

When the lamp 3 is a linear or columnar light source, the reflector 4 has an elliptic cylindrical surface.

When a plurality of lamps 3 are provided for one set of reflectors 4, the shape of the reflectors 4 is selected according to the positional relationship among the plurality of lamps 3.

When arranging a plurality of lamps 3,
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG.
Arrange along a virtual curved surface that is a parabola or a hyperbola.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the arrangement curved surface 5 has a substantially elliptical cross section, and among the focal points E ₁ and E ₂ , at the focal point E ₂ farther from the arrangement curved surface 5 or in the vicinity thereof, the respective light source portions thereof. Each axis showing the maximum value of the light distribution characteristic curve 2 is passed.

Further, the arrangement curved surface 5 has a substantially circular cross section, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, each light source 2 is arranged on a circular arc concentric with this circle, and is indicated by chords P ₁ P ₂ on the opposite circular arc. Area to be set. With this configuration, the light emission angle of the light source unit 2 becomes the circumferential angle of this circle formed by the chord P ₁ P ₂ , and the light source unit 2 is divided into vertical bisectors of the chord P ₁ P _2. Since they can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the irradiation target surface 9, if this region is formed on the illuminated surface 9, the number of light source units 2 can be increased or decreased by hardly changing the light distribution from the light source units 2.
The intensity of irradiation can be increased or decreased.

Further, the arrangement curved surface 5 on which the above-mentioned light source is arranged can be constituted by an object surface, and the surface on the side of the plant cultivation floor 1 can be used as a reflecting surface. Can be increased.

On the other hand, the light source section 2 is provided with a change setting means 7 for changing the relative positional relationship between the reflector 4 of the light source section 2 and the lamp 3. By changing the arrangement relation, the light distribution characteristic of the light source unit 2 itself can be selected.

The change setting means 7 is provided with a fixed female screw 10 across, for example, the reflector 4 and the reflection surface 5, as shown in a side view of a part of which is shown in FIG.
The lamp 3 is attached to the tip of the screw 11 that is screwed into this so as to rotate freely and integrally move in the axial direction of the screw 11, and by rotating this screw 11, the screw 11 and therefore the lamp 3 are mounted. By moving along the screw 10, the positional relationship between the lamp 3 and the reflector 4, that is, the distance between the lamp 3 and the reflector 4, is changed and set. The screw 11 is, for example, a gear mechanism 12
It is rotationally driven by the motor 13 via.

Between the light source section 2 and the plant cultivation floor 1, as shown in FIG. 4, an adjusting means 8 for adjusting the distance between the two is provided. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 14 indicates the arrangement part of a large number of light source parts 2 as a whole. In this example, when the adjusting means 8 is provided between the arrangement part 14 and the plant cultivation floor 1, and the arrangement part 14 This is a case where both the plant cultivation floor 1 and the plant cultivation floor 1 are configured to be close to and away from each other. In this case, although not shown, the arrangement section 14 and the plant cultivating floor 1 are provided with moving guide means that move close to and away from each other, and the arrangement section 14 and the plant cultivating floor 1 are screw holes 15 on the same axis which are mutually opposite screws. And 16 are provided, and screws 17 and 18 that are screwed into the screw holes 15 and 16 are integrally provided on the same rotary shaft 19. In this configuration, if the rotary shaft 19 is rotated, the screws 17 and 1
8 rotates so that the screw holes 15 and 16, that is, the light source placement portion 14 and the plant cultivation floor 1 are moved closer to and away from each other along the rotation axis. The rotating shaft 19 is rotationally driven by a motor 21 via a gear mechanism 20, for example.

The adjusting means 8 is not limited to the above-mentioned example and may have various configurations. However, by utilizing the mutual weights of the light source arrangement portion 14 and the plant cultivation floor 1, they can be mutually driven with a small driving force. It is also possible to have a structure in which the interval of can be adjusted. An example of this case will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a pair of rotating bodies 32A and 32B rotatably supported by bearings 31A and 31B, respectively, are provided, and these are rotationally driven by, for example, a motor (not shown). The gear mechanisms 33A and 33B meshing with the gear 33C are rotationally driven in opposite directions.

Then, the belts 34A and 34B are locked to the rotating bodies 32A and 32B, and when one of the belts 34A and 34B is wound around one rotating body by the rotation of the rotating bodies 32A and 32B, the other rotating body is rotated. The other belt is paid out from the body.

Then, these pairs of rotating bodies 32A and 32A
When B and the belts 34A and 34B are set as one set, a plurality of sets (two sets on the left and right are shown in FIG. 7) are provided.

Then, the corresponding one belt 34 of each set
The other ends of A and 34B are respectively coupled to the plant cultivation floor 1 and the arrangement portion 14 of the light source unit 2 to form the belt 34A.
And 34B suspend the plant cultivation floor 1 and the light source unit 14.

