RU2818347C1 - Plant cultivation device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices for cultivation of plants and can be used in agriculture, food industry, household and educational sphere. Plant cultivation device includes a plant cultivation chamber equipped with a door made of a transparent material, a control controller and a lighting module connected to it, which includes a light source which is mounted so as to illuminate the inner space of the plant growing chamber. On both sides of the door there is a light-reflecting coating characterized by a light transmission coefficient of not more than 0.05. Light source is represented by two-spectrum lamp consisting of two full-spectrum matrices, and is equipped with a feedback sensor, which is capable of transmitting the temperature value of the luminaire to the controller, wherein the controller is capable of adjusting the light flux from the luminaire depending on the temperature on the luminaire.

EFFECT: improved quality of illumination of cultivated plants.

8 cl, 4 dwg

Description

Field of technology

The present invention relates to devices for cultivating plants and can be used in agriculture, the food industry, everyday life and education.

State of the art

A device for cultivating plants is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for invention No. 2,676,316 (published on December 27, 2018, IPC A01G 31/06). The known device contains a plant growing chamber, a controller-controlled lighting module, a ventilation module, a plant growing module and a means for monitoring the stage of plant growth, a means for humidifying air flows, a means for differentiating air flows and a means for introducing microorganisms.

A device for automatic cultivation of plants is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for utility model No. 209 770 (published on March 22, 2022, IPC A01G 31/02, A01G 9/24, A01G 27/00, G05D 27/02). A device for cultivating plants contains a housing, inside of which there is a plant growing chamber, a lighting module, a ventilation module, a module for monitoring the stage of plant growth, a plant growing module, a substrate humidity control module and a means for differentiating air flows. The lighting module is located inside the plant growing chamber. The plant growing module is filled with substrate and is equipped with the ability to automatically water the substrate based on substrate moisture data received from the substrate moisture control module. The air flow differentiation means provides the ability to simulate natural wind flows inside the plant growing chamber.

An indoor greenhouse is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for invention No. 2,787,699 (published on January 11, 2023, IPC A01G 9/14, A01G 9/24). An indoor greenhouse contains a body with a roof, bottom, sides and plants installed one below the other. The housing contains a light source and a pump. The greenhouse body is made in the form of a cabinet with an opening transparent glass door with a touch control unit mounted on it; the rear wall of the body is equipped with an exhaust fan and a reflective screen. A control and monitoring system is installed in the housing, including sensors that transmit information about the microclimate in the greenhouse to a microcontroller, while in the plant containers there are droppers connected to a pump that supply a nutrient solution to the roots of the plants, and nozzles are installed above the plants to create a water mist.

A common disadvantage of the known analogues is the low quality of illumination of cultivated plants. This is due to the lack of feedback mechanisms necessary to adjust the lamp, as well as the lack of the ability to alternate day and night modes.

Among other things, a common drawback of the known analogues is the lamps used, in particular, bicolor lamps, which have a spectrum significantly different from the spectrum of natural light. The result of the use of such lamps may be stress in plants caused by a reaction to their cultivation conditions that differ from natural conditions.

Disclosure of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to expand the arsenal of technical means intended for cultivating plants.

The technical result achieved by the present invention is to improve the quality of illumination of cultivated plants.

The invention proposes a device for cultivating plants. The plant cultivation apparatus includes a plant growing chamber provided with a door, a control controller, and an associated lighting module including a light source that is mounted to illuminate the interior of the plant growing chamber. Unlike the prototype, the light source is represented by a dual-spectrum lamp, consisting of two full-spectrum matrices, and this lamp is equipped with a feedback sensor that is capable of transmitting the temperature value of the lamp to the controller, and the controller is able to adjust the luminous flux from the lamp depending on the temperature on the lamp.

In particular, the chamber for growing plants in its lower part is equipped with a stand for containers with plants.

In particular, the door is made of transparent material. Such a material can be a polymer material, inorganic glass or organic glass (plexiglass). In this case, a reflective coating can be applied to both sides of the door. In this case, said coating may have a light transmission coefficient of at least 0.05.

In particular, the lighting module is equipped with a cooling device.

