KR102499887B1 - Plant cultivation equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention can grow plants by arranging several in parallel in the width direction of the greenhouse so that the cultivated plants can receive sunlight or external light evenly. The plant cultivation apparatus includes a frame having at least one pair of circulation supporters disposed in parallel at intervals and providing a circulation path, respectively, at least one pair of circulation members installed so as to be circulated in the pair of circulation supporters, and a pair of circulation members. A plurality of hanger bars installed connected to the circulation body and arranged at intervals in the rotational direction of the circulation body to hang a plant cultivation container, and the inside of the plurality of hanger bars circulating along the circulation body In a plurality of configurations including the installation of lighting fixtures for radiating light toward the plants grown in the plant cultivation container.

Description

Plant cultivation equipment {Plant cultivation equipment}

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus, and in particular, to an improvement of a plant cultivation apparatus that can be used for plant cultivation by being installed in a greenhouse, a glass greenhouse, a smart farm, or an internal space of a plant factory.

In order to grow plants properly, it is necessary to supply adequate nutrients to the plants and to ensure that the plants are sufficiently and evenly illuminated. In particular, in the case of densely growing plants in a greenhouse, a glass greenhouse, a smart farm, or an internal space of a plant factory, the plants to be grown should be arranged in layers. In this case, it is important to ensure that all cultivated plants are sufficiently and evenly illuminated. Artificial lighting is used when cultivated plants are not sufficiently and evenly illuminated by sunlight alone, or when sunlight is not used.

As a prior art related to this, a plant cultivator having an LED lighting device for plant cultivation is registered under registration number 10-1819585 (name of invention: a plant cultivator equipped with a wavelength-changable LED lighting device, inventor: Jeong Seon-ok et al. 2) It is disclosed in the Registered Patent Publication. Plant cultivators such as Jeong Seon-ok, etc., have a frame to provide a plant cultivation space, a cultivation box disposed below the frame to plant plants, and installed on the upper frame of the cultivation box to light the LED lights. It is provided with a plurality of LED lighting members to illuminate, but the LED lighting member includes a rotating shaft on which a plurality of LED modules having LEDs are installed and a rotating means capable of rotating the rotating shaft through the rotation of the LED lighting member. It has a configuration that allows you to select the color of the LED lighting.

Plant cultivation machines such as Jeong Seon-ok arrange square cultivation boxes in layers, and install a plurality of lighting members on the cultivation boxes for each layer so that the cultivated plants can emit light. Plant cultivators such as Jeong Seon-ok have square-shaped cultivation boxes fixedly arranged in layers, so the ones placed on the lower side inevitably receive less sunlight than those placed on the upper side, so it is impossible to ensure that the plants grown are uniformly exposed to sunlight. It has to rely heavily on lighting. Therefore, this plant cultivator such as Jeong Seon-ok has a disadvantage in that a large number of lighting members are required and too much power is required.

In the case of using a plant cultivation machine such as Jeong Seon-ok, space efficiency is reduced because the interval between plant cultivation periods must be sufficiently wide in order for the plants grown in the middle and lower floors to receive sunlight to some extent, resulting in a decrease in space efficiency and consequently a high heating cost per cultivation area. do.

That is, plant cultivators such as Jeong Seon-ok are not suitable for cultivating plants by arranging a large number of them in parallel inside a greenhouse such as a vinyl house.

In addition, a planting module in which several flat LED lighting fixtures are hung on wires on both sides of a plant cultivation pallet arranged in layers to elevate the flat LED lighting fixtures according to the growth of plants is Publication No. 10-2011-0024703 (Title of Invention: Plant Cultivation Lighting System, Inventor: Yoo Young-ho).

Yoo Young-ho's invention also has disadvantages in that it is not suitable for growing plants using sunlight and requires a large number of lighting fixtures and consumes a lot of power because it has no choice but to rely heavily on artificial lighting. In addition, Yoo Young-ho's invention has a problem in that lighting fixtures are installed on both sides of the plant cultivation palette, so that if the width of the plant cultivation palette is widened, the plants inside cannot receive sufficient light.

In Yoo Young-ho's invention, in order for plants grown on the middle and lower floors to receive sunlight to some extent, space efficiency is reduced because the space between planting modules must be wide enough, resulting in high heating costs.

