KR20210088372A - Plants cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet in which a cultivation space is formed; a bed disposed in the cultivation space, on which pods containing seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation are seated; a water collecting unit recessed in the bed to accommodate a part of the pod, and storing water supplied to the pod; a sensing unit protruding from the bottom of the water collecting unit; and a residual water detection device provided under the bed and in contact with the sensing unit to detect whether residual water is present, wherein, a water stagnant preventing unit is formed on an upper surface of the sensing unit to partially protrude and prevent water from accumulating on the upper surface of the sensing unit.

Description

Plant cultivation apparatus { Plants cultivation apparatus }

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus.

A general plant cultivation apparatus forms a predetermined cultivation room having an environment suitable for plant growth, and stores the plants in the predetermined cultivation room. The plant cultivation apparatus is provided with a configuration for supplying nutrients and light energy necessary for plant growth, and the plant grows by the supplied nutrients and light energy.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to the prior art is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1240375. In this prior art, multiple trays are arranged inside the cabinet, light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit to the tray, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the tray through the nutrient solution recovery box, and the inside of the cabinet is set at a set temperature by the air conditioner and air circulation fan. A structure capable of cultivating plants by maintaining a structure is disclosed.

However, in the prior art, water and nutrient solution have a structure in which water and nutrient solution are supplied and recovered through nutrient solution recovery, and there is a problem that the nutrient solution is circulated and thus vulnerable to contamination.

In particular, when used for a long time, the nutrient solution is spoiled or contaminated. In a structure in which the nutrient solution recovers the nutrient solution as well as circulates through the entire flow path, there is a problem that inevitably a sanitary environment cannot be maintained.

In addition, a structure for replenishing the nutrient solution and water is not disclosed, and when viewed as a structure in which the flow path is connected, it can be viewed as a structure of a fixed nutrient solution recovery box. In this case, water supply management and washing are very inconvenient.

On the other hand, in US Patent No. 2018/0359946, a plurality of trays for plant cultivation are provided inside the cabinet, and a light irradiating light and a water supply means are provided above the tray to supply nutrient solution, and cooling using a refrigeration cycle A structure is disclosed in which a device and a heating device are provided to control the temperature inside the cabinet.

However, in such a structure, a tank for supplying the nutrient solution is disposed inside the machine room, so there is a problem in that it is not easy to replenish or clean or manage the nutrient solution.

In particular, when the tank is disposed inside the machine room, it has no choice but to have a water replenishment structure through a separate pipe connection, and in this case, there is a problem in that the installation is limited and difficult.

In addition, when the tank is contaminated, the entire compartment in which plants are grown is inevitably contaminated, and this problem becomes more serious when the nutrient solution and water are stored in a mixed state.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of preventing contamination of a cultivation space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus that allows an appropriate amount of water for bed cultivation to be supplied in a timely manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus that reduces the time that water supplied to the bed remains on the bed so that the bed can maintain a clean state.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus that accurately detects the water remaining in the withdrawable bed and enables timely water supply.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of ensuring the detection reliability of the residual water detection apparatus.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to this embodiment includes: a cabinet in which a cultivation space is formed; a bed disposed in the cultivation space, on which pods containing seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation are seated; a water collecting unit recessed into the bed to accommodate a portion of the pod and storing water supplied to the pod; a sensing unit protruding from the bottom surface of the water collecting unit; Residual water detection device provided under the bed and in contact with the sensing unit to detect whether residual water is present, and partially protrudes from the upper surface of the sensing unit to prevent water from accumulating on the upper surface of the sensing unit. An addition may be formed.

The sensing unit may be formed in such a way that a lower surface of the bed is depressed upward, and an upper end of the residual water sensing device disposed below the sensing unit may be formed in a size that can be accommodated 11 .

A bed tray on which the pods are seated may be formed on the upper surface of the bed, and a pod seating portion recessed to a corresponding size may be formed on the bed tray to seat a plurality of pods, respectively.

A seating part opening into which a pod protrusion protruding from a lower surface of the pod is inserted is formed in the pod seating part, and the seating part opening may be disposed along the water collecting part.

The sensing unit may be provided between the plurality of pod seating units.

The water stagnant preventing portion may be formed such that the central portion is formed to be the highest, and to be lowered toward the inlet/out direction of the bed.

The water pool prevention part may extend from one end of the sensing unit and may be spaced apart from the other end of the sensing unit.

The distance between the end of the water stagnant preventing part and the end of the sensing part may be set to a distance at which water droplets are not generated by surface tension.

The water stagnant preventing part may be formed to have the same width as the horizontal width of the sensing part.

The bed may be mounted to be drawn out and inserted into the cultivation space.

The residual water detection device includes: a detection device cover in which the detection sensor is accommodated; The upper surface of the sensing device cover may include a spring supporting it from below to maintain a contact state with the bed.

The detection sensor may be a capacitive sensor.

The sensing device cover may include a cover base supported by the spring; It protrudes upward from the cover base and may include a cover protrusion in which the detection sensor is accommodated.

A lower surface of the sensing unit may be recessed to accommodate the cover protrusion.

The lower surface of the sensing unit and the upper surface of the cover protrusion may be formed in a planar shape to be in surface contact with each other.

The sensing unit may be formed to have a size corresponding to an upper surface of the cover protrusion.

The water stagnant preventing part may be formed at one end of the sensing unit and may be formed at a position separated from the other end of the sensing unit.

A planar region may be formed between the water pooling prevention unit and the other end of the sensing unit.

The detection sensor may be positioned vertically below the planar area.

The planar area may be vertically overlapped with an area of the detection sensor in a state in which the bed is retracted.

The plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can expect the following effects.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an openable and openable water tank is provided inside the cultivation space so that the user can additionally supply water. In addition, since a separate line for supplying water to the water tank is not required, there is an advantage that the plant cultivation apparatus can be easily installed at a desired place by a user.

In addition, the pod containing the nutrient solution and seeds in the bed can be seated on the bed, and only water is supplied on the entire flow path arranged from the water tank to the bed, so that the water tank, the bed, and the flow path connecting them are not contaminated. , it has the advantage of maintaining a sanitary and clean state as a whole.

In addition, since it is configured to supply an appropriate amount of water, there is no need for a separate structure for recovering water or nutrient solution, so there is an advantage in that the flow path is simplified and management is easy.

In addition, the residual water detection device maintains a contact state on the lower surface of the bed and detects the absence of water using a capacitive sensor, so that it has a simple arrangement structure and can accurately detect whether residual water is present. have.

In addition, the residual water detection device may have a structure disposed below the bed instead of being disposed inside the bed in which the water collecting part is formed. In addition, the residual water detection device disposed below the bed may detect whether water is present in the bed without direct contact with water. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the configuration of the inside of the bed can be simplified.

That is, the detection sensor constituting the residual water detection device may be a capacitive sensor. Accordingly, the detection sensor can determine whether there is water in the bed without direct contact with the water accommodated in the bed. For example, when there is water in the sensing unit, the sensing sensor may detect a change in current, and through this, it is possible to determine whether there is water in the water supply unit, that is, the bed. By using the non-contact capacitive sensor as described above, the residual water detection device can be arranged in a configuration other than the bed, and the bed can have a free pull-out structure.

A sensing unit may be formed in the water collecting unit, and the residual water sensing device may be guided to be positioned at a fixed position by the sensing unit. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately determine whether water exists in the water collecting unit.

In addition, although the sensing unit has a shape protruding from the water collecting unit, a water stagnant preventing unit is provided on the protruding upper surface to induce the water of the sensing unit to flow down without pooling.

Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the sensing unit can guide the position of the residual water detecting device and prevent water from accumulating on the upper surface of the sensing unit, thereby accurately determining whether the remaining water is present.

In addition, the water stagnant preventing portion may be formed in a portion of the entire area of the sensing unit, and the remaining sensing unit area may be formed to have a width smaller than a set width to prevent water droplets from forming due to surface tension. Accordingly, the water flowing down from the water stagnant preventing member is naturally directed to the water collecting unit and does not form on the sensing unit, thereby further improving the reliability of residual water detection by the sensing sensor.

As the residual water detection reliability by the residual water detection device is ensured, water supply to the bed can be made in a timely manner, and thus there is an advantage in effectively controlling the growth of plants.

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of an open door of the plant cultivation apparatus.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a 4-4′ cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 .
5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet.
6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine room of the plant cultivation apparatus.
7 is an exploded perspective view of the blower assembly of the plant cultivation apparatus viewed from the front.
8 is an exploded perspective view of the blower assembly viewed from the rear.
9 is an enlarged view of part “A” of FIG. 4 .
10 is an exploded perspective view of the light assembly of the plant cultivation apparatus.
11 is a perspective view of a light case of the light assembly.
12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure between the plant light assembly and the residual water detection device.
13 is a cross-sectional view of the residual water detection device.
14 is an exploded perspective view of the residual water detecting device as viewed from below.
15 is a cross-sectional view 15-15' of FIG. 12 .
16 is a perspective view of a water supply module of the plant cultivation apparatus.
17 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply module.
18 is a cross-sectional view 18-18' of FIG. 16 .
19 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.
20 is an exploded perspective view showing the coupling structure of the pump cover and the residual water detection device.
21 is a cross-sectional view 21-21' of FIG. 16 .
22 is a partial perspective view illustrating the arrangement of a water supply flow path inside the cultivation space.
23 is an enlarged view of part “B” of FIG. 5 .
24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus is withdrawn.
25 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage.
26 is a plan view of the bed.
27 is a cutaway perspective view of the bed.
FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of part “D” of FIG. 27 .
29 is a cross-sectional view 29-29' of FIG. 28 .
30 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the residual water detection device in a state in which the bed is separated.
31 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the residual water detection device in a state in which the bed is drawn out.
32 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the residual water detection device in a state in which the bed is completely retracted.
33 is a cross-sectional view of a pod seated on the plant cultivation device.
FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of part “C” of FIG. 4 .

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with drawings. However, the present invention cannot be said to be limited to the embodiments in which the spirit of the present invention is presented, and other inventions that are degenerative by addition, change, deletion, etc. of other elements or other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention are easy. can suggest

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the open door of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, FIG. 4 is a 4-4' cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 . And, Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet.

Referring to the drawings as a whole with respect to the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a cabinet 100 forming a space in which a plant is grown therein, and a door 130 for opening and closing the cabinet 100 The appearance may be formed by At this time, the cultivated plant is usually edible by the user, such as leaf vegetables and herbs that can be used in wraps or salads, and it is preferable that plants that do not occupy a lot of space are grown, and seeds and nutrients are It may be provided in the form of an included pod 10 .