In this case, the belt 33B is suspended around the pulley 35 with respect to the light source section 2 arranged above in the direction of gravity. Drive gear 33C by this mechanism
Of one wire 33 to one rotating body 32A by the rotation of
When A is wound up, the other wire 33B is unwound from the other rotating body 32B, and for example, when the light source unit 14 is suspended, the plant cultivation floor 1 is lifted, and both are brought close to each other. Then, when the rotation drive gear is rotated in the reverse direction, the rotating bodies 32A and 33B reverse to each other and the disposing portion 14 of the light source unit 2 is lifted contrary to the above, and the plant cultivation floor 1 hangs down to cause the light source unit 2 to rotate. The arrangement | positioning part 14 and the plant cultivation floor 1 will be distanced.

In this case, the lifting of the plant cultivation floor 1 is carried out by the weight of the entire arrangement portion 14 of the light source unit 2, and when the arrangement portion 14 of the light source unit 2 is lifted, the gravity of the plant cultivation floor 1 is increased. Since they work, the upper and lower parts can be smoothly moved with a small rotational driving force, and the labor can be saved.

On the other hand, the rotating bodies 32A and 32B are each formed of a conical body, and the slit 36 is provided on the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction, and the piece provided at the end of the wires 34A and 34B is rotated, for example. The rotary body 32 is inserted from the open end of the slit 36 that opens to the end faces of the bodies 32A and 32B.
By locking at the required radial positions of A and 32B, the imbalance of the weights of the plant cultivation floor 1 and the arrangement portion 14 of the light source portion 2 that interact with each other is adjusted.

Further, in the above structure, the plant cultivation bed 1
Is hydroponics, and the oxygen obtained by electrolyzing the water is dissolved in the water of hydroponics to increase the oxygen concentration in the water and protect the cultivated plant from diseases such as root rot and to grow it. Can be encouraged.

In the artificial plant growing apparatus having the above-described structure, for example, the electric power of the light source unit 2, the distance between the plant cultivation floor 1 and the arrangement unit 14 of the light source unit 2 are changed, and the plant cultivation floor 1 is changed.
For example, driving a pump that supplies or circulates water or the like, or a power source for all or part of electric power for electrolysis, and uses a solar cell to directly or temporarily generate an electromotive force of the solar cell. It is used by storing electricity in.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the plant on the plant cultivation floor 1 is
The plant is grown by turning on the lamp 3 of the light source unit 2 and irradiating the artificial plant growing light. In the present invention, in particular, the light source unit 2 has a substantially elliptical cross section, that is, a spheroidal surface or an elliptic cylindrical surface. Since the reflector 4 formed in the above is arranged, as described above, the light is directly led out through the opening of the reflector 4, and the light which is not directly led out is reflected one or more times, so that the optical path diagram in FIG. As shown in FIG. ₂ , the light emitted from the lamp 3 on one of the focal points e ₁ has almost the same efficiency as the light emitted from the virtual light source e ₂ , and the light can be efficiently radiated. Can be changed.

Further, in the present invention, the light source unit 2 and the plant cultivation floor 1 are used.
Since the adjusting means 8 for adjusting the interval between and is provided, it is possible to rationally perform irradiation according to the growth stage of the plant, and thus it is possible to save power.

Further, in the present invention, the electric power required for the device is directly applied from the solar cell or is stored in the storage battery before being used, so that the use of commercial electric power can be avoided or reduced. .

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cultivate plants efficiently, so that it is possible to achieve power saving, and along with this, the problem of environmental destruction and cost reduction. Furthermore, it enables the use of solar cells.

Further, in the present invention, by using the solar cell, the problem of destruction of the natural environment can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram of an example of a light source unit of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a light irradiation state of an example of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example of means for adjusting relative movement between the light source unit and the plant cultivation floor of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement mode of a light source unit of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an example of means for changing and setting the relative position of the lamp and the reflector in the light source section of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an example of means for adjusting relative movement between the light source unit and the plant cultivation floor of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of an example of a relative movement adjusting means for the light source part and the plant cultivation floor of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Plant cultivation floor 2 Light source part 3 Lamp 4 Reflector 14 Arrangement part of light source part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An artificial plant growing device having a plant cultivating floor and a light source unit for irradiating the plant cultivating floor with artificial plant growing light, wherein the light source unit is an artificial plant growing light lamp and a light-deriving side thereof. An apparatus for growing an artificial plant, characterized in that it has a reflector open to the inside, and the reflector has an elliptical cross section. 2. The artificial plant growing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of light source units are arranged on the curved surface having a concave shape on the light output side. 3. The artificial plant growing device according to claim 2, wherein the curved surface on which the plurality of light source units are arranged is a reflecting surface. 4. The arrangement curved surface of the plurality of light source sections is made substantially elliptical in cross section, and each axis showing the maximum value of the light distribution characteristic curve of each light source section is provided at or near a focal point far from the arrangement curved surface. The artificial plant growing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the artificial plant growing device is passed through. 5. The artificial plant growing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising change setting means for changing a relative positional relationship between the reflector of the light source section and the lamp. 6. An artificial plant cultivating apparatus comprising an adjusting means for adjusting the distance between the light source section and the plant cultivation floor by relatively moving the light source section and the plant cultivation floor. 7. The power generated by the solar cell is used as a power source.
The artificial plant growing device described in. 8. The artificial plant growing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electricity obtained by the solar cell is used after being stored in a storage battery.