JPS6394926A - Control unit of hydroponic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control unit for a hydroponic cultivation apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, hydroponic cultivation, which is the cultivation of plants without using soil, has become popular, and households are now cultivating hydroponic plants using hydroponic cultivation devices.

Such hydroponic cultivation equipment used for home use, etc. is one in which multiple cultivation dishes are stacked in multiple tiers at predetermined intervals and water containing fertilizer (nutrient solution) is supplied into each cultivation dish. is common. In addition, there is also a system in which the nutrient solution is supplied from the nutrient solution tank installed at the bottom to the top cultivation dish, and the nutrient solution is circulated sequentially from the top cultivation dish to the lower cultivation dishes and the nutrient solution tank.

Here, in a nutrient solution circulation type hydroponic cultivation device, a thermometer that measures the temperature of the nutrient solution, an EC meter that determines the fertilizer concentration in the nutrient solution, a PH meter that measures the acidity of the nutrient solution, etc. A sensor is installed, and a pump and the like for supplying the nutrient solution to the top cultivation dish are also installed. A control unit equipped with a display section for displaying detection results from various sensors and an operation section for operating pumps and the like is provided separately from the nutrient solution tank, and is connected to the nutrient solution tank through electric wires, Bourdon tubes, and the like.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention If the display section, operation section, etc. of the control unit and the sensor, pump, etc. installed on the nutrient solution tank are connected using electric wires, Bourdon tubes, etc., the cost will increase and the measurement accuracy will decrease. , Furthermore, it requires a large installation space.

Means for solving interlayer points A plurality of cultivators held in multi-tiered form by holding members are provided above the nutrient solution tank, and a supply section is provided to supply the nutrient solution from the nutrient solution tank to the topmost cultivator. At the same time, a communication hole is formed in the bottom of the cultivator. A lid is provided on a part of the top surface of the nutrient solution tank, and a control box containing an electric circuit is attached to this lid as well as holding the sensor in a downward position.

By attaching the control box to the upper part of the lid of the working nutrient solution tank, the nutrient solution tank and the control box are integrated. To hold a sensor using a control box without using a dedicated holding member.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. A substrate 2 having casters 1 at the four corners of its lower end is provided parallel to the ground surface 3. A fitting hole 4 is formed in the center of the substrate 2, and a cylindrical base tube 5 extending upward is fitted and fixed in the fitting hole 4. A cylindrical support tube 6 extending upward is fitted into the inner peripheral portion of the base tube 5 so as to be rotatable around the axis, and further, the upper end of the base tube 5 is rotatable around the support tube 6. A plurality of freely fitting rotary tubes 7 are stacked with bearings 8 interposed therebetween. Each rotary tube 7 has a holding member 11 consisting of four linear support rods 9 extending horizontally at right angles to each other and a ring-shaped support rod 10 connecting the tips of the linear support rods 9 to each other. Fixed. Also,
The upper end of the support tube 6 has a controller main body 1 which will be described later.
An umbrella-shaped ceiling member 13 is attached to the upper part of the controller main body 12, and a bowl-shaped cap 1 having a mounting hole 14 in the center is attached to the upper part of the ceiling member 13.
5 is fixed.

Next, a nutrient solution tank 17 that stores the nutrient solution 16 inside is installed on the substrate 2.The nutrient solution tank 17 is formed in a substantially donut shape, and the center portion thereof is provided with the nutrient solution 16. The base tube 5 is inserted. In addition, the nutrient solution tank 1
A part of the nutrient solution tank 17 is formed with an overhanging part 18 that extends laterally, the upper surface of this overhanging part 18 is covered with a lid 19, and the other part of the nutrient solution tank 17 has a large number of small holes formed therein. It is covered by a support plate 20 which is made of metal. The support plate 20
A seedling box installation hole 21 is formed in a part of the nutrient solution 16, and a seedling box 22 is inserted into the seedling box installation hole 21 while floating on the surface of the nutrient solution 16. There is an artificial culture agent 23 in the seedling box 22.
A communication hole 24 is formed in the bottom of the seedling box 22. A first heater 25 is provided below the seedling box 22 in the nutrient solution tank 17.

Additionally, a second heater 2 is installed inside the nutrient solution tank 17.
6 and a porous air generator 27 are provided, and a filter 28 that covers one corner of the nutrient solution tank 17 is further provided.