The cabinet 100 is formed to have an open front surface, and a cultivation space 101 may be provided therein. The cabinet 100 may include an outer case 110 forming an exterior and an inner case 120 forming the cultivation space 101 , and A heat insulator may be provided therebetween to insulate the cultivation space and maintain the cultivation space 101 at a set temperature.

The outer case 110 and the inner case 120 may be formed of a metal material, and may be formed by combining a plurality of plate-shaped materials with each other. In particular, the inner case 120 may have both side surfaces, a rear surface, and an upper surface formed in a metal plate shape, and may be coupled to each other.

A plurality of beds 300 may be vertically disposed inside the cabinet 100 . In this embodiment, two upper and lower beds 300a and 300b are provided and may have the same structure. The bed 300 may be referred to as an upper bed 300b and a lower bed 300a, respectively, for convenience of explanation and understanding. Of course, two or more beds 300 may be provided according to the size of the cabinet 100 .

The bed 300 may have a structure in which a plurality of pods 10 containing plant seeds and nutrients necessary for cultivation are seated. The bed 300 may be called a shelf or a tray. In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be seated and maintained in a seated state. In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be easily seated, and to facilitate management and harvesting of plants growing in the pod 10 .

In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which water supplied from the water tank 700 flows and is delivered to all the pods 10 seated on the bed 300 . In addition, the bed 300 may maintain an appropriate water level so as to constantly supply moisture to the pod 10 .

Meanwhile, a machine room 200 may be provided below the cabinet 100 . The machine room 200 may include a compressor 610 and a condenser 620 constituting a refrigeration cycle for controlling the temperature of the cultivation space 101 .

A grill cover 220 may be provided on the front surface of the machine room 200 , and the grill cover 220 includes a grill suction port 221 through which air is sucked into the machine room 200 , and the machine room 200 . ) A grill outlet 222 through which internal air is discharged may be formed.

Meanwhile, the internal temperature of the cultivation space may be controlled by the refrigeration cycle 600 . In this case, the evaporator 630 may be disposed on the inner rear wall surface of the cultivation space 101 . The evaporator 630 may be provided with a roll bond type heat exchanger, and may be referred to as a heat exchanger. The evaporator 630 may have a plate-shaped structure that is easily attached to the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . In addition, the evaporator 630 minimizes the loss of the cultivation space 101 due to the plate-like structure and is close to the cultivation space 101 to effectively control the temperature of the cultivation space 101 .

A heater (not shown) may be provided on the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . Accordingly, heating and cooling may be performed in the rear region of the cultivation space. The interior of the cultivation space 101 by the evaporator 630 and the heater to maintain a temperature suitable for plant growth (eg, 18 ℃ - 28 ℃). Of course, if necessary, a configuration for heating other than the heater may be provided, and various heating methods such as a heating structure through hot gas or a heating structure through conversion of a refrigeration cycle will be possible. The temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is sensed by the internal temperature sensor 450 , so that it can be kept constant regardless of the external temperature of the cabinet 100 .

In addition, a blower assembly 500 may be provided in front of the evaporator 630 . The blower assembly 500 may circulate inside the cultivation space 101 to uniformly cool or heat the cultivation space 101 .

The blower assembly 500 may include an upper blower assembly 500b disposed in an upper space divided by the bed 300 and a lower blower assembly 500a disposed in a lower space. The blower assembly 500 disposed up and down has the same structure and shape with only a difference in mounting position from each other. The blower assembly 500 may be provided as many as the number corresponding to the number of the beds 300 , and may blow air from the rear of the bed 300 toward the front. Accordingly, independent air circulation can be achieved in each space inside the cultivation space 101 partitioned by the bed 300 .

The air inside the cultivation space is circulated by the blower assembly 500, and in particular, the circulated air passes through the evaporator 630 so that the entire interior of the cultivation space 101 has a uniform temperature while rapidly Temperature control can be achieved. In addition, the air circulated by the blower assembly 500 may flow while passing through the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

The air flowing by the blower assembly 500 passes through the upper surface of the bed 300 to make the respiration of the plants grown in the bed 300 more smooth and the plants to shake properly by controlling the stress to grow It can provide the optimal airflow required for In addition, the air flowing by the blower assembly 500 can prevent overheating of the light assembly 400 while passing through the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

Meanwhile, the light assembly 400 may be provided above the bed 300 . The light assembly 400 provides light necessary for plants by irradiating light toward the bed 300 . In this case, the amount of light irradiated by the light assembly 400 may be set similarly to sunlight, and the amount of light and irradiation time optimized for the plant being grown may be set.

The light assembly 400 may include an upper light assembly 400b provided in an upper space partitioned by the bed 300 and a lower light assembly 400a provided in a lower space. The upper light assembly 400b may be mounted on an upper surface of the cultivation space 101 , and the lower light assembly 400a may be mounted on a lower surface of the upper bed 300b.

That is, the upper light assembly 400b and the lower light assembly 400a may be positioned vertically above the bed 300 disposed below, respectively, and on the upper surface of the divided cultivation space 101 , the bed By irradiating light toward the 300, it is possible to control the growth of the cultivated plant.

A water tank 700 may be provided on a bottom surface inside the cabinet 100 . The water tank 700 may store water supplied to the bed 300 . The water tank 700 may be located below the bed 300 located at the lowermost position among the plurality of beds 300 , and the front side may be located at a position corresponding to the front end of the bed 300 . can

The length of the water tank 700 in the horizontal direction may correspond to the width of the inner space of the cabinet 100 . In addition, the vertical length of the water tank 700 may be formed to correspond to a distance between the bottom of the bed 300 and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 . That is, the water tank 700 may be formed to fill the entire space under the lower bed 300a located at the lowermost position, and the space behind the water tank 700 is located in the water tank 700 . can be covered by

A pump cover 740 may be provided in a space behind the water tank 700 covered by the water tank 700 . A water pump 720 and a water supply valve 724 to be described below may be provided inside the pump cover 740 . The pump cover 740 and the internal components of the pump cover 740 and the piping connected to the components may be referred to as a water supply unit or a water supply module.

The water tank 700 may be provided inside the cultivation space 101 to be withdrawn in the front-rear direction. To this end, tank rails 730 for guiding the inlet/outlet of the water tank 700 may be provided on both left and right sides of the water tank 700 . In addition, the water tank 700 may have a structure in which additional water supply is possible by being opened in the drawn-out state.

Meanwhile, the display assembly 800 may be provided in the opened first half of the cabinet 100 . The display assembly 800 may output the operating state of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 to the outside. In addition, the display assembly 800 may be provided with a manipulation unit to which a user's manipulation is input to set and input the overall operation of the plant cultivation apparatus. For example, the display assembly 800 may include a touch screen structure, and may include a structure such as a button or a switch.

The door 130 may have a size capable of shielding the opened front surface of the cabinet 100 . In addition, an upper hinge 135 and a lower hinge 136 may be shaft-coupled to the upper end and lower end of one of the left and right sides of the door 130 . The door 130 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 100 by the upper hinge 135 and the lower hinge 136 , and the cultivation space 101 is formed by the rotation of the door 130 . can be opened and closed.

At least a portion of the door 130 may have a see-through structure, and the cultivation space 101 may be checked even when the door 130 is closed.

In detail, the door 130 may include a door frame 131 forming a periphery and having an opening in the center, and door panels 132 and 133 for shielding the opening of the door frame 131 . The door panels 132 and 133 may be formed of glass or a transparent plastic material to have a structure in which an interior can be seen through. In addition, the door panels 132 and 133 may have a color or a colored coating, metal deposition, or film attached thereto so that the cultivation space 101 is selectively visible or invisible.

Meanwhile, a plurality of the door panels 132 and 133 may be disposed in front and rear, and a heat insulating space may be formed between the plurality of door panels 132 and 133 . And, if necessary, the door panels 132 and 133 may include insulating glass. Accordingly, it is possible to insulate the inside and the outside of the cabinet 100 .

And, if necessary, the entire front exterior of the door 130 may be formed by the door panel 132 disposed on the front side of the door 130 .

Meanwhile, components of reference numerals not described in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described below.

Hereinafter, the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 having the above structure will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings for each configuration.

6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine room of the plant cultivation apparatus.

As shown, the machine room 200 is mounted on the lower surface of the cabinet 100 , and forms a space independent from the cultivation space 101 under the cabinet 100 . The machine room 200 may be configured by a bottom plate 211 forming a lower surface, a pair of side plates 212 forming both side surfaces, and a rear plate 213 forming a rear surface.

The bottom plate 211 , the side plate 212 , and the rear plate 213 may be combined in a single module form to be referred to as a machine room frame. The space formed by the machine room frame may be formed so that the upper surface and the front surface are opened. Accordingly, the machine room frame is coupled to the lower surface of the cabinet 100 to form the machine room 200 space under the cabinet 100 .

The internal space of the machine room 200 may be partitioned by a barrier 230 . The barrier 230 may extend rearward from the opened front end of the machine room 200 . A condenser 620 may be provided in a space on the left side partitioned by the barrier 230 , and a compressor 610 may be provided on a space on the right side partitioned by the barrier 230 . In addition, a heat dissipation fan 611 for forcibly flowing air from the left to the right may be provided at the rear end of the barrier 230 .

Meanwhile, a grill cover 220 may be provided on the opened front surface of the machine room 200 . The grill cover 220 shields the open front of the machine room 200, a grill inlet 221 is formed in the front of the left space partitioned by the barrier 230, and a grill outlet 221 is formed in the front of the right space ( 222) may be formed respectively.

Accordingly, when the heat dissipation fan 611 is driven, external air is sucked and flows into the space on the left side of the machine room 200 through the grill suction port 221 , and the sucked air passes through the condenser 620 , and the condenser (620) is to exchange heat with the refrigerant inside. Then, the air passing through the heat dissipation fan 611 cools the compressor 610 while passing through the compressor 610 . Also, the air passing through the compressor 610 may be discharged forward through the grill outlet 222 .

That is, in the installed state of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 , both the intake of external air and the discharge of the air inside the machine room 200 pass through the grill cover 220 and are performed from the front. Accordingly, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 can be installed even in a space where the left and right sides and the rear are blocked. In particular, even if the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed in a furniture such as a sink, cooling and heat exchange of the compressor 610 and the condenser 620 inside the machine room 200 can be effectively performed.

On the other hand, the evaporator 630 constituting the refrigeration cycle 600 is provided inside the cabinet 100 , is vertically disposed on the rear surface of the cultivation space 101 , and includes components and refrigerant pipes in the machine room 200 . can be easily connected by

A condensate receiver 250 is provided in the machine room 200 . In this case, the condensate receiver 250 may be provided below the condenser, and the condensed water flowing down from the condenser 620 may be stored, and water discharged from the cultivation space 101 may be stored. .

