KR102602793B1 - A monitoring apparatus for growth environment of plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant growth environment monitoring device, comprising: a tray provided with a space for accommodating a medium therein; A gutter where the tray is placed; an opening formed in the gutter to expose a lower portion of the tray when the tray is placed in the gutter; A connection port formed on one side of the lower part of the tray; A probe installed in the connection port; An installation frame installed on one side of the tray; A camera, temperature and humidity sensor, and carbon dioxide sensor installed on the installation frame; A transmitting unit that inputs images captured by the camera, temperature and humidity data and carbon dioxide concentration data detected by the temperature and humidity sensor and the carbon dioxide sensor, respectively; a main body portion movably positioned along the tray installed in the gutter; Moving means provided to move the main body; A load cell installed in the main body; a support portion connected to the load cell and located on an upper portion of the main body; an actuator that lifts the load cell; A sensor body located on one side of the support unit; A receiving unit located on one side of the main body; Provided is a plant growth environment monitoring device including a data input unit each connected to the load cell, the sensor body, and the receiver.

Description

{A monitoring apparatus for growth environment of plant}

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring the growth environment of plants.

Nutrient solution cultivation is a method of cultivation by supplying nutrient solution adjusted to an appropriate concentration to plants planted in the medium so that they can properly absorb the nutrients necessary for growth. Mainly used are cucumbers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, water parsley, and roses. , This is a method used to grow carnations, etc.

By using this hydroponic farming method, plant growth can be more completely controlled. This is because the supply of the amount needed for plant growth can be optimized by carefully controlling the necessary moisture and nutrients.

Therefore, it has the advantage of not only promoting plant growth but also enabling stable operation by controlling the shipping time.

Depending on the type of medium in which plants are planted, it is divided into inorganic medium and organic medium. Inorganic media include perlite, rock wool, sand, gravel, polyurethane foam, and vermiculite. Organic media include peat moss, coco fiber, rice husk, and coal. In addition, there is also a mixed culture medium that uses mixed media.

As mentioned above, hydroponic cultivation has the advantage of being able to optimize the supply of nutrients as needed for plant growth, but in order to optimize this, it is difficult to meet the condition that detailed monitoring of the medium condition as well as the plant growth condition is required. also exists.

Patent Document 1 is a patent application published document filed by the present applicant and discloses a device that measures the growth state of horticultural crops grown in a plant cultivation facility using a thermal imaging camera and monitors it in real time from the outside.

However, Patent Document 1 only monitors the growth state by observing the appearance of the cultivated plant, and does not actually monitor the state of the medium where nutrients are supplied.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can monitor and manage not only the plants themselves but also the condition of the medium to which the nutrient solution is supplied.

KR 10-2018-0055025 A

The present invention was developed to solve the above-described conventional problems, and is intended to integrate and automatically monitor growth conditions, including the appearance of plants as well as the condition of the medium, in hydroponic cultivation using multiple medium trays. We would like to provide a device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a tray provided with a space for receiving a medium therein; A gutter where the tray is placed; an opening formed in the gutter to expose a lower portion of the tray when the tray is placed in the gutter; A connection port formed on one side of the lower part of the tray; A probe installed in the connection port; An installation frame installed on one side of the tray; A camera, temperature and humidity sensor, and carbon dioxide sensor installed on the installation frame; A transmitting unit that inputs images captured by the camera, temperature and humidity data and carbon dioxide concentration data detected by the temperature and humidity sensor and the carbon dioxide sensor, respectively; a main body portion movably positioned along the tray installed in the gutter; Moving means provided to move the main body; A load cell installed in the main body; a support portion connected to the load cell and located on an upper portion of the main body; an actuator that lifts the load cell; A sensor body located on one side of the support unit; A receiving unit located on one side of the main body; Provided is a plant growth environment monitoring device including a data input unit each connected to the load cell, the sensor body, and the receiver.

It is positioned to surround the gutter and further includes a gutter bracket with installation holes formed on both sides of the gutter, and the installation frame is preferably positioned on both sides of the gutter through the installation holes.

It is preferable to further include a connection frame crossing between the installation frames installed on both sides of the gutter.