In particular, the lighting module is provided with a diffusion panel placed between the light source and the interior of the plant growing chamber. In this case, the diffusing panel is made of a material providing a light transmission coefficient of at least 0.95.

In particular, the plant growing chamber is equipped with an air circulation fan. Said fan is placed in one of the walls of the chamber for growing plants.

In particular, the plant growing chamber is provided with an information display device connected to the controller. Said display device may be a liquid crystal panel.

Brief description of drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates the appearance of a plant cultivation device.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate the appearance of the plant container.

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of controller-controlled components of a plant cultivation apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates an interface of an information display device.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention

In accordance with FIG. 1, a device for cultivating plants consists of a housing formed by two sidewalls 1, a rear wall 2, an upper part 3 and a bottom part 4. The housing can be made of metal, polymer, or composite material. In particular, individual parts of the housing can be made of the specified materials in various combinations.

In particular, the body has the shape of a right parallelepiped. In particular, the housing has an ergonomic shape and dimensions that allow it to be placed in the interior of a living space. Inside the housing there is a chamber for growing plants, which is a cavity limited on the sides and top by the internal surfaces of the sidewalls 1, the rear wall 2 and the internal surface of the upper part 3.

From below, the plant growing chamber is limited by a stand 5, which is installed in the bottom part 4 of the housing. The specified stand 5 is made in the form of a removable flexible plate, which is placed on fixing elements built into the inner walls of the sidewalls 2 of the housing. In particular, these fastening elements can be represented by bushings, pins, shelves or other similar elements that allow them to support the weight of the stand 5 with cartridges loaded with a moist biochemical substrate and plants at various stages of growth. Said stand 5 has seats 6 arranged in rows, represented by holes of a shape that coincides with the cross-section of containers 7 for plants (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). In particular, such a shape can be rectangular, polygonal, round, oval or other. As shown in FIG. 2, container 7 is a vessel with a hole in its bottom. Seats 6 for containers 7 can be made in at least one row. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the seats 7 can be made in two rows of four seats each. This implementation makes it possible to cultivate plants sown in container 7 in quantities of up to eight units. However, it should be noted that the number of seats 7 is determined by the dimensions of the housing and, in essence, can be arbitrary.

A temperature sensor 8 and a humidity sensor 9 are also installed inside the plant growing chamber, which are schematically shown in FIG. 3, illustrating a functional block diagram of the device. These sensors 8 and 9 can be built into the sides 1 or the upper part 3 of the housing or placed in the bottom part 4 of the housing.

The front part of the plant growing chamber, which is not limited by the walls of the housing, is limited by an opening door 10. In particular, the door 10 can be movably mounted in hinges attached to one of the sides 1 of the housing. In particular, the door can be made in the form of a removable panel, which is fixed in fastening elements that limit its movement and are built into the sides 1 of the housing. In particular, the door 10 may have magnetic fasteners, with the help of which it is connected to mating magnetic fasteners located in the walls of the housing. In particular, the door 10 is provided with at least one handle 11. Preferably, the door 10 is made of a transparent material. Such a material can be a light-permeable polymer material, inorganic glass or organic glass (plexiglass), which is completely or partially made of polymer. In particular, a reflective coating may be applied to both sides of the door 10. Glass or polymer film with reflective properties can be used as such a coating.

In particular, the reflective coating is selected in such a way that it has a light transmission coefficient of no more than 0.05. This allows you to ensure optimal light conditions inside the plant growing chamber, which consists of the following. If there is an excess of luminous flux from external light sources providing natural or technical illumination of the external space, the outer side of the door 10 reflects at least part of the excess luminous flux. In such a case, the door 10 is visually impenetrable to the user. In the opposite case, when the intensity of the light flux inside the plant growing chamber from the internal light source exceeds the intensity of external lighting, the inner side of the door 10 reflects the light flux, directing it to the plants and preventing scattering outside the plant growing chamber. In such a case, the door 10 is visually permeable to the user.

At least one of the sidewalls 1 has a through hole for mounting an air circulation device 12. In particular, said device 12 is represented by a vertically oriented circulation fan built into the sidewall 1 of the housing. Said fan includes a propeller with blades that is capable of rotating around an axis when driven by an electric motor. Air circulation is ensured by taking air from the surrounding space and expelling air from the plant growing chamber using a rotating propeller with blades. The fan grille is located on the outer wall of the sidewall 1 of the housing.