On the other hand, the upper side of the machine room 200 may be provided with a control unit 190 for controlling the operation of each component of the plant cultivation apparatus. For example, the control unit 190 may be provided between an upper surface of the machine room and an inner bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 , and may be accessible by opening the grill cover 220 . Therefore, even in a state in which the plant cultivation apparatus is installed and in use, the control unit 190 can be easily accessed, and maintenance can be facilitated.

7 is an exploded perspective view of the blower assembly of the plant cultivation apparatus viewed from the front. And, Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the blower assembly viewed from the rear. And, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part “A” of FIG. 4 .

As shown in the drawing, the evaporator 630 may be provided on the rear wall surface of the cultivation space 101 , and the blower assembly 500 may be provided in front of the evaporator 630 .

The blower assembly 500 is configured to circulate air above the cultivation space 101 partitioned by the bed 300 . Accordingly, the blower assembly 500 is provided as many as the number corresponding to the number of the beds 300 , and is provided at the lower end of the light assembly 400 and at the upper side adjacent to the bed 300 .

As shown in the drawing, the blower assembly 500 shields the blower fan 520, the fan guide 510 to which the blower fan 520 is mounted, and the fan guide 510 and the evaporator 630. It may be configured to include a blower cover (530).

In detail, the blower fan 520 is formed in the shape of a box fan, and may be provided in the center of the fan guide 510 . In addition, the blower fan 520 may discharge the air introduced from the rear of the blower assembly 500 to the front.

The fan guide 510 provides a space in which the blower fan 520 is mounted, and is configured to guide the discharge of air discharged by the blower fan 520 . The fan guide 510 is injection-molded with a plastic material, and the blower fan 520 may be mounted in the center of the rear surface of the fan guide 510 .

Meanwhile, an air guide part 512 is formed on the front surface of the fan guide 510 to guide air discharged from the blower fan 520 upward. The air guide part 512 may be provided on both left and right sides with respect to the center of the blower fan 520 , and may be configured to become wider toward the upper side. Accordingly, the air discharged by the blower fan 520 flows along the inclined surface, and may become closer to the discharge port formed at the upper end of the fan guide 510 toward the outside.

A discharge guide 513 may be formed on the front upper end of the fan guide 510 . The discharge guide 513 forms a surface that protrudes forward from the lower side to the upper side. That is, the discharge guide 513 forms an inclined surface or a round surface, and guides the air flowing from the lower side to the upper side toward the front. At this time, since the end of the discharge guide 513 is adjacent to the lower surface of the light assembly 400 , the air discharged from the blower assembly 500 is transferred to the light assembly 400 by the discharge guide 513 . ), it is possible to flow from the rear end to the front. The light assembly 400 can be cooled when the light assembly 400 is heated by such an air flow.

A connector hole 514 may be formed at one side of the fan guide 510 . The connector hole 514 is formed to be opened at a position corresponding to the connector 124a mounted on the rear wall of the inner cultivation space. Accordingly, when the blower assembly 500 is mounted, the connector 124a is inserted into the connector hole 514 so as not to interfere with each other. In addition, the electric wire connected to the blower fan 520 may be connected to the connector exposed through the connector hole 514 .

Blower brackets 550 that are inserted into and mounted on the blower assembly mounting part 415 may be provided on left and right sides of the upper surface of the fan guide 510 . One end of the blower bracket 550 may be coupled to the upper surface of the fan guide 510 , and the other end may be mounted to the blower assembly mounting part 415 formed at the rear end of the lower surface of the light assembly 400 . Accordingly, the light assembly 400 and the blower assembly 500 may be coupled to each other in a vertically intersecting form. In addition, the blower assembly 500 may discharge air from the rear end of the light assembly 400 toward the front.

In addition, an inflow guide 511 may be formed on a lower surface of the fan guide 510 . The inlet guide 511 is inclined upward toward the rear, and may guide air sucked in from the lower side of the fan guide 510 to smoothly flow to the rear of the fan guide 510 .

In addition, a recessed space is formed in the front and rear surfaces of the fan guide 510 , and a front insulator 541 and a rear insulator 542 may be disposed inside the recessed space, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the cold air generated in the evaporator 630 generated in the evaporator 630 from being transmitted to the front directly through the blower assembly 500 .

Meanwhile, the blower cover 530 may shield the fan guide 510 and components mounted on the fan guide 510 in front of the fan guide 510 . In addition, the blower cover 530 is extended to a position adjacent to the top of the bed to prevent the rear wall surfaces of the evaporator 630 and the inner case 120 from being exposed when the blower assembly 500 is mounted. can

In addition, the blower cover 530 and the bed 300 may be slightly spaced apart, and the blower cover 530 is rearward along the bed 300 through between the lower end of the blower cover 530 and the upper surface of the bed 300 . The air flowing into the air may be sucked toward the blower fan 520 .

In order to prevent the evaporator 630 from being exposed through the gap between the blower cover 530 and the bed 300 , a shielding plate 560 is further provided in a corresponding area of the evaporator 630 . can be

The blower cover 530 may form the exterior of the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 .

The blower cover 530 may be formed of the same metal material as the inner case 120 , and may be formed by bending a plate-shaped material. The blower cover 530 may include a front part 531 and a side part 532 .

The front part 531 may be exposed through the cultivation space 101 and may be formed to correspond to a horizontal length of the cultivation space 101 . The upper end of the front part 531 may be positioned adjacent to the upper end of the fan guide 510 and the upper end of the light assembly 400 , and the air substantially discharged by the blower fan 520 . serves as an outlet to be discharged into the cultivation space 101 . The lower end of the front part 531 may extend further downward than the lower end of the fan guide 510 , and may be positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the bed 300 , and substantially the blower fan 520 . It serves as an inlet through which the air sucked toward the

That is, the rear components are shielded by the blower cover 530 and the rear exterior of the cultivation space 101 is formed, and at the same time, an inlet of air flowing along the bed 300 and the light assembly 400 ) may serve as a discharge port for the air discharged along the , so that air circulates in the cultivation space 101 . In particular, the structure of the blower assembly 500 may allow air flow along the bed 300 and the light assembly 400 , and while flowing along the rear of the fan guide 510 , the evaporator 630 or the air cooled or heated by the heater continuously circulates inside the cultivation space 101 , so that the temperature of the cultivation space 101 can be controlled. Through this continuous circulation of air, the cultivation space 101 maintains a constant temperature as a whole, and the inside of the cultivation space is in an optimal state, such as providing an airflow for plants to grow inside the bed 300. can do.

The side portion 532 may be bent backward at both ends of the front portion 531 , and may be coupled to both side surfaces of the fan guide 510 . The side part 532 may have a coupling structure corresponding to the side surface of the fan guide 510 , and may be coupled to each other by the elasticity of the side part 532 itself without a separate coupling member.

10 is an exploded perspective view of the light assembly of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a light case of the light assembly. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure between the plant light assembly and the residual water detection device.

As shown in the drawing, the light assembly 400 may have a size corresponding to the upper surface of the cultivation space 101 or the bed 300 . Therefore, light can be evenly irradiated to the entire area of the bed 300 disposed below.

The light assembly 400 includes a light case 410 having an open lower surface and in which the LED module 420 can be accommodated, and a cover plate 460 for shielding the opened upper surface of the light case 410 . can do.

The light case 410 may have a bottom surface 411 formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a case edge 412 extending upward along the circumference. Meanwhile, the front surface 412a of the case edge 412 may be inclined to minimize exposure of the light assembly 400 when the user opens the door 130 .

A module mounting part 413 may be formed in the first half and the second half based on the center of the bottom surface 411 of the light case 410 . The module mounting part 413 is a part on which the LED module 420 is mounted, and may be configured to mount a plurality of LED modules 420 . When the LED module 420 is configured as one, there is a problem that the entire LED module 420 must be replaced when an abnormality occurs in the LED module 420, and when the number of the LED modules 420 is too large, mounting and assembly There is a problem in that the operation is difficult and the arrangement of the wires connected to the LED module 420 is not easy. Therefore, the LED module 420 is composed of two and arranged in front and rear, and a temperature sensor mounting part 415 for disposing a temperature sensor 450 and a residual water detection device 440 between the LED modules 420 . And it is possible to secure a space in which the residual water detection device mounting unit 414 can be arranged.

Meanwhile, since the bed 300 is not provided on the upper light assembly 400b of the light assembly 400 mounted on the upper surface of the cultivation space, the residual water detecting device 440 may not be provided. The residual water detecting device mounting part 414 may be formed in both the upper light assembly 400b and the lower light assembly 400a, but the residual water detecting device 440 is provided only in the lower light assembly 400a and thus the upper bed 300b. ) can be detected. In order to distinguish it from the residual water detecting device 770 provided in the water supply module 700 , the residual water detecting device 440 may be referred to as an upper residual water detecting device 440 .

The module mounting part 413 may be defined by a mounting part rim 413a. The mounting part rim 413a protrudes upward along the circumference of the LED module 420 , and thus a space in which the LED module 420 is accommodated by the mounting part rim 413a may be formed. The mounting part rim 413a has a protruding shape when viewed from above, and a recessed shape when viewed from below, so that the light cover 430 to be described below can be mounted thereon.

A light groove 413b may be formed inside the module mounting part 413 . The light groove 413b is formed along the arrangement of the LEDs 422 provided in the LED module 420 , and extends from the left end to the right end inside the module mounting part 413 , and is continuous in the front-rear direction. can be placed as

The light groove 413b may have a protruding shape when viewed from above and a recessed shape when viewed from below. In addition, a plurality of LED holes 413c may be formed along the protruding center of the light groove 413 . The LED holes 413c may be formed at corresponding positions to allow the LEDs 422 to pass therethrough. In addition, both sides of the light groove 413b are inclined or rounded around the LED hole 413c so that the light irradiated from the LED 422 is reflected through the light groove 413b and irradiated downward. make it possible In addition, the inner surface of the light groove 413b may be surface-treated or coated to more effectively reflect light.

The LED module 420 may be configured such that a plurality of LEDs 422 are mounted on a substrate 421 . The substrate 421 may be formed to have a size corresponding to that of the module mounting part 413 , and thus may be fixed inside the mounting part rim 413a.

In addition, a plurality of the LEDs 422 may be continuously arranged at regular intervals on the substrate 421 . In this case, the LED 422 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the LED hole 413c. The LED 422 may be configured to have a light quantity (wavelength) similar to sunlight, and may be configured to irradiate light of a color capable of promoting photosynthesis of plants.

In addition, a cover sheet 423 may be provided above the LED module 420 . The cover sheet 423 is to prevent moisture penetration or contamination damage into the substrate 421 , and may be formed in a size to completely shield the substrate 421 from above. The cover sheet 423 may be formed of an insulating material, and may be formed of an insulating material to prevent heat from penetrating upward during the operation of the LED 422 .