That is, Yoo Young-ho's invention is also inappropriate for growing plants by arranging a large number of them in parallel inside a greenhouse such as a plastic greenhouse.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of arranging a large number of plant cultivation containers in a small space and allowing the entire cultivated plant to be evenly and sufficiently exposed to sunlight.

Another object of the present invention, preferably, to provide a plant cultivation apparatus suitable for cultivating plants by arranging several in parallel in the width direction inside a greenhouse such as a vinyl house.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of arranging many plant cultivation containers in a small space and evenly and sufficiently sending light to the entire cultivated plant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus through which cultivated plants can efficiently receive light from sunlight or external lighting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of irradiating cultivated plants with light both outside and inside the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of automatically supplying nutrient solution to plant cultivation containers coming to a specific position while being circulated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus that can be suitably used to automate a plant cultivation process.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention includes a frame having at least one pair of circulation supporters arranged in parallel at intervals and providing a circulation path, respectively; at least one pair of circulatory bodies respectively installed to be circulatory to the pair of circulatory supports; A plurality of hanger bars connected to the pair of circulation bodies and disposed at intervals in the rotational direction of the circulation bodies to hang a plant cultivation container; It is installed at intervals on each of the plurality of hanger bars and allows the relative rotation of the hanger bar when the apex of the hanger bar changes as the circulation body circulates along the circulation path, so that the plant cultivation container suspended through the line is left and right. a bearing for maintaining left and right balance without tilting; a nutrient solution supplier for supplying nutrient solution to the plurality of plant cultivation containers; And it is installed at a position spaced apart from the plant cultivation container inside the plurality of plant cultivation containers hanging from the plurality of hanger bars circulating along the circulation and circulating, and illuminates the plants grown in the plurality of plant cultivation containers. Including lighting fixtures for warming,

The lighting fixture emits red, green, and blue light in each direction from the inside of the plurality of plant cultivation containers that circulate and are spaced apart from the plurality of plant cultivation containers that circulate along the circulation body, downward and on both sides. LEDs emitting a light are provided so that they can be adjusted and emitted with light of a required wavelength toward plants grown in the plurality of plant cultivation containers at the lower and both sides of the frame, and at the lower part of one end of the plant cultivation container. A nutrient solution outlet through which the nutrient solution supplied to the plant cultivation container can be discharged is formed, and a nutrient solution recovery container for receiving the nutrient solution discharged from the nutrient solution outlet is installed below the nutrient solution outlet.

The circulation support may have a triangular shape, a chain sprocket may be installed at an edge of the circulation support, and the circulation member may be a chain installed on the chain sprocket.

It is installed on the frame and preferably includes a motor providing rotational power for circulating the circulation body.

It is more preferable that bearings are installed at intervals on the hanger bar, and the plant cultivation container is suspended from the hanger bar through a line hanging on the bearing.

According to the present invention, since the plant cultivation containers are disposed along the inclined surface except for a part, the plant cultivation containers disposed on the upper layer do not cover the plant cultivation containers disposed on the lower layer, so that the cultivated plants receive a lot of light from external lighting such as sunlight. All cultivated plants can receive sunlight or external light uniformly by circulating what is placed on the riverside and what is placed on the slope.

According to the present invention, plants can be cultivated by arranging several of them in parallel in the width direction of the greenhouse inside the greenhouse, such as a plastic greenhouse, and the entire cultivated plant can be evenly exposed to light.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide enough light evenly to cultivated plants, so that about three times as many plants can be grown compared to the case of growing plants on the floor of a general greenhouse, etc., resulting in excellent space efficiency and consequently reducing heating costs. You can save.

According to the present invention, the light can be illuminated from the inside of the circulating plant cultivation container for the cultivated plants in a position where light from external lighting such as sunlight is reduced, so that the entire cultivated plant can be evenly exposed to light.

The plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention can easily automate the plant cultivation process, so it can be suitably used to build a smart farm farm.

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention;
2 is a rear perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1;
Figure 3 is a left side view showing the side arrangement state of the plant cultivation container and lighting fixtures,
4 is a plan view showing a flat arrangement state of a plant cultivation container and a lighting fixture;
Figure 5 is a partially separated perspective view showing a separated state of the upper part of the plant cultivation container,
6 is a partially enlarged view for explaining a preferred example of a bearing and a chain;
7 is a view for explaining the nutrient solution supply principle of the rotary nutrient solution supply pipe.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 6, the plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present invention has a frame 110. In the frame 110, a pair of circulation supporters 112 each providing a circulation path are installed in parallel at intervals. Preferably, the circulation support 112 has a triangular shape. Chain sprockets 114 as shown in FIG. 6 are installed at the corners of the circulation support 112, respectively.