With the main body located below the gutter, the load cell is raised by the actuator, and as the support portion supports the lower part of the tray exposed by the opening, the weight data of the medium inside the tray is generated by the load cell. Measured, the sensor body contacts the probe located on the connection port side to detect the status data of the badge, and the receiver 271 approaches the transmitter 191, so the camera input to the transmitter 191 Images, temperature and humidity data, and carbon dioxide concentration data are received by the receiving unit 271, and the measured weight data of the medium, the detected status data of the medium, and the received camera image, temperature and humidity data, and carbon dioxide concentration are transmitted to the data input unit. It is desirable to enter 280.

Preferably, it further includes a rail disposed along the gutter, and the moving means consists of a wheel that can be moved on the rail by a driving unit.

It is preferable to further include a data collection unit that is connected to and separated from the data input unit by movement of the main body unit, and collects data of a badge input to the data input unit by connection to the data input unit.

The state data of the medium is preferably one or more of moisture data, electrical conductivity data, temperature data, and pH data.

The plant growth environment monitoring device according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to comprehensively monitor the plant's growth environment, including the external state of the plant and the state data of the medium to which the nutrient solution is supplied, during nutrient solution cultivation of plants. .

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the gutter, tray, and probe of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention disassembled.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the gutter, tray, and probe of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention combined.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a gutter bracket and an installation frame installed in the gutter of a plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a gutter bracket and an installation frame installed in the gutter of a plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the monitoring unit of the device for monitoring the growth environment of plants in a hanging bed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operation of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the main body stationary at the bottom of the tray.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operation of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the main body measuring the state of the medium at the bottom of the tray.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operation of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view showing the main body connected to the data collection unit.

The above objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or sizes of components shown in the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be described based on the content throughout this specification.

Additionally, the described embodiments are provided as examples for explanation of the invention and do not limit the technical scope of the invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

First, with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 5, the configuration of a plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

A plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that monitors the plant growth environment in a cultivation area where crops are grown using a plurality of gutters 110.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a bed unit 100 and a monitoring unit 200.

The bed portion 100 is composed of a plurality of gutters 110 on which a plurality of trays 130 are installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 130 has a space inside which can accommodate a medium, and a connection port 131 where the probe 141 is installed is formed inside the tray 130.

Nutrient solution containing nutrients necessary for growing crops is supplied and held in the medium accommodated inside the tray 130, so that crops planted in the medium can be cultivated.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the probe 141 is installed in the connection port 131 inside the tray 130.

The connection port 131 is formed in a form in which one side of the lower part of the tray 130 is open. The probe 141 is installed in the connection port 131 so that the terminal portion 142 located below the probe 141 is exposed.

The probe 141 is a part that detects data indicating the state of the medium contained in the tray 130. The state data of the medium is, for example, data such as moisture (moisture content), pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature of the medium. You can.

The probe 141 forms a probe together with the sensor body 270 located in the monitoring unit 200, and when the probe 141 is connected to the sensor body 270, the status data of the badge described above is detected.

The probe composed of the probe 141 and the sensor body 270 may be composed of one or more of a moisture sensor, an electrical conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pH sensor to detect the state of the medium.

The connection port 131 is formed in a form in which one side of the lower part of the tray 130 is open. The probe 141 is installed in the connection port 131 so that the lower part of the probe 141, that is, the terminal portion 142, is exposed.

The gutter 110 is a configuration in which the tray 130 is installed. In this embodiment, the gutter is installed on the house ceiling by the wire 1 shown in FIG. 1 and is located away from the ground, as an example, but in other embodiments, the gutter 110 is installed. Of course, it can be a gutter configuration that is installed away from the ground.

The gutter 110 is provided with a receiving part 120 for installing the tray 130, and the tray 130 can be placed in the receiving part 120.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the receiving portion 120 forms a concave space in which a portion of the gutter 110 forms a space, and the tray 130 may be accommodated within this space, but is not limited thereto.

For example, although not shown, the upper surface of the gutter 110 may be formed flat, and the tray 130 may be mounted on this upper surface.

The opening 121 is formed by opening a portion of the receiving portion 120. Specifically, the opening 121 may be formed in a slit shape along the longitudinal direction of the receiving portion 120.

The shape of the opening 121 is not limited to the above-mentioned slit shape, and although not shown, it may be formed of multiple through holes, or the receiving part 120 may not be provided separately and the entire portion corresponding to the receiving part 120 may be open. The tray 130 may be formed in a manner that extends over it.