Meanwhile, a wire guide 417 for guiding wires connected to the LED module 420 may be formed inside the light case 410 . The wire guide 417 is located on one of the left and right sides, and may be disposed forward and backward along the space between the module mounting part 413 and the edge 412 . Accordingly, the electric wire connected to the LED module 420 may be guided to the rear end of the light case 410 , and may be connected to the connector 124a on the rear surface of the cultivation space 101 .

In addition, blower assembly mounting parts 415 to which the blower assembly 500 can be mounted may be formed on both sides of the rear end of the light case 410 . The blower assembly mounting part 415 may be formed by recessing the lower surface of the light case 410 so that the blower brackets 550 provided on both upper sides of the blower assembly 500 can be inserted.

The cover plate 460 may have a size corresponding to the size of the light case 410 , and is formed in a plate shape to shield the opened upper surface of the light case 410 . Boss holes 462 corresponding to mounting bosses 416 formed at four corners of the light case 410 may be formed in the cover plate 460 . In addition, the screw fastened under the mounting boss 416 may pass through the boss hole 462 to be fastened to the surface on which the light assembly 400 is mounted.

In addition, a detection hole 461 may be formed in the cover plate 460 at a position corresponding to the residual water detection device 440 . Therefore, the residual water detection device provided with the residual water detection device 440 may be exposed upwards of the cover plate 460 and contact the lower surface of the bed 300 disposed above to detect the residual water inside the bed 300 . can detect The sensing hole 461 may be referred to as an upper sensing hole because it is formed at a position corresponding to the upper residual water sensing device 440 for sensing residual water in the upper bed 300b.

Of course, since the bed 300 is not disposed above the uppermost light assembly 400b among the light assemblies 400 , the residual water detection device and the detection hole 461 may be omitted.

A plurality of light assemblies 400 may be provided when the cultivation space 101 is partitioned by the beds 300 in multiple stages. In addition, the uppermost light assembly 400 may be fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the cultivation space 101 , and the lower light assembly 400 may be located below the bed 300 , on the lower surface of the bed 300 . It can be fixedly mounted adjacent to the In this case, the screw fastened for mounting the light assembly 400 may be fastened through the mounting boss 416 and the boss hole 462 .

Meanwhile, a light cover 430 may be provided on a lower surface of the light case 410 . The light cover 430 is mounted on the light case 410 to form a part of the lower surface of the light case 410 , shields the module mounting part 413 from below, and the LED 422 disposed therein. can be configured to protect

The light cover 430 may be formed of a transparent material to allow light to pass through, and a coating or surface treatment for light diffusion may be added to the light cover 430 .

A cover edge 431 bent upward may be formed around the light cover 430 , and the cover edge 431 may be inserted into a recessed inside of the mounting part edge 413a to be fixedly mounted.

Meanwhile, a residual water detection device 440 may be provided in the light assembly 400a. The light assembly 400a may be provided below the bed 300b, and an upper surface of the light assembly 400a may be disposed in contact with or very close to a lower surface of the bed 300b.

In order to supply water to the pod 10 seated on the bed 300 in a timely manner, it will be necessary to determine whether water remains in the bed 300 . However, the bed 300 has a narrow space and has a structure that can be drawn in and out, so it is difficult to arrange wires, etc., and it will be difficult to implement a structure for supplying power to a device for detecting residual water.

Accordingly, by disposing the residual water detection device 440 in the light assembly 400a under the bed 300b, the residual water detection of the withdrawable bed 300b can be easily detected, and the arrangement of the wires can be facilitated. Due to this, the structure of the bed can be made slim, and the cultivation space 101 can be efficiently configured as a whole.

In detail, the residual water detection device mounting part 414 may be formed inside the light case 410 . The position of the residual water detecting device mounting part 414 may be a position corresponding to the water collecting part 320 of the bed 300 to be described below. In particular, the residual water detecting device mounting unit 414 may be positioned at a position corresponding to the detecting unit 323 of the bed 300 to enable accurate residual water detection through the residual water detecting device 440 .

In addition, the residual water detecting device mounting part 414 provides a space with an open upper surface, and allows the residual water detecting device 440 to be seated therein. Therefore, even if the residual water detecting device 440 is operated while moving up and down, the residual water detecting device 440 can maintain the mounting position without leaving the residual water detecting device mounting part 414 .

The residual water detection device 440 may include a detection device cover 441 , a detection sensor 442 , a detection sensor case 443 , and a spring 444 .

Hereinafter, the structure of the residual water detecting device 440 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

13 is a cross-sectional view of the residual water detection device. And, FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the residual water detecting device as viewed from below. And, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view 15-15' of FIG. 12 .

As shown in the drawing, the sensing device cover 441 may be formed to have a corresponding size to be accommodated inside the residual water sensing device mounting part 414 . In addition, the sensing device cover 441 may have a bottom surface formed by a cover base 445 , and a cover protrusion 447 protruding upward may be formed in the center of the cover base 445 .

The cover protrusion 447 may have a size corresponding to the sensing hole 461 . Accordingly, when the light assembly 400a is assembled, the cover protrusion 447 may penetrate the sensing hole 461 and protrude upward. That is, the cover protrusion 447 may protrude further than the upper surface of the light assembly 400a, and thus may come into contact with the sensing unit 323 of the bed 300 .

The cover protrusion 447 may have a size corresponding to that of the sensing unit 323 , and the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 is in surface contact with the sensing unit 323 on the bed 300 . It is possible to more accurately determine whether water remains.

Looking at this in more detail, as shown in FIG. 15 , the cover protrusion 447 may have a protrusion peripheral surface 447a extending vertically upward from the cover base 445 . In addition, the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 may be formed in a planar shape, and may be formed in parallel with the cover base 445 . In addition, the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 is formed parallel to the bottom surface of the sensing unit 323 so that the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 is completely in close contact with the sensing unit 323 . can do.

Meanwhile, a round part may be formed along the circumference of the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 . The round portion may be formed to be round and connect the peripheral surface 447a and the upper surface 447b of the protrusion. In particular, the round portion may be formed on the front and rear surfaces of the cover protrusion 447 to be in contact with the lower surface of the bed 300 when the bed 300 is pulled out and inserted.

In addition, the round part may include a first round part 447c and a second round part 447d. The first round portion 447c may extend from the circumferential surface 447b of the protrusion, and may extend to an end of the second round portion 447d. In addition, the second round part 447d may extend from an end of the first round part 447c and may extend to the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 .

Accordingly, the process of inserting and pulling out the cover protrusion 447 into the sensing unit 323 in the process in which the bed 300 is pulled out and pulled out can be performed smoothly and naturally.

Also, the first round portion 447c may be rounded to have a greater curvature than the second round portion 447d. In addition, the first round part 447c may extend longer than the second round part 447d. Accordingly, when the cover protrusion 447 is inserted into or pulled out of the sensing unit 323 during the process in which the bed 300 is pulled out, the first round part 447c and the second round part 447d are inserted. ) to prevent more jamming with the bed 300 and to prevent noise when the sensing device cover 441 protrudes due to the elasticity of the spring 444 .

Meanwhile, the cover protrusion 447 is opened downward, and a predetermined space is formed therein. Accordingly, the detection sensor case 443 in which the detection sensor 442 is mounted may be accommodated inside the cover protrusion 447 .

A spring receiving part 446 may be formed in the cover base 445 . The spring receiving part 446 may be provided on both left and right sides of the cover protrusion 447 , and the spring 444 supporting the sensing device cover 441 may be mounted thereon. The spring accommodating part 446 may protrude downward, and may be formed to accommodate the upper end of the spring 444 therein. Accordingly, the spring 444 does not fall off while the spring 444 is compressed and stretched.

In addition, a pair of spring bosses 414a may be provided inside the residual water detection device mounting part 414 . The spring boss 414a may be formed at a position facing the spring receiving part 446 , and the protruding spring boss 414a may pass through the lower end of the spring 444 .

Accordingly, the spring 444 may effectively support the sensing device cover 441 from both sides, and the sensing device cover 441 may always maintain a state in which it is in contact with the lower surface of the bed 300 .

The detection sensor case 443 may be formed in an acceptable size inside the cover protrusion 447 . In addition, the detection sensor case 443 has an upwardly opened space to accommodate the detection sensor 442 therein. When the detection sensor case 443 is mounted inside the cover protrusion 447 , the detection sensor 442 may be in close contact with the upper surface of the cover protrusion 447 . Therefore, the detection sensor 442 may be fixedly mounted to the detection device cover 441, and maintain the state closest to the lower surface of the bed 300 to reliably detect the remaining water in the bed 300. can

The detection sensor 442 may be a capacitive sensor. Accordingly, the detection sensor 442 can determine whether there is water in the bed 300 without direct contact with the water accommodated in the bed 300 . For example, when there is water in the detection unit 323 , the detection sensor 442 may detect a change in current, and through this, it is determined whether there is water in the water collecting unit 320 , that is, the bed 300 . judgment becomes possible. As such, by using the non-contact capacitive sensor, the residual water detection device 440 can be arranged in a configuration other than the bed 300, and the bed 300 can have a free pull-out structure. do.

Case restraining protrusions 443b may be formed on both sides of the detection sensor case 443 . The case restraining protrusion 443b may be inserted into the restraining groove 445b inside the cover protrusion 447 when the detection sensor case 443 is mounted. The detection sensor case 443 in the state in which the detection sensor 442 is accommodated can be maintained in a fixedly mounted state on the detection device cover 441 by the coupling of the case restraining protrusion 443b and the restraining groove 445b. Also, when the sensing device cover 441 moves in the vertical direction, it may be moved together with the sensing device cover 441 .

Meanwhile, a plurality of beds 300 may be vertically disposed in the cultivation space 101 , and the light assembly 400a may not be provided in the lowermost bed 300a. In addition, a water supply module 700 may be provided below the bed 300a disposed at the lowermost position, and the residual water detection device 770 may be provided in the water supply module 700 . The residual water detection device 770 disposed in the water supply module 700 may have the same internal configuration except for a different mounting position thereof.

Hereinafter, the structure of the water supply module 700 and the residual water detection device 770 mounted on the water supply module 700 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

16 is a perspective view of a water supply module of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply module. And, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view 18-18' of FIG. 16 . And, Figure 19 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.

As shown in the figure, the water supply module is for supplying water to the pod 10 for cultivation of crops, and the water stored in the plant cultivation device 1 can be supplied by an appropriate capacity at an appropriate time. It can be configured to

In particular, in this embodiment, only water may be supplied through the water supply module, and nutrients may be provided through the pod 10 . That is, various nutrients required for a variety of crops may be provided through the pod 10 , and even if heterogeneous pods 10 are provided in one bed 300 , nutrients may be provided from each pod. In addition, water may be supplied from the water supply module, so that other components other than water are not stored or flowed inside the water supply module, so that contamination is prevented and a clean state can be maintained.