The upper part 3 of the housing is limited by its walls on all sides and has an internal cavity. Inside the housing cover 3, a lighting module 13, a controller 14, and an information display device 15 are installed. In addition to the functional components, electrical switching wires are laid inside the housing cover 3, electrically connecting the controller 14, the lighting module 13, and the information display device 15. In the walls of the housing cover 3 there can be through holes should be made for electrical wires, if required, for example, to connect the controller 14 with temperature sensors 8 and humidity 9, as well as connect all device components that require this to the electrical network. For the purpose of user safety, power supply is provided from an external power source.

The lighting module 13 consists of a cooling device 16, a light source 17, which is a phytolight, and a feedback sensor 18, which is a temperature sensor. In particular, the lighting module 13 is a device in its own housing, located inside the housing cover 3. In particular, the lighting module 13 does not have its own housing, but all its components are mounted inside the housing cover 3.

In particular, the cooling device 16 is represented by a horizontally oriented circulation fan built into the upper part 3 of the housing. Said fan includes a propeller with blades that is capable of rotating around an axis when driven by an electric motor. Cooling of the lighting module 13 is ensured by the intake of air at room temperature from the surrounding space and the release of heated air from the upper part 3 of the housing using a rotating screw with blades. The fan grille is located on the outer horizontal wall of the upper part 3 of the housing. Cooling device 16 is designed to remove excess heat generated by the phytolight.

In particular, the light source 17 is a dual-spectrum lamp consisting of two full-spectrum matrices. The indicated matrices refer to LED matrices. The light source 17 is placed inside the housing cover 3 so that the light emitted by it is directed towards the plants cultivated in the plant growing chamber. The feedback sensor 18 is installed on the light source 17, for example, installed on one of the lamp matrices. The light source 17 is electrically connected to the controller 14. The controller is designed 14 with the ability to change the intensity of the luminous flux produced by the lamp. In this case, the feedback sensor 18 installed on the light source 17 is also connected to the controller 14. The feedback sensor 18 is designed to measure temperature values on the light source 17 and transmit the specified values to the controller 14. Based on the received values, the controller 14 in accordance with the programmed the algorithm adjusts the intensity of the light flux generated by the light source 17. This allows the light regime inside the plant growing chamber to be provided in accordance with the natural light conditions in which cultivated plants show the best growth in their natural environment. In addition, adjusting the luminous flux intensity is necessary to reduce the amount of heat generated by LED matrices during operation. This is necessary in order to prevent cultivated plants from excessive heating caused by thermal radiation from the matrix. Among other things, software adjustment of the light intensity using a temperature sensor prevents LED matrices from premature failure. It is known that when overheated, LEDs generate a more intense luminous flux and, as a result, inevitably degrade. Overall, the feedback circuit described above is a relatively inexpensive alternative to feedback sensors based on different physical principles.

Making the lamp from two full-spectrum matrices allows you to simulate a light regime inside a plant growing chamber that has the spectral characteristics of natural light, in which the plant shows the best growth. In particular, these matrices differ in the nature of the emitted light: one of the matrices has a cold spectrum, and the second has a warm spectrum.

In particular, the lighting module 13 may be provided with a light diffusion panel placed between the light source 17 and the interior of the plant growing chamber. In this case, the diffusing panel is made of a material providing a light transmission coefficient of at least 0.95.

The luminaire matrices are mounted in such a way that at least part of the light fluxes they produce are mixed inside the lighting module 13. For example, the light emitting matrices of the luminaires can be located at an angle to each other. In this case, homogeneous light passes through the diffusing panel, the characteristics of which are close to the natural spectrum. Thus, the lighting module 13 makes it possible to obtain light with the required characteristics inside the plant growing chamber. Note that a matrix with a color rendering index of more than 90 is suitable for the implementation of the lamp.

The information display device 15, installed in the housing cover, is connected to the controller 14 and is configured to receive indicators of the microenvironment inside the plant growing chamber and display these indicators in real time on the display. In particular, the display of the information display device 15 is built into the front wall of the housing cover so that information can be visually accessible to the user. The display of said device 15 may be a liquid crystal panel with touch input capability.