Preferably, the frame 110 has a support frame 116 installed under the pair of circulation supporters 112 . The support frame 116 supports at least one pair of circulation supporters 112 at a certain height or higher from the floor so that the plant cultivation container 130 moved to the lower side does not touch the floor and the hanger bar 150 described later (hanger bar 150) ), allowing it to move along the circulation path while suspended or suspended. Of course, when at least one pair of circulation supporters 112 are integrally coupled to each other and suspended from a structure disposed thereon, the support frame 116 does not necessarily exist.

A pair of circulation supporters 112 are provided with circulation bodies 170, respectively. As the circulation body 170, a chain that can be circulated by hanging on the chain sprocket 114 installed at each corner is suitable.

As shown, a plurality of hanger bars 150 are installed at intervals in the rotational direction of the pair of circulation members 170 . Preferably, both ends of the hanger bar 150 are coupled to the pair of circulation members 170 through connection pins or the like to connect the pair of circulation members 170 .

A plant cultivation container 130 is suspended from each hanger bar 150 through a string 152 . Preferably, bearings 154 are installed at intervals on the hanger bar 150, and the string 152 hanging the plant cultivation container 130 is suspended from the hanger bar 150 through the bearing 154. .

A nutrient solution outlet 132 through which the nutrient solution supplied from the other end to the plant cultivation container 130 can be discharged is formed at the lower part of one end of the plant cultivation container 130 . A nutrient solution recovery container 180 for receiving the nutrient solution discharged from the nutrient solution outlet 132 is installed below the nutrient solution outlet 132 . The nutrient solution that has fallen into the nutrient solution recovery container 180 is preferably sent to the nutrient solution supply container 192 after undergoing a separate treatment process.

The bearing 154 allows the relative rotation of the hanger bar 150 when the apex of the hanger bar 150 changes as the circulation body 170 circulates along the circulation path so that the plant cultivation container 130 does not tilt from side to side. This is to ensure that left and right balance is maintained.

The plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present invention has a motor M that provides rotational power for circulating the circulation body 170. Preferably, the motor (M) is installed on the frame 110, and rotationally drives the chain sprocket 114 to circulate the circulation body 170 along the circulation path of the circulation support member 112. Since both circulation bodies 170 are connected to each other by a plurality of hanger bars 150, when the size of the plant growing device 100 is small, the motor M rotates only one chain sprocket 114 to both circulation bodies. (170) can also be rotated. In the case of a large scale, it is preferable to transmit power to the chain sprocket 114 on the opposite side of the motor (M) by connecting at least one pair of both side chain sprockets 114 disposed on the same line through a shaft. . Of course, both chain sprockets 114 can be driven by synchronized separate motors.

Preferably, the plant cultivation vessel 130 according to the present invention has a nutrient solution supplier 190 for supplying nutrient solution to the plurality of plant cultivation vessels 130 . Nutrient solution supplier 190 is connected to a plurality of hoses 194 having one end connected to a nutrient solution supply container 192 storing nutrient solution and a plurality of plant cultivation containers 130, respectively, and the other end of the plurality of hoses 194 to provide nutrient solution It is configured with a rotating nutrient solution supply pipe 196 for supplying the nutrient solution from the supply container 192 to the plant cultivation container 130 through a plurality of hoses 194. The rotating nutrient solution supply pipe 196 rotates according to the angle at which the plant cultivation container 130 circulates as the circulation body 170 circulates along the circulation path to supply the nutrient solution to the plant cultivation container 130, and the hose ( 194) is not twisted.

Preferably, the rotary nutrient solution supply pipe 196 has a small section 196a and an extension 196b installed at an end of the small section 196a, and is connected to the hose 194 through the extension 196b. there is. The rotating nutrient solution supply pipe 196 will be described in detail later.