The water supply module forms a water tank 700 for storing water for water supply, a water pump 720 for forcibly supplying water from the water tank 700, and a mounting space for the water pump 720, , may include a pump cover 740 that shields the components including the water pump 720 . In addition, a water supply valve 724 may be provided on the pump cover 740 , and water supply pipes 780a and 780b for guiding water to the bed 300 may be connected to the water supply valve 724 .

In detail, the water tank 700 is formed in a rectangular box shape with an open upper surface so that water supplied to the bed 300 can be accommodated therein. In addition, the water tank 700 may be formed to have a width corresponding to the horizontal length of the cultivation space 101 , and fill the space between the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 and the bottom surface of the bed 300 . It can be formed so that

A tank cover 713 may be provided on the opened upper surface of the water tank 700 . The tank cover 713 is for opening and closing the opened upper surface of the water tank 700 , and a rear end thereof may be rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the water tank 700 . Accordingly, the user may fill the inside of the water tank 700 with water after opening the tank cover 713 .

In addition, tank rails 730 may be provided on both left and right side surfaces of the water tank 700 . The tank rail 730 is for drawing in and out of the water tank 700 , and may have a sliding drawing in and out structure. In addition, one end of the tank rail 730 is fixed to the side surface of the water tank 700 , and the other end is fixed to both sides of the inner case 120 to guide the inlet and outlet of the water tank 700 .

Meanwhile, the water tank 700 may be located at a position corresponding to the front surface of the bed 300 in the retracted state. A tank handle 711 may be provided on the front surface of the water tank 700 , and the user may take out the water tank 700 by holding the tank handle 711 and pulling it forward.

The water tank 700 may be withdrawn as much as a distance at which the tank cover 713 can be completely exposed, and the water tank 700 is opened by opening the tank cover 713 while the water tank 700 is withdrawn. 700) can be filled with water.

A connection pipe 760 may be formed in the water tank 700 . The connection pipe 760 may be configured such that water from the water tank 700 is supplied to the water pump 720 in a state in which the water tank 700 is introduced. In addition, it may be configured to be selectively connected to the pipe connection part 721 formed in the pump cover 740 according to the inlet and outlet of the water tank 700 .

In detail, the connection pipe 760 may be provided in the tank cover 713 , may be located in the center of the tank cover 713 in the left and right directions, and may be provided at the rear end. Accordingly, even when the tank cover 713 is rotated for opening and closing, the connection pipe 760 may be configured not to interfere with the water tank 700 .

The connecting pipe 760 may include a vertical pipe 761 extending downward from the lower surface of the tank cover 713 and a horizontal pipe 762 extending rearward from the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 . The vertical pipe 761 may extend downward from the tank cover 713 to a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the tank cover 713 . Accordingly, the water stored in the tank cover 713 may flow upward along the vertical pipe 761 .

In addition, the horizontal pipe 762 is connected to the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 and may extend rearward. The horizontal pipe 762 may protrude further rearward than the rear surface of the water tank 700 , and may extend rearward at a position corresponding to the pipe connection part 721 . The horizontal pipe 762 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 in a state where the water tank 700 is fully drawn in, and the water flowing upward through the vertical pipe 761 is the pipe connection part. It can be guided to be supplied to (721).

The horizontal pipe 762 can be completely separated from the pipe connection part 721 when the water tank 700 is withdrawn, and even if the tank cover 713 is rotated, it does not interfere with the pipe connection part 721 . It can be configured not to. In addition, when the horizontal tube 762 and the rear surface of the tank cover 713 corresponding to the horizontal tube 762 are partially depressed and the horizontal tube 762 is rotated together by the rotation of the tank cover 713, the tank cover 713 ) can be prevented from interfering with the rear surface.

Meanwhile, a pump cover 740 may be provided at the rear of the water tank 700 . Both ends of the pump cover 740 may be coupled to both left and right sides of the cultivation space 101 , and a front surface and an upper surface may be formed to shield the space behind the water tank 700 . The bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 in which the pump cover 740 is provided has a step height in the second half due to the height of the compressor 610 in the machine room 200 , and the pump cover 740 has a step step. It may be disposed in front of the part. In addition, the water tank 700 is located in front of the pump cover 740 . At this time, the upper surface of the water tank 700 , the upper surface of the pump cover 740 , and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 above the compressor 610 may have the same height, and are shielded by the bed 300 . can be

In addition, the pump cover 740 may include a pipe connection part 721 , a water pump 720 , and a water supply valve 724 .

In detail, the opened front surface of the pipe connection part connected to the connection pipe 760 may be exposed on one front side of the pump cover 740 . The front surface of the pipe connection part 721 may be formed at a position corresponding to the rear end of the connection pipe 760 . Accordingly, when the water tank 700 is drawn in, the rear end of the connection pipe 760 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 .

In addition, a water pump 720 may be provided on the rear surface of the pump cover 740 . The water pump 720 forces the water of the water tank 700 to flow toward the bed 300 , and the inlet of the water pump 720 is connected to the pipe connection part 721 , and the outlet 722 is connected to the pipe connection part 721 . ) may be connected to a pipe 723 connected to the water supply valve 724 .

The water supply valve 724 is opened when the water pump 720 is driven so that water can be supplied toward the bed 300 . A plurality of water supply valves 724 may be provided according to the number of the beds 300 , and one water supply valve 724 may be branched to supply water to each of the plurality of beds 300 .

In this embodiment, the input side 733 of the water supply valve 724 is connected to the outlet 722 of the water pump 720 and the pipe 723, and the output side of the water supply valve 724 is branched, so that the upper A fitting 724b and a lower fitting 724a may be formed. In addition, an upper water supply pipe 780b and a lower water supply pipe 780a are connected to the upper fitting 724b and the lower fitting 724a, respectively, so that independent water supply to the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a is possible. can have a structure. Accordingly, different water supply environments may be created in the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, and an appropriate amount of water may be supplied to each of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a.

Accordingly, the connection pipe 760 and the pipe connection part 721 , the water pump 720 , the water supply valve 724 , and the water supply pipe are sequentially connected, and the water in the water tank 700 by the operation of the water pump 720 . The water may be supplied to the bed 300 through the water pump 720 and the water supply valve 724 .

Meanwhile, a water level sensing device 750 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The water level detecting device 750 is for detecting the water level of the water tank 700 and may include a capacitive sensor. In addition, the water level sensing device 750 may be formed to protrude forward, and may be configured to be in close contact with the circumferential surface of the water tank 700 while the water tank 700 is retracted. When the water level of the water tank 700 is lower than the set water level by the water level detecting device 750 , the controller 190 detects that there is no water in the water tank 700 through the display assembly 800 . It can be output so that the user can fill the water tank 700 with water.

A tank switch 741 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The tank switch 741 may protrude toward the water tank 700 , and may be configured to be pressed in contact with the rear surface of the water tank 700 while the water tank 700 is fully retracted.

Accordingly, the tank switch 741 may detect whether the water tank 700 is normally mounted and provide water supply to the controller. When the installation signal of the water tank 700 is not input by the tank switch 741 , the pump may not be operated. In addition, information about not mounting the water tank 700 may be displayed on the display assembly 800 so that the user can recognize it. In addition, the water level sensing performance of the water tank 700 through the water level sensing device 750 may be guaranteed by maintaining the water tank 700 in a fully retracted state.

Meanwhile, a residual water detection device 770 may be provided on the upper surface of the pump cover 740 . The residual water detecting device 770 is for determining whether water supplied to the lower bed 300a remains, and to distinguish it from the upper residual water detecting device 440 provided in the lower light assembly 400a, the lower residual water It may be called a sensing device 770 . The upper residual water detecting device and the lower residual water detecting device 770 may have the same structure with only a difference in their mounting positions.

20 is an exploded perspective view showing the coupling structure of the pump cover and the residual water detection device. And, FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view 21-21' of FIG. 16 .

As shown, a sensing device mounting part 770 on which the residual water detecting device 770 is mounted may be formed on the upper surface of the pump cover 740 . The sensing device mounting part 747 may be recessed, and the residual water detecting device 770 may be accommodated on the outer surface of the pump cover 740 .

Also, a wire hole 747b through which a wire connected to the detection sensor 773 enters and exits may be formed on the bottom surface of the detection device mounting part 747 . In addition, spring bosses 747a may be provided on both sides of the bottom surface of the sensing device mounting part 747 .

The residual water detection device 770 may include a case frame 771 , a detection device cover 772 , a detection sensor 773 , a detection sensor case 774 , and a spring 775 . The rest of the configuration of the residual water detection device 770 except for the case frame 771 is the same as that of the above-described upper residual water detection device 440 , so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The case frame 771 may be formed to have a size corresponding to that of the sensing device mounting part 747 . In addition, a downwardly extending rim is formed around the case frame 771 , and a space in which the sensing device cover 772 can be accommodated may be provided in the case frame 771 . Further, frame fixing parts 771b may be formed on both sides of the case frame 771 , and the frame fixing parts 771b may be caught and restrained inside the sensing device mounting part 747 .

The upper surface of the case frame 771 may be positioned on the same plane as the upper surface of the pump cover 740 while being fixed to the sensing device mounting part 747 . In addition, a sensing hole 771a may be formed in the upper surface of the case frame 771 . Since the detection hole 771a is formed at a position corresponding to the lower residual water detection device 770 for detecting residual water in the lower bed 300a, it may be referred to as a lower detection hole.

The sensing hole 771a may be formed in a shape corresponding to the cover protrusion of the sensing device cover 772 . Accordingly, the cover protrusion may protrude upward through the sensing hole 771a. In this case, the cover base of the sensing device cover 772 may be formed to be larger than the sensing hole 771a, thus preventing the sensing device cover 772 from falling off.

The sensing device cover 772 may be supported by the spring 775 positioned below, and thus the cover protrusion may maintain a more protruding state than the upper surface of the water supply module 700 . Meanwhile, the detection sensor 773 may be mounted on the detection device cover 772 in a state accommodated in the detection sensor case 774 , and may be moved together when the detection device cover 772 is vertically moved. Accordingly, in the state in which the bed 300a is retracted, the lower surface of the bed 300a, that is, the sensing part 323 and the cover protrusion of the sensing device cover 772 may be in contact, and the sensing sensor 773). can detect the remaining water in the bed (300a).

22 is a partial perspective view illustrating the arrangement of a water supply flow path inside the cultivation space. And, FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of part “B” of FIG. 5 .