That is, the opening 121 is formed by opening a portion of the gutter 110 so that at least a portion of the lower surface of the tray 130 is exposed when the tray 130 is installed in the gutter 110.

2 and 3, when the tray 130 on which the probe 141 is installed is installed in the gutter 110, the lower surface of the tray 130 is exposed by the opening 121 formed in the gutter 110. The probe 141 installed on the tray 130 may be installed to be exposed through the connection port 131 and the opening 121.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the gutter bracket 150 is positioned to surround the gutter 110. Preferably, it may be located between a plurality of trays 130 installed in the gutter 110.

Installation holes 151 are formed on both sides of the gutter bracket 150. The installation holes 151 are formed to be located on both sides of the gutter 110 when the gutter bracket 150 is installed on the gutter 100.

The installation frame 160 is installed on both sides of the gutter 110. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower portions of the plurality of installation frames 160 penetrate the installation holes 151 formed in the gutter bracket 150 and are fixedly installed on both sides of the gutter 110.

The connection frame 170 crosses and connects the installation frames 160 installed on both sides of the gutter 110.

If the installation frame 160 is long, there are many devices installed on the installation frame 160, or the weight is heavy, the installation frame 160 may be bent or damaged, but the connection frame 170 is not installed. This is prevented by becoming

A camera 180, a temperature and humidity sensor, and a carbon dioxide sensor 182 are installed in the installation frame 160.

The camera 180 is installed on the installation frame 160. The camera 180 is installed on the installation frame 160 toward the tray 130 and captures images of plants growing on the tray 130. The temperature and humidity sensor 181 and the carbon dioxide sensor 182 are also used in the same way. It is installed on the installation frame 160 and detects the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration surrounding the tray 130.

The transmitter 191 is accommodated in an enclosure (control panel) 190, and the enclosure 190 containing the transmitter 191 is installed on one side of the gutter bracket 150 by a fastening member.

In addition, the transmitter 191 is connected to the camera 180, the temperature and humidity sensor 181, and the carbon dioxide sensor 182, and receives images of plants captured by the camera 180 and the temperature and humidity sensor 181 and the carbon dioxide sensor 182. ), the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration detected are input.

The monitoring unit 200 includes a main body 210, a moving means 220, a load cell 250, a support unit 260, an actuator 230, a sensor body 270, a receiver 271, a data input unit 280, and Includes a data collection unit 300.

The monitoring unit 200 includes a main body 210, a moving means 220, a load cell 250, a support unit 260, an actuator 230, a sensor body 270, a data input unit 280, and a data collection unit 300. ) includes.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the main body 210 is positioned to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the gutter 110, specifically, along the longitudinal direction of the lower portion of the tray 130 installed in the gutter 110.

The load cell 250 is installed in the main body 210. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it may be installed on the upper part of the main body 210.

The support part 260 is connected to the load cell 250 and is located on the upper part of the main body 210. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it may be configured in the form of a bar protruding in the longitudinal direction from the upper part of the main body 210.

However, it is not limited to this, and the support portion 260 is a component that supports the tray 130 and receives its load by passing through the opening 121 of the gutter 110, and the opening formed in the gutter 110 ( 121), as long as it is of a size and shape that can pass.

For example, when the opening 121 of the gutter 110 is formed in the form of a plurality of through holes as described above, it may be configured in the form of a plurality of protruding pins, and the opening 121 exposes the entire lower part of the tray 130. If it is formed as possible, it may be configured in a plate shape corresponding to the lower shape of the tray 130.

In addition, a load cell upper plate 240 having a plate shape may be provided between the support portion 260 and the load cell 250 so that the load applied to the support portion 260 can be distributed and applied to the load cell 250, that is, the load cell. The load cell top plate 240 may be positioned on top of 250 , and the support portion 260 may be positioned to protrude from the top of the load cell top plate 240.

The sensor body 270 is located on one side of the support part 260. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the sensor body 270, like the support part 260, is configured to protrude from the upper part of the main body, and passes through the opening 121 and the connection port 131 formed in the gutter 110. It just needs to be configured so that it can be connected to the probe.

The sensor body 270 is configured to receive badge status data detected by the probe 141 described above.

The receiving unit 271 is located on one side of the main body. The receiving unit 271 is capable of wireless data transmission and reception with the above-described transmitting unit 191, and is configured to enable wireless data transmission and reception using microwaves, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, RF (Remote Frequency), etc.