Next, a holding plate 29 is attached to the holding member 11, and the holding plate 29 is attached to the lowermost holding member 11.
9, a pair of small cultivators 30 are placed at positions 180' apart from each other with the support tube 6 in between, and a pair of small cultivators 30 are placed on the other holding plate 29 at positions 180' apart from each other with the support tube 6 in between. A large cultivator 31 is placed. Said cultivator 30.31
A communication hole 32 is provided in the bottom surface of the inner side near the support tube 6.
Further, a cylindrical support 33 that communicates with the communication hole 32 and extends upward is integrally formed on the bottom of the cultivator 30, 31. A cylindrical adjustment tube 34 is fitted into the inner peripheral portion of the support column 33 so as to be rotatable about the axis, and the lower end of the adjustment tube 34 is connected to the communication hole 32.
protrudes further downward and penetrates the retaining plate 29;
A knob 35 for rotationally adjusting the adjusting tube 34 is fixed to the upper end of the adjusting tube 34. Here, a plurality of holes 36 are formed in the pillar 33 along the vertical direction,
A plurality of holes 37 are spirally formed in the adjustment tube 34 and are located at heights opposite to the holes 36 . Furthermore, a symbol is attached to the upper surface of the knob 35 to serve as a mark when the holes 36 and 37 are opposed to each other.

Water dispensers 38 located above the cultivation dishes 30 and 31 are fixed to the rotary tube 7, respectively.
A water flow hole 39 is formed in the bottom part of.

These water holes 39 are opened facing the inner side of the cultivation dish 30.31. A water guide plate 40 is provided inside the cultivation dishes 30.31 to partition the interior of the cultivation dishes 30.31 into a side facing the water flow holes 39 and a side on which the pillars 33 are formed. Note that this water guide plate 40 is bent in a zigzag shape as shown in FIG. A communication portion 41 is formed that communicates both sides of the cultivation dish 30.31 partitioned by the water guide plate 40. Here, the upper surface of the cultivation dish 31 is connected to the support plate 2.
The cultivation dish 30 is covered with a support plate 42 having a large number of small holes in the same way as in the cultivation dish 30, and a support body 43 for sowing seeds and growing seedlings from the seeds is provided in the cultivation dish 30. Further, a filter 44 surrounding the support column 33 is provided inside the cultivation dish 30°31.

A control box 45 is attached to the top of the lid 19 of the nutrient solution tank 17, and the control box 45 includes a thermometer for measuring the solution temperature, an EC meter for measuring the fertilizer concentration, and an EC meter for measuring the acidity of the nutrient solution 16. Sensors 46 such as PH meters are held, and these sensors 46 penetrate the lid 19 and extend downward. Also,
The control box 45 includes the heaters 25 and 26.
The thermostat 47 and the air generator 2 connected to
An air pump 48 to which 7 is connected is provided. Furthermore, the control box 45 includes a display section (not shown) that displays measurement results by the sensor 46 and a heater 25.
An operation unit (not shown) for performing operations such as 26 is provided. A waterproof cover 49 covering the control box 45 is attached to the lid 19 so as to be openable and closable via an opening/closing hinge 50. A pump 51 is fixed to the lower surface of the projecting portion 18, the suction side of the pump 51 is connected to the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank 17 via a suction pipe 52, and the support pipe 6 is connected to the water supply side of the pump 51. One end of a water supply pipe 53 installed inside is connected. Also,
The other end of the water pipe 53 is connected to the controller main body 12.
These pumps 51. A supply section 54 that supplies the nutrient solution 16 in the nutrient solution tank 17 to the cultivation dish 31 at the top is constituted by the suction pipe 52, the water pipe 53, and the like.

The other end of the water pipe 53 is connected to the controller main body 12.
It is connected to the. An inflow path 55 connected to the water pipe 53 side and a branch path 56 branching into two from this inflow path 55 are formed inside the controller main body 12.
The distal end of the branch passage 56 faces the uppermost water flower 38 and has an air mixer 57 attached thereto.

Further, a needle valve 58 is provided in the controller main body 12 facing the intersection of the inflow path 55 and the branch path 56. At the upper end of the needle valve 58, there is a knob 59 for rotating the needle valve 58 to adjust the aperture amount.
are integrally formed.

In addition, above the water flower 38 at the top stage and the air mixer 5
A liquid scattering prevention cover 60 that covers the periphery of the container 7 is provided.

Next, a cooling fan 61 is provided below the bottom opening of the base IUf5. This cooling fan 61
is placed on the ground surface 3 in a position where air can be blown upward. Further, a blower fan 62 is provided above the controller main body 12 in a downward direction, and the blower fan 62 is held by a hook 63 provided on the ceiling member 13. Here, the cooling fan 61 and the blower fan 62 have the same structure with a built-in drive unit and power supply, and only one of them is provided and they can be placed in each other's positions depending on the situation. Good too.

Next, a transparent heat-insulating cover 64 is provided to completely cover the holding member 11, the cultivation dishes 30, 31, and the like. The heat insulating cover 64 is a bag-like member with an opening at the bottom, which is attached from the ceiling member 13 side, positioned and held by the holding member 11 and the cap 15, and whose lower end is held in the nutrient solution. In addition.