As shown in the figure, a pipe connection part 721 and a water pump 720 are connected to each other inside the pump cover 740, and the water pump 720 is connected to a water supply valve 724 and a pipe 723. can be connected by In addition, a water supply flow path 780 for supplying water to the bed 300 may be connected to the output side of the water supply valve 724 .

When the pump cover 740 is mounted, components for water supply may be shielded. In addition, a discharge fan 180 may be provided under the pump cover 740 . The discharge fan 180 allows the air in the cultivation space 101 to be discharged to the outside via the machine room 200 . The discharge fan 180 can be shielded by the pump cover 740 to prevent exposure to the outside, and is provided on the lower surface of the cultivation space 101 adjacent to the machine room 200 so that exhaust is more can make it run smoothly.

The pipe guide 121a may be formed in a size that can accommodate the water supply passage 780, that is, the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a, and the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a. ) may be disposed along the pipe guide portion 121a and extend to the rear ends of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, respectively.

Since the pipe guide part 121a is recessed from the inside to the outside of the cultivation space 101 , interference by components disposed inside the cultivation space 101 may be prevented. In particular, it is possible to have an arrangement structure that does not interfere with the beds 300 that are arranged to be withdrawable. In addition, it is possible to prevent the volume of the cultivation space 101 from being reduced.

In addition, a guide cover 790 may be further provided on one side of the pipe guide 121a exposed toward the cultivation space 101 to shield the pipe guide 121a. The guide part cover 790 is formed in a plate shape to shield the pipe guide part 121a and may be fixed so that the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a maintain a set position.

The upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a are independently arranged, and water necessary for plant growth can be independently supplied to the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a.

In addition, the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a follow the pipe guide 121a recessed in the sidewall of the cultivation space 101 along the rear wall surface of the cultivation space 101 , that is, the rear plate 124 . can be guided to the location of

The upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a extend upward to pass the water supply part 310 of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, respectively, and then are bent toward the water supply part 310 again. have a structure that becomes In this case, the positions of the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a may be fixed by the water supply pipe mounting part 792 formed on the guide part cover 790 , respectively.

That is, the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a are configured to extend inside the cultivation space 101 from above the bed 300 so that they do not interfere at all even when the bed 300 is pulled out and entered. And, in a state in which the bed 300 is completely retracted, the outlets of the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a are positioned at the center of the water supply unit 310 so that the upper bed 300b and the lower bed (300b) are located. Water supply to 300a) can be smoothly performed.

Hereinafter, the structure of the bed 300 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Even if a plurality of beds 300 are provided, only one bed 300 will be described because they all have the same structure except for different mounting positions.

24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus is withdrawn. And, Figure 25 is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage. And, Figure 26 is a plan view of the bed. And, Figure 27 is a cut-away perspective view of the bed.

As shown in the drawing, the bed 300 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape that partitions the cultivation space 101 , and is mounted on both sides of the cultivation space 101 by the bed rail device 140 . It may be mounted so that it can be drawn in and out.

The bed rail device 140 may include a slidably extending bed rail 142 and a rail bracket 141 capable of fixing the bed rail 142 to both sides of the cultivation space 101 . The bed rail 142 may have a structure extending in multiple stages, and may connect the left and right side surfaces of the bed 300 and the rail bracket 141 .

The bed 300 may be formed in a rectangular shape as a whole to provide a space in which a plurality of pods 10 are disposed, and may form a structure in which water supplied can be stored. In addition, the bed 300 may be formed of a plastic material to form a structure for guiding the flow of supplied water.

A bed flange 301 extending outwardly is formed around the bed 300 . A bed tray 350 to be described below may be seated on the bed flange 301 . And, the inner area of the bed flange 301 becomes an area in which the pod 10 can be arranged.

A depression 302 is formed inside the bed flange 301 , and the bed tray 350 may be seated in the depression 302 . The recessed part 302 may be formed to accommodate the entire plurality of pod seating parts 352 formed in the bed tray 350 . In addition, when the bed tray 350 is mounted, the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the bed tray 350 may be in contact with each other and overlapped.

A water supply part 310 may be formed at the rear end of the bed 300 . The water supply part 310 may be located at one end of both left and right sides, and may be formed in a shape protruding backward from the rear end of the bed 300 . That is, the water supply unit 310 may be positioned vertically below the ends of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b protruding from the side surface of the cultivation space 101 .

The water supply part 310 may be formed in a shape in which an upper surface is opened and a lower surface is depressed. The periphery of the water supply unit 310 protrudes to a predetermined height to prevent water supplied from the water supply pipes 780a and 780b from splashing or overflowing.

A water collecting unit 320 in which water supplied through the water supply unit 310 is stored may be formed in the bed 300 . A water guide part 330 may be recessed between the water supply part 310 and the water collection part 320 . That is, the water guide unit 330 may connect the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 , and the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 follows the water guide unit 330 to the water collection unit. 320 may be supplied.

The water supply unit 310 is positioned higher than the water collection unit 320 , and water from the water supply unit 310 may naturally flow into the water collection unit 320 . In addition, the water guide part 330 may be formed to have an inclination that gradually decreases from the water supply part 310 toward the water collecting part 320 . Accordingly, when water is supplied to the water supply unit 310 , it may be naturally supplied to the water collection unit 320 along the water guide unit 330 .

Meanwhile, guide walls 331 may be formed on both sides of the water guide part 330 to form the water guide part 330 . The guide wall 331 may extend from the water supply unit 310 to the water collection unit 320 , and a pair may be spaced apart from each other to form both sides of the water guide unit 330 . In addition, the guide wall 331 may be formed at a height corresponding to the height of the bed flange 301 to support the bed tray 350 from below.

The water guided from the water supply unit 310 to the water collecting unit 320 by the water guide unit 330 may be directed toward the water collecting unit 320 without overflowing to the outside. In particular, the bottom surface of the water guide part 330 may be inclined at a height higher than that of the water collecting part 320 by the guide wall 331 extending upward. In addition, even in a situation in which the height difference between the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 is not large, the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 does not overflow and can be directed to the water collection unit 320, smoothly It is possible to provide a path with sufficient space to be guided. That is, it provides a structure in which the water of the water supply unit 310 can be stably supplied without excessively deepening the depression depth of the water collection unit 320 , thereby increasing the vertical thickness of the bed 300 . This can be prevented, and thereby the bed 300 can have a slim structure.

In addition, the guide wall 331 and the water guide part 330 may extend between a pair of pod seating parts 352 recessed in the bed tray 350 . Accordingly, the guide wall 331 can be prevented from interfering when the bed tray 350 is seated, and a space for water supply can be secured through the space between the adjacent pod seating parts 352 .

Meanwhile, in the central region of the bed 300 , a water collecting unit 320 for storing water supplied to the pod 10 may be recessed. The water collecting part 320 is more depressed than the bottom surface of the recessed part 302 formed around the water collecting part 320 so that water supplied to the water supply part 310 is stored only in the water collecting part 320 area. to exist as a state.

In detail, the water collecting part 320 is located at the center of the bed 300 and may be formed to extend from the left end to the right end of the bed 300 . In addition, the water collecting part 320 may be formed to have a predetermined width in the front-rear direction so that all of the seating part openings 351a formed in the bed tray 350 can be accommodated.

In addition, a bed protrusion 340 protruding upward may be formed in the central portion of the bed 300 . The height of the bed protrusion 340 may be the same as or higher than that of the depression 302 . The bed protrusion 340 may be located in the center of the water collecting part 320 . Accordingly, the water collecting unit 320 may have a closed loop shape, and water introduced through the water guide unit 330 may flow along the inside of the closed loop water collecting unit 320 . In addition, a portion of the area of the water collecting unit 320 located in front of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as a front water collecting unit 321 , and a portion located at the rear of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as the rear side It may also be referred to as a water collecting unit 322 .

In addition, a distance between the outer end of the water collecting part 320 and the bed protrusion 340 may be greater than the front-rear width of the seating part opening 351a. Accordingly, when the bed tray 350 is seated, the seating part opening 351a may be disposed along the water collecting part 320 .

The front and rear widths of the front water collecting part 321 and the rear water collecting part 322 in which the seating part opening 351a is located may be the same as or slightly larger than the front and rear width of the pod seating part 352. Therefore, it has a structure in which an appropriate amount of water required for water supply to the pod 10 can be effectively supplied to the pod 10 . In addition, unnecessary water is prevented from remaining in the water collecting unit 320 for a long time to prevent contamination of the bed 300 and to always maintain a clean state.

A bed handle 361 may be formed on the front surface of the bed 300 . The bed handle 361 may have a structure in which a lower surface is depressed so that a user can hold the bed 300 when withdrawing it. In addition, the front surface of the bed handle 361 may be formed of the same material as the tank handle 711 or may be formed of the same texture material to have a sense of unity.

Meanwhile, the bed tray 350 is seated on the upper surface of the bed 300 , and may form an upper surface appearance of the bed 300 . The bed tray 350 may be formed of a metal material such as stainless to keep the appearance neat and hygienically managed.

The bed tray 350 is formed in a size capable of shielding the upper surface of the bed 300 and may be formed in a plate shape. Accordingly, in a state in which the bed tray 350 is mounted on the bed 300 , the upper surface of the bed 300 is formed.

In addition, a plurality of pod seating portions 352 on which the pods 10 are mounted may be formed in the bed tray 350 . The pod seating part 352 is recessed in a shape corresponding to the pod 10 so that the pod 10 can be seated, and a plurality of pod seating parts 352 may be sequentially disposed. Accordingly, a plurality of the pods 10 may be disposed on the bed tray 350 .

A plurality of the pod seating parts 352 may be respectively disposed in the first half and the second half with respect to the center, and may be respectively formed in the same size. In addition, a seating part opening 351a may be formed in the pod seating part 352 . The seating part opening 351a allows the pod protrusion 16 protruding from the lower surface of the pod 10 to pass through, and the pod protrusion 16 to come into contact with the water inside the water collecting part 320 . .

The seating part opening 351a may be formed for each of the pod seating parts 352 . In addition, the seating part openings 351a respectively formed in the plurality of pod seating parts 352 may be disposed along an area corresponding to the water collecting part 320 .

In detail, when the bed tray 350 is seated on the bed 300 , the seating part opening 351a is located on the water collecting part 320 so that water stored in the water collecting part 320 is stored in the seating part opening. It can be supplied to the pod 10 through (351a).

In this embodiment, the water collecting part 320 is arranged in the horizontal direction at the center of the bed 300 , so that the seating part openings 351a are also located above the inside of the water collecting part 320 and corresponding to the upper side. It may be formed at a position close to the center side of the bed tray 350 . In more detail, all of the seating part openings 351a formed in the pod seating part 352 disposed in front of the bed 300 are positioned adjacent to the rear end of the pod seating part 352, and the bed ( All of the seating part openings 351a formed in the pod seating part 352 disposed at the rear of 300 may be positioned adjacent to the front end of the pod seating part 352 . That is, the seating part openings 351a may be continuously disposed along the inner region of the water collecting part 320 .