When the transmitter 191 and the receiver 271 are located within a certain distance, the camera 180 image data input to the transmitter 191, the temperature and humidity data detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 181, and the carbon dioxide detected by the carbon dioxide sensor 182 Concentration data is transmitted from the transmitter 191 and received by the receiver 271.

The actuator 230 is configured to lift the load cell 250 through its operation. The actuator 230 may preferably be a piston or cylinder mechanism operated hydraulically or pneumatically by an electric motor, electric pump.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the actuator 230 is located between the base plate 241 located below the load cell 250 and the load cell 250, and moves the main body 210 upward according to its operation. It can be raised or lowered. Also, the actuator 230 may be located directly below the load cell 250.

The moving means 220 is a component for moving the main body 210, and may be configured in a wheel, caterpillar, or sliding manner, for example, but is not limited thereto.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, rails 290 are arranged along a plurality of trays 130 installed in the gutter 110, and the moving means 220 is connected to the main body 210 or the base plate ( 241) and may consist of a wheel driven by a driving unit (not shown).

In the case of other moving means 220, there is a disadvantage that a steering device, etc. to move the main body 210 along the tray 130 must be additionally provided, and the house where the bed 100 is installed has a disadvantage. In the case of facility environments, road conditions may be poor.

Therefore, by installing the rail 290 along the tray 130 installed in the gutter 110 and moving the main body 210 with wheels as the moving means 220, the road surface is not good without a separate steering device. The main body 210 can be moved along the tray 130.

The data input unit 280 is installed on one side of the main body 210 and is connected to the load cell 250 and the sensor main body 270, so that data from the load cell 250 and the sensor main body 270 are transmitted to the data input unit 280. is entered into

The data input unit 280 may be provided with a plug 282 as a connection means for being connected to the data collection unit 300.

In addition, the main body 210 is connected to the actuator 230, the load cell 250, and the sensor body 270, and is provided with a battery 281 to supply power, and the battery 281 is connected to the data input unit 280. ) can be installed inside.

The data collection unit 300 is located on one side of the bed unit 100. Specifically, when the rail 290 is provided as described above, it is preferably installed on one end of the rail 290.

The data collection unit 300 can be connected to and separated from the data input unit 280 by moving the main body 210. For example, the data collection unit 300 is provided with a socket 302, and the plug 282 provided in the data input unit 280 is inserted into the connection socket 302, thereby connecting the data input unit 280 and the data collection unit. (300) is connected.

Hereinafter, with further reference to the attached FIGS. 7 to 9, the operation of the plant growth environment monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the wheel, which is the moving means 220, operates to cause the main body 210 to move along the rail 290, and then moves to the target gutter 110 and stops.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main body 210 is stopped below the tray 130 installed in the target gutter 110 among the plurality of gutters 110.

As shown in FIG. 8, while the main body 210 is stopped below the tray 130, the actuator 230 is driven to raise the main body 210.

By driving the actuator 230, the load cell 250 and the load cell upper plate 240 installed on the main body 210 rise, and the support portion 260 located on the load cell upper plate 240 is formed on the gutter 110. It passes through the opening 121 and comes into contact with the lower part of the tray 130.

At this time, the sensor body 270 located on one side of the support portion 260 also comes into contact with the terminal portion 142 of the probe 141 located at the connection port 131 formed in the tray 130.

Accordingly, as the tray 130 is also raised from the gutter 110, the load of the tray 130 is placed on the load cell 250 through the support part 260 and the load cell top 240 and is measured as weight data, and the load of the tray 130 is measured as weight data. When 141 and the sensor body 270 come into contact, the status data of the badge is detected.

Accordingly, as the tray 130 is lifted from the gutter 110, the load of the tray 130 is measured as weight data by the load cell 250 through the support portion 260 and the load cell top 240, and the probe ( The status data of the badge detected by 141) is received by the sensor body 270.

In addition, as the transmitter 191 and the receiver 271 are located within a predetermined distance, the image data captured by the camera 180 transmitted from the transmitter 191, the temperature and humidity sensor 181, and the carbon dioxide sensor 182 sensed Temperature and humidity data and carbon dioxide concentration data are received by the receiver 271.

As described above, the weight data of the medium measured by the load cell 250, the medium environment data detected by the probe 141, the image data, temperature and humidity data, and carbon dioxide concentration data received by the receiver 271 are stored in the data input unit 280. ) is entered.