A hole is provided at the top at a position that fits the mounting hole 14.
I'm being kicked.

In such a configuration, various plants are planted on the support plate 20.42, and seeds are sown on the support 43. Here, the supply of the nutrient solution 16 to each cultivator 30, 31 and the circulation of the nutrient solution 16 will be explained. By driving the pump 51, the nutrient solution 16 in the nutrient solution tank 17 is sent from the controller main body 12 into the water flower 38 via the suction pipe 52 and the water supply pipe 53. Nutrient solution 1 fed into the water flower 38
6 flows down from the water hole 39 to the cultivator 31, and the cultivator 31
The nutrient solution 16 is supplied into the tank. When the nutrient solution 16 supplied into the cultivator 31 reaches the set nutrient solution level, the nutrient solution 16 passes through the hole 36 of the support column 33 and the hole 37 of the regulation tube 34, which are opposed to each other, and reaches the inner side of the regulation tube 34. ,moreover,
The water flows down from the communication hole 32 into a water sink 38 located below. The water then flows down from the water hole 39 of the water basin 38 into the cultivator 31 located below, and from this cultivator 31, it similarly flows sequentially into the water basin 38 and cultivators 31 and 30 located below.

The cultivation device 30 at the lowest stage flows down into the nutrient solution tank 17, where the nutrient solution 16 is supplied to each cultivation device 30, 31 and the nutrient solution 16 is circulated. The nutrient solution 16 refluxed into the nutrient solution tank 17 is filtered to remove impurities by a filter 28.
Water is again sent to the water sink 38 on the top stage. As the plant grows, the area occupied by the roots in the cultivator 30, 31 increases, but the support 33 is covered with a filter 44, and the roots clog the holes 36 of the support 33, preventing the circulation of the nutrient solution 16. is prevented from interfering with

Next, the fertilizer concentration, acidity, and liquid temperature in the nutrient solution 16 are measured by the sensor 46 and displayed on the display section of the control box 45. Based on this measurement result, the type and amount of fertilizer to be dissolved is adjusted, and the temperature of the nutrient solution 16 is adjusted using the heater 26. Note that by blowing air with the cooling fan 61, the nutrient solution 16 flowing down into the nutrient solution tank 17 is cooled, and the temperature of the nutrient solution 16 is lowered. Furthermore, by blowing air with the blower fan 62, the internal temperature is made uniform when the heat retaining cover 64 is attached. Furthermore, by generating air with the air generator 27, the amount of oxygen contained in the nutrient solution 16 is increased, and the amount of oxygen supplied from the roots to the plants is increased. Here, the sensor 46 is held by a control box 45, and the sensor 46 is held by a control box 45.
6 is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and the sensor 46, heater 26, etc. can be directly connected to the display section, operation section, etc., and the connection structure is simple and inexpensive. It is possible to obtain accurate measurement results. Further, a new space for installing the control box 45 is not required. The control box 45 is covered with a waterproof cover 49 to ensure rainwater is prevented.

The nutrient solution 16 that has reached the controller main body 12 via the water pipe 53 further reaches a branch path 56 from the inflow path 55, passes through the air mixer 57, and flows down into the water flow device 38. here,
By adjusting the throttle amount of the needle valve 58, the amount of water supplied to the nutrient solution 16 can be adjusted without adjusting the rotational speed of the pump 51. Therefore, the same pump 51 can be used even in regions where one frequency is different, and the amount of water supplied to the nutrient solution 16 can be easily adjusted. In addition, the nutrient solution 16 is in a spouting state due to the restriction in the needle valve 58, and the provision of the air mixer 57 at the tip of the first branch path 56 prevents oxygen from being mixed into the nutrient solution 16 flowing down into the water flower 38. The amount is increased.

Next, adjustment of the liquid level of the nutrient solution 16 in each cultivator 30, 31 will be explained. Squeeze the knob 35 to rotate the adjustment tube 34 around its axis.

When the regulating tube 34 is rotated to a predetermined rotation position, the predetermined hole 36 of the support column 33 and the predetermined hole 37 of the regulating tube 34 face each other in communication, and the nutrient solution 16 in the cultivator 30. It reaches the inside of the regulating tube 34 through the holes 36 and 37, and connects to the communication hole 3.
It flows down from 2. The level of the nutrient solution 16 in the cultivator 30.31 is maintained at the level of the opposing holes 36.37.

When the adjusting tube 34 is rotated to another rotational position, the other hole 36.
37 are facing each other, and the level of the nutrient solution 16 in the cultivation dishes 30 and 31 is changed. therefore.