Meanwhile, a sensing unit 323 may be formed in an inner region of the water collecting unit 320 . The sensing unit 323 may be formed at a position corresponding to the residual water sensing device 770 located below. Accordingly, in a state in which the bed 300 is fully retracted, the residual water detection device 770 may have a structure in which the detection unit 323 can be in close contact.

In this case, the sensing unit 323 may have a shape that protrudes when viewed from above and is recessed when viewed from below. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the residual water detecting device 770 from interfering with the sensing unit 323 in the process of withdrawing and inserting the bed 300 , thereby preventing the bed 300 from being blocked.

In addition, due to the structure of the protruding sensing unit 323 , the water supplied to the sensing unit 323 does not accumulate, and it is possible to accurately determine whether additional water is needed to the water collecting unit 320 .

Hereinafter, the structure of the sensing unit will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of part “D” of FIG. 27 . And, FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view 29-29' of FIG. 28 .

The sensing unit 323 may be located at a position corresponding to the position of the residual water sensing devices 440 and 770 disposed below among all the water collecting units 320 . The residual water detection devices 440 and 770 may be disposed on one side of the rear water collecting unit 322 in consideration of both the arrangement structure in the lower light assembly 400a and the arrangement structure in the pump cover 740 . .

In addition, when the pod 10 is mounted on the bed 300 , it may be mounted at a position that does not interfere with the protrusion 447 of the pod 10 . That is, the sensing part 323 may be disposed at a position that does not overlap with the seating part opening 351a, and may be formed at a position corresponding to and between the seating part openings 351a.

Meanwhile, the sensing unit 323 may protrude upward from the bottom surface of the water collecting unit 320 and may be depressed upward when viewed from below. At this time, the protrusion height of the sensing unit 323 is formed only so that the upper end of the cover protrusion 447 of the sensing device cover 441 can be inserted, so that the water from the water collecting unit 320 can easily enter the sensing unit 323 . can be made to move. In addition, it may be formed so that the water supplied to the bed 300 once is filled to at least a position higher than that of the sensing unit 323 .

Therefore, a set amount of water that can be absorbed by the pod 10 is supplied to the water collecting unit 320 a plurality of times within a set time, and when the water from the water collecting unit 320 is supplied, it is immediately sucked into the pod 10 In consideration of this, the presence or absence of moisture in the sensing unit 323 may correspond to the presence or absence of moisture in the water collecting unit 320 . That is, the presence of moisture in the water collecting unit 320 may be determined by detecting the presence of moisture by the sensing unit 323 .

In addition, the size of the sensing unit 323 may be formed to have a size corresponding to the upper surface of the cover protrusion 447 . Accordingly, the cover protrusion 447 is in surface contact with the sensing unit 323 while being inserted into the sensing unit 323 to accurately detect whether water is present in the sensing unit 323 .

On the other hand, the lower surface of the sensing part 323 may be formed in a planar shape so as to be in surface contact with the cover protrusion 447 , and may be formed in parallel with the bottom surfaces of the cover protrusion 447 and the water collecting part 320 . can In addition, the upper surface of the sensing unit 323 may be formed in a shape in which at least a portion protrudes, thereby preventing water from accumulating on the upper surface of the sensing unit 323 or allowing water to stay for a long time due to surface tension.

In detail, a water pooling prevention part 324 protrudingly formed may be formed on the upper surface of the sensing part 323 . The sensing unit 323 may be formed to have an area greater than or equal to a set area for surface contact with the cover protrusion 447 . That is, in order to detect water in a state in which the cover protrusion 447 is accommodated, it must be formed to at least correspond to the size of the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 .

However, when the sensing unit 323 is formed to be the same as or larger than the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447, the water positioned on the upper surface of the sensing unit 323 forms water droplets by surface tension to remain for a long time. can be That is, in a state in which all the water in the water collecting unit 320 is absorbed by the pod 10 , when water droplets remain in the sensing unit 323 due to surface tension, the residual water sensing device 440 is the sensing unit Due to the water droplets of 323 , it is determined that water supply is not necessary to the bed 300 , and thus a problem may occur in that water cannot be supplied to the bed 300 for a long period of time.

In order to prevent such a problem, a water retention preventing part 324 may be formed on the upper surface of the sensing unit 323 to prevent water from remaining on the upper surface of the sensing unit 323 due to surface tension.

The water retention prevention part 324 may be formed to protrude upward from the upper surface of the detection part 323 . The water stagnant preventing part 324 may protrude upward from one side of the sensing part 323 , and may be formed in a rounded shape such that the center protrudes and becomes lower toward the front and rear. Of course, the water stagnant preventing portion 324 may be formed to be inclined so that the center protrudes and becomes lower toward the front and rear.

In addition, the water stagnant preventing part 324 may be partially formed in the entire area of the upper surface of the sensing part 323 . That is, when the water accumulation prevention part 324 is formed in the entire area of the detection part 323 , there is a problem in that the detection performance of the detection sensor 442 is not guaranteed. Accordingly, the water stagnant preventing part 324 may be formed on only one side of the upper surface of the sensing part 323 .

In detail, the water retention preventing part 324 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the horizontal width of the sensing part 323 . In addition, the water pooling prevention part 324 may be formed in one direction among the front and rear directions of the sensing part 323 . For example, the water retention prevention part 324 may extend from the rear end of the detection part 323 .

The rear end of the water stagnant preventing part 324 may be located at a position corresponding to or very adjacent to the rear end of the sensing part 323 . Accordingly, the water flowing backward along the water stagnant preventing part 324 may flow down to the left and right sides without accumulating at the rear end of the sensing part 323 and may be directed to the water collecting part 320 .

In addition, the front end of the water pool prevention part 324 may be spaced apart from the detection part 323 by a set distance. In this case, the width of the planar area W2 in front of the water stagnant preventing part 324 may have a width at least to the extent that water droplets are not formed by surface tension. For example, the width of the region of the sensing unit 323 may be formed to be about 10 to 20 mm.

Accordingly, the water flowing forward along the water stagnant prevention part 324 may naturally flow down to the left and right sides after reaching the planar area W2 to the water collecting part 320 .

Also, the planar area W2 may substantially correspond to the detection sensor 442 . That is, the detection sensor 442 of the entire residual water detection device 440 may be located in a partial area, and a vertical upper portion of the detection sensor 442 may correspond to the planar area W2 . Accordingly, the detection sensor 442 can accurately detect whether water remains in the flat area W2, which is relatively thinner than the water stagnant prevention part 324 .

Meanwhile, the width W1 of the water stagnant preventing part 324 may form the remaining part except for the sensing part area W2. Accordingly, the entire upper surface of the sensing unit 323 may be formed by the water accumulation preventing unit 324 and the sensing unit region W2.

Due to this structure, when the water collecting unit 320 is filled with water, water is also located in the sensing unit 323 , and the detection sensor 442 may detect it. Then, when water is absorbed by the pod 10 after water supply, the water level of the water collecting unit 320 is lowered, and when the water level is lower than that of the detecting unit 323 , the water located in the detecting unit 323 is lowered. In addition, the water flows down along the stagnant prevention part 324 and finally, no water exists in the sensing part area W2. In this state, the detection sensor 442 detects no water, and the control unit 190 determines the elapsed time to determine re-watering to the bed 300 .

On the other hand, the bed 300 can be detached or pulled out, and at this time, the residual water detection device 440 is moved up and down according to the state of the bed 300 to detect the residual water in the bed 300. . Hereinafter, the state of the residual water detection device according to the state of the bed will be looked at in more detail with reference to the drawings.

30 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the residual water detection device in a state in which the bed is separated.

As shown, the bed 300 may be separated from the cultivation space 101 for cleaning or maintenance. At this time, the bed 300 is configured to be separated from the bed rail 142 by a simple operation. For example, the bed 300 may be separated from the bed rail 142 through an upward lifting operation, and cleaning and maintenance work can be easily performed in a state in which the bed 300 is separated. do.

When the bed 300 is completely separated from the cultivation space 101 , no external force is applied to the residual water detection device 440 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 28 , the detection device cover 441 of the residual water detection device 440 is most protruded upward.

That is, in a situation in which the bed 300 is separated, the sensing device cover 441 is supported by the spring 444 to maintain the most protruding state upward. In addition, even in a state in which the bed 300 is fully drawn out as in FIG. 24 , the detection device cover 441 does not come into contact with the bed 300 so that the detection device cover 441 protrudes most upward. can keep

And, when the bed 300 is drawn in with the bed 300 mounted again, the lower surface of the bed 300 and the residual water detecting device 440 may be in contact again.

31 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the residual water detection device in a state in which the bed is drawn out.

As shown, the bed 300 and the residual water detecting device 440 may maintain contact with each other during the process of withdrawing and withdrawing the bed 300 in a state in which the bed 300 is mounted.

In detail, when the bed 300 is pulled out in a mounted state, the lower surface of the bed 300 is in contact with the upper surface of the sensing device cover 441 , that is, the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 . become a state At this time, the sensing device cover 441 may be in the most downwardly moved state, and the spring 444 may be in the most compressed state.

In this way, even when the bed 300 is moved, the sensing device cover 441 is pressed upward so that the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 is continuously in contact with the lower surface of the bed 300. , so that the cover protrusion 447 can be inserted into the sensing unit 323 when the bed 300 is fully retracted.

32 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the residual water detecting device in a state in which the bed is completely retracted.

As shown, when the bed 300 is fully retracted, the sensing unit 323 is positioned above the residual water sensing device 440 . In addition, the sensing device cover 441 may be pressed upward by the spring 444 . Accordingly, the upper surface 447b of the cover protrusion 447 may be in close contact with the lower surface of the recessed sensing unit 323 , and thus it may be accurately determined whether water is present in the sensing unit 323 .

On the other hand, just before the cover protrusion 447 is inserted into the inside of the sensing unit 323 in the process in which the bed 300 is introduced, the circumference of the sensing unit 323 is the second round unit 447d and It passes through the first round part 447c in turn. Accordingly, the cover protrusion 447 can be naturally moved to the inside of the sensing unit 323 , and noise generated when the cover protrusion 447 moves upward or the flow of the bed 300 can be prevented.

Also, in the process in which the bed 300 is drawn out, at the moment when the cover protrusion 447 exits the sensing unit 323 , the lifting of the sensing unit 323 is the first round unit 447c and the second round unit 447c. It is possible to pass through the round parts 447d in turn. Accordingly, the cover protrusion 447 can easily come out of the sensing unit 323 , and the bed 300 can be pulled out more smoothly.