Preferably, the plant cultivation device 100 according to the present invention has a lighting device 200. The lighting device 200 is disposed inside the plurality of hanger bars 150 circulating along the circulation body 170 and faces the plants grown in the various plant cultivation containers 130 suspended from the plurality of hanger bars 150. (150) It is for shining light inside. As the lighting device 200, an LED lighting device is preferable. This lighting device 200 arranges LEDs emitting red, green, and blue light in each direction of the lower side and both sides inside the plant cultivation containers 130 circulating along the circulation body 170, It is possible to adjust and emit light of a required wavelength toward the plants grown in the plant cultivation containers 130 on the side.

This lighting device 200 is preferably installed so as to be suspended from the circulation support 112 . However, the lighting device 200 may be supported and installed on other parts of the frame 110, such as the support frame 116, so as not to disturb the circulation of the plant cultivation containers 130. Of course, the lighting fixture 200 does not necessarily have to be supported by the frame 110, and can be placed inside the circulating plant cultivation containers 130 while being installed on a separate stand separated from the frame 110. .

Referring to FIG. 6 , a protrusion 174 having a hole 172 is formed in the circular body 170, and a hanger bar 150 is a fastening member 176 coupled to the protrusion 174 through the hole 172. ) is fixed to the circulation body 170 by. A screw member, a pin, or the like may be used as the fastening member 176 . In some cases, the hanger bar 150 may be fixed to the circulation body 170 by other fixing means such as welding.

On the other hand, it is preferable to form a groove 155 on the outer circumferential surface of the bearing 154 installed on the hanger bar 150 to prevent the line 152 hanging the plant cultivation container 130 from moving sideways.

The rest is the same as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 .

Referring to FIG. 7, the nutrient solution supply principle of the rotary nutrient solution supply pipe will be described. 1 to 5 are also referred to.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7, the rotary nutrient solution supply pipe 196 includes a small cross section 196a and an extension 196b installed at the end of the small cross section 196a, and an extension 196b. ) It is connected to a plurality of hoses 194 through. The plurality of hoses 194 are connected through hose connection parts 196c formed at intervals along the edge of the extension part 196b. In this state, when the rotational nutrient solution supply pipe 196 connected to the hoses 194 rotates as the cultivation container 130 rotates according to the rotation of the circulation body 170, the expansion part 196b also rotates so that each hose ( 194) is also moved in a circular motion, and its position fluctuates from the top to the bottom and from the bottom to the top. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the water level H of the nutrient solution supplied through the small cross-section portion 196a and stored in the expansion portion 196b is below the hose connection portion 196c to which the hoses 194 of the upper portion are connected. If the supply amount of the nutrient solution is adjusted to maintain the nutrient solution, it is possible to supply the nutrient solution only to some of the hoses 194 coming to the lower side. The water level (H) can be adjusted by adjusting the supply amount of the nutrient solution to the amount that escapes through the hoses 194 below the water level (H).

In some cases, of course, the hose connection portion 196c may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the extension portion 196b.

In some cases, a water level sensor is installed inside the expansion unit 196b to automatically detect the level of the nutrient solution in the expansion unit 196b to automatically open and close the valve V installed in the small section 196a. can make it In this case, it is preferable to use a solenoid valve as the valve V. In some cases, a part of the expansion part 196b may be made of a transparent material so that the water level can be checked from the outside, and the degree of opening of the valve V may be manually adjusted.

A process of cultivating plants using the plant cultivating apparatus 100 as described above will be described.

Preferably, the plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is arranged in a greenhouse such as a 7m wide vinyl house by about 4-5 units in the width direction, for example, to grow plants. In FIG. 3, which is a left side view of FIG. 1, when the sun is on the left side of the plant cultivation device 100, sunlight hits the plant cultivation container 130 disposed on the left side the most. Plants in the plant growing container 130 on the left side are allowed to receive light for, for example, about 1 hour. At this time, the rotary nutrient solution supply pipe 196 sufficiently supplies the nutrient solution only to the plant cultivation containers 130 disposed on the lower side. If necessary, the supply of nutrient solution can be stopped for a certain period of time by closing the valve. The nutrient solution supplied to one side of the plant cultivation container 130 is discharged to the nutrient solution recovery container 180 through the nutrient solution outlet 132 on the other side through the plants to be cultivated.

Then, the motor (M) is driven to rotate the circulation body 170 through the chain sprocket 114, for example, clockwise. As the circulation body 170 rotates, the hanger bar 150 and the plant cultivation container 130 suspended on the hanger bar 150 are also moved in the direction of rotation of the circulation body 170, for example, plant cultivation on the lower side. The containers 130 move toward the left side, the left side plant cultivation containers 130 move towards the right side, and the right side plant cultivation containers 130 move toward the lower side.