The liquid level of the nutrient solution 16 can be easily and reliably adjusted simply by rotating the adjustment tube 34, and the necessary amount of the nutrient solution 16 can be supplied in accordance with the growth of the plant. Note that by attaching a mark corresponding to the liquid level on the upper surface of the knob 35, the liquid level can be adjusted even more easily. Further, the holes 36 and 37 are general round holes and are easy to form. Furthermore, after forming the holes 36, 37, the strut 33 and the adjustment tube 34 maintain sufficient strength.

Next, the nutrient solution 1 flowing down from the water flow hole 39 of the water flow device 38
6 reaches one side of the cultivation dish 30.31 partitioned by the water guide plate 40, and this nutrient solution 1G flows as shown by the arrow in FIG. The hole 3 extends from the communication portion 41 to the opposite side partitioned by the water guide plate 40 and adjusts the liquid level.
It flows downward from 6.37. Here, since the nutrient solution 16 flows along the inner peripheral surface of the cultivation dish 30.31 and the water guide plate 40, a boundary layer or stagnation of the nutrient solution 16 does not occur in the cultivation dish 30.31, and the nutrient solution 16 is supplied. This can be done uniformly throughout the cultivation dishes 30 and 31. Therefore, the nutrient solution 16 is reliably distributed to the roots of each plant, and the growth of the plants is promoted.

Seeds are sown in a seedling box 22 floating in a nutrient solution tank 17. Therefore, sowing seeds simultaneously using a hydroponic cultivation device,
You can raise seedlings and make effective use of hydroponic cultivation equipment. Also,
The temperature of the nutrient solution 16 around the seedling box 22 can be made higher than other parts by the heater 25 installed below the seedling box 22, so that seeds can be sown and seedlings can be raised even in winter when the temperature is low.

Here, the cultivation dishes 30 and 31 are placed in the base tube 5 as a whole or individually.
Rotating around the axis allows each plant to receive even sunlight. The overall rotation is performed by rotating the support tube 6 around its axis, and the individual rotations are performed by rotating each rotary tube 7 around its axis. In addition, each of the cultivation dishes 30 and 31 can be easily attached and detached simply by being placed on the holding plate 29, and the cultivation dishes 30 and 31 can be easily repositioned within the holding member 11 at the same height. , the cultivation dish 30 between the holding members 11 at different heights.
31 can be easily changed. In addition, each cultivation dish 30.
31 can be taken out individually to any location.

In addition, in implementation, a support column 65 that protrudes in the outer circumferential direction may be attached to the holding member 11. The support columns 65 are connected and fixed to each other, and these support columns 65
Wrap the vines, etc. of plants that have grown around the area.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 8 and 9. Incidentally, the same parts as those explained in FIGS. 1 to 7 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a cylindrical connecting rod 66 is bolted to the attachment hole 14 of the cap 15, and a cover frame 67 surrounding the entire device is bolted to the upper end of this connecting rod 66. The cover frame 67 is covered with a large heat-insulating cover 69 having an entrance/exit 68 that can be opened and closed.

Effects of the Invention The present invention allows the hydroponic cultivation device to be installed in a narrow space by integrally connecting the control box with the nutrient solution tank as described above, and also allows sensors to be installed in the control box. By holding the sensor, it is possible to reduce the number of parts by eliminating the need for a special member to hold the sensor, and it is also possible to directly connect the display and operation section of the control box to the sensor, etc., making it easy and inexpensive. This has advantages such as being able to provide a more accurate connection structure and obtaining accurate measurement results.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof in cross section, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a holding member and a holding plate, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing an enlarged cultivation dish. A front view, FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the cultivation dish with the support plate removed, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the support and adjustment tube, and FIG. 6 is a vertical front view showing the controller main body. 7 is a plan view showing the control box section, FIG. 8 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Holding member, 16... Nutrient solution, 17... Nutrient solution tank, 19... Lid body, 30, 31... Cultivation dish, 3
2...Communication hole, 45...Control box, 4
6...Sensor, 54...Supply Department Applicant: Komatsu Manufacturing Co., Ltd. New employee Shingo Kazu, [: Nidan J)-1 Figure 37, 5. ○Bi

Claims (1)

[Claims] A nutrient solution tank for storing a nutrient solution and a plurality of cultivation dishes held in a multi-tiered manner by a holding member above the nutrient solution tank and each having a communication hole formed in the bottom are provided, and a plurality of cultivation dishes are provided above the nutrient solution tank, and a plurality of cultivation dishes are provided with a communication hole formed in the bottom surface. a supply unit for supplying a solution to the cultivation dish located at the nutrient solution tank, a lid provided on a part of the upper surface of the nutrient solution tank, a sensor held in a downward position on the lid, and a control having a built-in electric circuit. A control unit for a hydroponic cultivation device characterized by an attached box.