Hereinafter, a structure in which the water of the water collecting unit 320 is supplied to the pod 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

33 is a cross-sectional view of a pod seated on the plant cultivation device. And, FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of part “C” of FIG. 4 .

As shown, the pod 10 may be configured by types of plants that can be cultivated with the plant cultivation device 1 . Of course, each of the pods 10 composed of several types of plants may all have the same size, and may have a size set to be accommodated in the pod seat 352 . Accordingly, the user may select the pod 10 of a plant desired to be cultivated, and may start cultivation by seating it in a desired position on the bed 300 .

In detail, the pod 10 may have an outer shape formed by a container opened upward. Top soil 11 containing a nutrient solution material (not shown) is filled in the pod 10 . The nutrient solution material is a material containing nutrients that are supplied so that plants can grow better. Such a nutrient solution material may be provided in the form of a water-soluble capsule that is gradually dissolved in water, and may be configured to be contained in the feed water while gradually dissolving whenever the feed water is supplied.

A seed paper 12 is provided on the upper surface of the top soil 11 . The seed paper 12 may be composed of a sheet in which seeds are arranged to have a predetermined arrangement. When supply water is supplied in a state in which the seed paper 12 is seated on the upper surface of the top soil 11 , the seed paper 12 melts and disappears, and the seeds remain in the top soil 11 .

A brick 13 is provided on the upper surface of the seed paper 12 . The brick 13 is configured to control the moisture and humidity of the soil and prevent the formation of mold, and is made by pressing and processing inorganic ore such as vermiculite or vermiculite into a powder state.

In addition, the upper surface of the pod 10 is covered with a protective paper 15 to protect the inside. In particular, a packing member 14 is further provided between the upper surface of the brick 13 and the protective paper 15 to protect the brick 13 from the external environment. In addition, the type of plant to be cultivated may be printed on the protective paper 15 to provide information about the pod to the user.

On the other hand, a protrusion 16 protruding downward is formed on the bottom surface of the pod 10 , and a water-through hole 16a may be formed on the bottom surface of the protrusion 16 . The protrusion 16 may be formed in a pipe structure with a hollow inside while being opened up and down.

A first absorbing member 17 for absorbing water supplied to the beds 300a and 300b is provided in the protrusion 16, and a second absorbing member having a flat plate shape is provided between the first absorbing member 17 and the top soil. (18) may be provided. The second absorbing member 18 functions to evenly supply the supplied water absorbed by the first absorbing member 17 to the entire area of the top soil 11 .

As shown in FIG. 28 , when the pod 10 is seated on the pod seat 352 , the pod protrusion 16 may protrude downward through the seat opening 351a. At this time, the pod protrusion 16 is positioned inside the water collecting unit 320 , that is, the front water collecting unit 321 .

When water is supplied to the inside of the water collecting unit 320 in this state, the pod protrusion 16 can come into contact with the water inside the water collecting unit 320 . And, the water of the water collecting part 320 can be introduced through the water-through hole 16a, and along the first absorbing member 17 and the second absorbing member 18 inside the pod protrusion 16 . Water may be absorbed. In addition, water absorbed through the first absorbing member 17 and the second absorbing member 18 may be uniformly supplied to the top soil of the pod 10 .

Hereinafter, the operation of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above structure will be described.

The user selects a plant to be cultivated, removes the protective paper of the corresponding pod, and then places it on the bed. When the pod 10 is seated on the bed 300 , a predetermined amount of water stored in the water tank 700 is supplied to the bed 300 .

At this time, the amount of water supplied is a set amount, and may be slightly less than the amount to be sufficiently supplied to the pod 10 . Accordingly, the supplied water may be absorbed from the water collecting unit 320 to the pod 10 , and when a predetermined time elapses, the supplied water is completely absorbed, so that no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 .

The residual water detection devices 440 and 770 determine whether water remains in the water collecting unit 320 . In a state in which the bed 300 is retracted, the residual water detection device 440 maintains a state in close contact with the detection unit 323 as shown in FIG. 30 , and the detection sensor 442 is the detection unit 323 . ) can accurately detect the presence of water.

At this time, since the sensing unit 323 protrudes slightly from the water collecting unit 320 , when it is detected that there is water in the sensing unit 323 , it is confirmed that there is water in the water collecting unit 320 . By detecting the presence of water in the unit 323 , the water supply to the water collecting unit 320 is determined.

When no water is detected through the residual water detection device 440, a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the bed 300 through the water supply pipes 780a and 780b, and no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 again. time is measured until The control unit 190 detects the time until re-watering and determines whether a set time has elapsed.

While repeating this process, a quantity of water is continuously supplied and the time taken to be absorbed into the pod 10 is measured. If the time for which no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 after water supply has elapsed for a set time, it is determined that sufficient water has been supplied and the water supply is stopped for a certain period of time. And, when the conditions for re-watering are satisfied, water-supply is started again.

Accordingly, the water collection unit 320 does not maintain a state of being accommodated for a long time, and water in an amount necessary for plant growth can be supplied in a timely manner. In addition, the nutrients required for plant growth are supplied in the form of a nutrient solution contained in the pod 10 so that the plant inside the pod 10 can grow effectively.

Meanwhile, light is irradiated toward the plant growing in the bed 300 by the operation of the light assembly 400 . The light assembly 400 may be turned on and off at an appropriate time period according to the growth state and environment of the plant. In particular, by turning the light assembly 400 on and off according to the actual amount of sunlight according to the season, it is possible to provide an environment similar to that of the plants inside the plant cultivation apparatus 1 growing in the external natural environment.

The plants in the bed 300 perform photosynthesis by the light provided by the light assembly 400 , and in this process, carbon dioxide necessary for this process may be supplied through the air introduced into the cultivation space.

On the other hand, when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too low, the heater is driven, and when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too high, the refrigeration cycle is driven and the evaporator 630 performs a cooling action. do.

Air heated or cooled by the heater or evaporator 630 is discharged forward through the blower assembly 500 . At this time, air flows from the rear end of the light assembly 400 to the front, and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 is cooled during the air flow process.

Then, the air moved forward flows downward from the front end of the bed 300 to the rear end of the bed 300 . Stems and leaves of plants grown in the bed 300 are shaken by the flow of air flowing on the upper surface of the bed 300, so that the appearance of the cultivated plants can be remarkably improved.

The air introduced into the rear end of the bed 300 passes through the space in which the evaporator 630 and the heater are disposed again, and may be discharged toward the light assembly 400 by the blower fan 520 .

The air flowing by the operation of the blower fan 520 circulates inside the cultivation space 101 , and continuously air-cools the light assembly 400 during the circulation process and prevents the growth of food in the bed 300 . to facilitate it.

In addition, by continuously and uniformly heating and cooling the inside of the cultivation space 101 through a repeated air circulation process, the entire cultivation space 101 may maintain a set temperature.

The user can check the state inside the cultivation space 101 through the door 130 , and when the plants in the cultivation space 101 reach a harvestable state, the plants are harvested. In addition, if plant management is required before harvest, an appropriate operation is performed, and unnecessary crops may be discarded or the harvested pod 10 may be removed.

This harvesting and management operation may be performed by a user through guidance through the display assembly 800 , or information may be transmitted to a device carried by the user to guide the user's harvesting and management operation.

Claims (20)

a cabinet in which a growing space is formed;
a bed disposed in the cultivation space, on which pods containing seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation are seated;
a water collecting unit recessed in the bed to accommodate a portion of the pod and storing water supplied to the pod;
a sensing unit protruding from the bottom surface of the water collecting unit;
A residual water detection device provided under the bed and in contact with the sensing unit to detect whether residual water is present; includes,
A plant cultivation apparatus in which a water stagnant prevention part is formed on the upper surface of the sensing unit to partially protrude to prevent water from accumulating on the upper surface of the sensing unit.
The method of claim 1,
The sensing unit is formed by recessing the lower surface of the bed upward,
A plant cultivation device having a size that can accommodate the upper end of the residual water detection device disposed below the detection unit.
The method of claim 1,
A bed tray on which the pod is seated is formed on the upper surface of the bed,
A plant cultivation apparatus in which a pod seating portion recessed to a corresponding size is formed on the bed tray to seat a plurality of pods, respectively.
4. The method of claim 3,
A seating part opening is formed in the pod seating part into which a pod protrusion protruding from the lower surface of the pod is inserted,
The seating part opening is a plant cultivation device disposed along the water collecting part.
4. The method of claim 3,
The sensing unit is a plant cultivation device provided between the plurality of pod seating units.
The method of claim 1,
The water stagnant prevention portion is formed in the center portion is the highest, plant cultivation device is formed to be lowered toward the withdrawal direction of the bed.
The method of claim 1,
The water stagnant preventing unit extends from one end of the sensing unit, and is spaced apart from the other end of the sensing unit.
8. The method of claim 7,
The distance between the end of the water stagnant preventing unit and the end of the sensing unit is set to a distance where water droplets do not form due to surface tension.
8. The method of claim 7,
The plant cultivation device is formed to have the same width as the horizontal width of the water stagnant prevention portion the detection unit.
The method of claim 1,
The bed is a plant cultivation apparatus that is mounted to be withdrawn in and out of the cultivation space.
11. The method of claim 10,
The residual water detection device,
a detection device cover in which the detection sensor is accommodated;
Plant cultivation apparatus comprising a spring supporting the upper surface of the sensing device cover from below to maintain a contact state with the bed.
12. The method of claim 11,
The detection sensor is a capacitive sensor plant cultivation apparatus.
12. The method of claim 11,
The sensing device cover,
a cover base supported by the spring;
A plant cultivation apparatus including a cover protrusion protruding upward from the cover base and accommodating the detection sensor therein.
14. The method of claim 13,
A plant cultivation device in which the lower surface of the sensing unit is recessed to accommodate the cover protrusion.
15. The method of claim 14,
The lower surface of the sensing unit and the upper surface of the cover protrusion are formed in a planar shape and are in surface contact with each other.
15. The method of claim 14,
The sensing unit is a plant cultivation device formed in a size corresponding to the upper surface of the cover protrusion.
15. The method of claim 14,
The water stagnant prevention unit is formed at one end of the sensing unit and a plant cultivation device formed at a position away from the other end of the sensing unit.
18. The method of claim 17,
A plant cultivation apparatus in which a planar area is formed between the water stagnant prevention unit and the other end of the sensing unit.
19. The method of claim 18,
The detection sensor is a plant cultivation device positioned vertically below the flat area.
19. The method of claim 18,
The planar area is a plant cultivation apparatus that overlaps with the area of the detection sensor in the vertical direction in a state in which the bed is retracted.

Images