At this time, the rotating nutrient solution supply pipe 196 connected to the plant cultivation container 130 through the hose 194 is also rotated in the direction of rotation of the plant cultivation container 130, and the hose 194 connected to the lower side of the extension part 196b Through this, the nutrient solution is supplied to the plant cultivation containers 130 located on the lower side. If necessary, the supply of nutrient solution can be stopped for a certain period of time by closing the valve (V) or the like.

After a certain period of time has elapsed, the motor M is driven again for a certain period of time to rotate the circulating body 170 clockwise through the chain sprocket 114 to undergo the same process as described above. Accordingly, the cultivation containers 130 on the lower side are moved to the left side, the containers 130 on the left side to the right side, and the containers 130 on the right side to the lower side.

That is, according to the present invention, the nutrient solution is automatically transferred to specific plant cultivation containers 130 while circulating the plurality of plant cultivation containers 130 through the circulation body 170 according to the position or state of external lighting such as the sun. It can be supplied, and the plants in each plant cultivation container 130 can receive external light such as sunlight evenly.

On the other hand, when the amount of sunlight is insufficient due to winter or cloudy weather, the lighting fixtures 200 disposed inside the circulated plant cultivation containers 130 are used to emit light toward the plants in the plant cultivation containers 130. can If necessary, light can be sent to cultivated plants at night using the lighting device 200 .

The plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present invention operating in the above process can be automated by appropriately controlling only the driving cycle of the motor M and the on/off of the lighting fixture 200 according to the season, weather, indoor temperature, etc. Therefore, it is very advantageous for automation.

The present invention has the possibility of being used for plant cultivation by being installed in a greenhouse, a glass greenhouse, a smart farm, or an internal space of a plant factory. It has the potential to be suitable for automating plant cultivation processes.

100: plant cultivation device 110: frame
112: circulation support 114: chain sprocket
116: support frame 130: plant cultivation container
132: nutrient solution outlet 150: hanger bar
152 row 154 bearing
155 groove 170 circular body
172: hole 174: projection
176: fastening member 180: nutrient solution recovery container
190: Nutrient solution supplier 192: Nutrient solution supply container
194: hose 200: lighting fixture
H: water level M: motor
V: valve

Claims (4)

A frame having at least one pair of circulation supporters arranged in parallel at intervals and providing a circulation path, respectively;
at least one pair of circulatory bodies respectively installed to be circulatory to the pair of circulatory supports;
A plurality of hanger bars connected to the pair of circulation bodies and disposed at intervals in the rotational direction of the circulation bodies to hang a plant cultivation container;
It is installed at intervals on each of the plurality of hanger bars and allows the relative rotation of the hanger bar when the apex of the hanger bar changes as the circulation body circulates along the circulation path, so that the plant cultivation container suspended through the line is left and right. a bearing for maintaining left and right balance without tilting;
a nutrient solution supplier for supplying nutrient solution to the plurality of plant cultivation containers; and
Installed at a position spaced from the plant cultivation container inside the plurality of plant cultivation containers hanging from the plurality of hanger bars circulating along the circulation body and exposed to light on the plants grown in the plurality of plant cultivation containers Including lighting fixtures for
The lighting fixture emits red, green, and blue light in each direction from the inside of the plurality of plant cultivation containers that circulate and are spaced apart from the plurality of plant cultivation containers that circulate along the circulation body, downward and on both sides. It is provided with LEDs that emit light so that it can be adjusted and emitted with light of a required wavelength toward the plants grown in the plurality of plant cultivation containers on the lower and both sides of the frame,
A nutrient solution outlet through which the nutrient solution supplied to the plant cultivation container can be discharged is formed at the lower part of one end of the plant cultivation container,
A plant cultivation apparatus comprising a nutrient solution collection container installed below the nutrient solution outlet to receive the nutrient solution discharged from the nutrient solution outlet. In claim 1, the circulation support is to have a triangular shape,
A plant cultivation device, characterized in that a chain sprocket is installed at the corner of the circulation support, and the circulation member is a chain installed on the chain sprocket. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a motor installed on the frame and providing rotational power for circulating the circulation body. delete

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