Afterwards, the actuator 230 moves downward to cause the main body 210 to come down, and accordingly, the tray 130 also descends and returns to its original position.

Thereafter, as the moving means 220 operates, the main body 210 moves to the next target tray 130, and by repeating the above process, the trays 130 installed in the plurality of gutters 110 The badge weight data and badge environment data are input.

And, as shown in FIG. 9, the main body 210 moves toward the data collection unit 300, and the plug 282 of the data input unit 280 is inserted into the socket 302 of the data collection unit 300. , As a result, each of the data input to the data input unit 280 is collected by the data collection unit 300.

In addition, when the battery 281 is provided as described above, the battery 281 is charged by connecting the data input unit 280 and the data collection unit 300.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. In other words, a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make numerous changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and all such appropriate changes and modifications can be made. Equivalents should also be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

100: Bedbu
110: gutter
120: Receiving part
121: opening
130: tray
131: Connection port
141: probe
142: terminal part
150: Gutter bracket
151: Installer
160: Installation frame
170: connection frame
180: Camera
181: Temperature and humidity sensor
182: carbon dioxide sensor
190: Enclosure
191: Transmitting unit
200: monitoring unit
210: main body
220: means of transportation
230: actuator
240: Load cell top plate
241: base plate
250: load cell
260: support part
270: sensor body
271: Receiving unit
280: data input unit
281: battery
290: rail
300: data collection unit

Claims (7)

A tray 130 providing a space for receiving badges therein;
A gutter 110 on which the tray 130 is placed;
an opening 121 formed in the gutter 110 to expose a lower portion of the tray 130 when the tray 130 is placed in the gutter 110;
Connector 131 formed on one side of the lower part of the tray 130
A probe 141 installed in the connection port 131;
An installation frame 160 installed on one side of the tray 130;
A camera 180, a temperature and humidity sensor 181, and a carbon dioxide sensor 182 each installed on the installation frame;
A transmitter 191 that inputs images captured by the camera, temperature and humidity data and carbon dioxide concentration data detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 181 and the carbon dioxide sensor 182, respectively;
a main body portion 210 positioned to be movable along the tray 130 installed in the gutter 110;
Moving means 220 provided to move the main body 210;
A load cell 250 installed in the main body 210;
A support portion 260 connected to the load cell 250 and located on the upper part of the main body;
An actuator 230 that lifts or lowers the load cell 250;
A sensor body 270 located on one side of the support part 260;
A receiving unit 271 located on one side of the main body 210;
It includes a data input unit 280 connected to the load cell 250, the sensor body 270, and the receiving unit 271, respectively,
With the main body 210 located below the gutter 110,
As the load cell 250 is raised by the actuator 230, the support part 260 supports the lower part of the tray 130 exposed by the opening 121,
The weight data of the badge inside the tray 130 is measured by the load cell 250,
The sensor body 270 senses the status data of the badge by contacting the probe 141 located on the connection port 131 side,
As the receiving unit 271 approaches the transmitting unit 191, the camera image, temperature and humidity data, and carbon dioxide concentration data input to the transmitting unit 191 are received by the receiving unit 271,
The measured weight data of the medium, the detected status data of the medium, the received camera image, temperature and humidity data, and carbon dioxide concentration are input to the data input unit 280,
Plant growth environment monitoring device.
According to claim 1,
It is positioned to surround the gutter 110 and further includes a gutter bracket 150 having installation holes 151 on both sides of the gutter 110,
The installation frame 160 passes through the installation hole 151 and is located on both sides of the gutter 110,
Plant growth environment monitoring device.
According to claim 1,
Further comprising a connection frame 170 crossing between the installation frames 160 installed on both sides of the gutter 110,
Plant growth environment monitoring device.
delete In clause 1
It further includes a rail 290 disposed along the gutter 110,
The moving means 220 consists of a wheel that can be moved on the rail 290 by a driving unit,
Plant growth environment monitoring device.
According to claim 1,
A data collection unit that is connected to and separated from the data input unit 280 by moving the main body 210, and collects the data of the badge entered into the data input unit 280 by connection to the data input unit 280. further comprising (300),
Plant growth environment monitoring device.
According to claim 1,
The state data of the medium is any one or more of moisture data, electrical conductivity data, temperature data, and pH data,
Plant growth environment monitoring device.

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