Referring to FIG. 5, the output information is presented in graphical form. For its graphical presentation, a graphical user interface is used, organized as follows. In the upper left part of the interface there are icons 22 and 23, respectively showing the temperature and humidity inside the plant growing chamber. In the upper right part of the interface there are icons 24 and 25, showing, respectively, the current time and date, and the duration of the current daylight hours. In the middle right part of the interface there are icons 26, 27 and 28, showing the day counter, as well as a button to enter the controller menu and switch the controller operating mode (“Start” and “Stop”). In the middle left part of the interface there are icons 29 and 30 for buttons for activating the ozonation mode of the surrounding space and switching the germination and seedling modes. At the bottom of the interface there are icons 31 and 32 for the water level indicator and the day/night indicator.

The plant cultivation device is used as follows.

Previously, a wick 19 is placed in each container 7 for plants, which is a strip of non-woven polymer material with high capillary conductivity. The wick 19 must pass through a hole in the bottom of the container 7 for plants, while part of the wick 19 must be adjacent to one of the walls of the specified container 7 and part of the wick 19 must be located outside the specified container approximately 3-5 cm below the level of its bottom. After this, the hole made in the bottom of the container for plants is closed with a removable bottom 20, which is a plate with protrusions oriented downward.

Then each container 7 for plants is filled to approximately half the volume with a biochemical substrate 21, which is a soil mixture composed of various natural components or their substitutes. Turf soil, leaf soil, humus, peat, and sand can be used as such components. Said substrate 21 may consist of various combinations of these components. After this, the wick 19 is bent in an arc, orienting its end part in the direction of the central vertical axis of the container 7 for plants and filled with biochemical substrate 21 approximately to the upper edge of the container 7 so that the said end part of the wick 19 is buried inside the substrate 21 in the middle part of the container 7 for plants.

Then, seeds for seedlings are distributed over the surface of the biochemical substrate 21, with which the containers 7 are filled, and they are buried approximately 1-2 cm inside the substrate 21. The number of seeds, the sparsity of sowing and the level of penetration into the substrate 21 are selected depending on the type of crop. Then containers 7 for plants, filled with substrate 21 with seeds, are installed inside the plant growing chamber, placing them in the seats 6 of the stand 5 for containers 7. The plant growing chamber is closed with a door 10. The first shoots are expected to appear within about 24-48 hours.

Then the tank installed in the bottom part 4 of the housing is filled with water so that the parts of the wicks 19 protruding beyond the container 7 are immersed in it. A liquid nutrient concentrate containing ions of chemical elements that are necessary for plant nutrition is added to the water. The nutrient concentrate can be added to the water using a graduated syringe. Then the resulting concentrate is thoroughly mixed.

Then, using the information display device 15, the device operating program is configured on the controller 14 using a graphical user interface. In particular, when setting up the program, set the parameters for daylight hours, light intensity, temperature, circulation fan speed and other available parameters. The programmed parameters are stored in the long-term memory element of the controller 14.

Based on the programmed parameters, the controller 14 automatically controls the process of growing plants. At a given frequency, controller 14 receives current values from temperature sensor 8 and humidity sensor 9 installed in the plant growing chamber, and feedback sensor 18 installed on light source 17. Based on the built-in clock, controller 14 gradually increases the light intensity at the beginning of daylight hours , bringing it to the maximum set value and gradually reduces the light intensity at the end of daylight, bringing it to the minimum value. In particular, to simulate dawn, controller 14 increases the intensity of the light flux from 0 to 100% in about 1 hour. In particular, to simulate a sunset, controller 14 reduces the luminous flux intensity from 100 to 0% in approximately 1 hour.

During daylight hours, the light intensity inside the plant growing chamber may exceed the light intensity outside. In this case, the door 10 coated with reflective material is visually transparent from the outside. In this case, the inner side of the door 10 reflects the light flux, preventing its dispersion into the surrounding space. During the night, the light intensity inside the growing chamber may not exceed the light intensity outside. In this case, said door 10 is visually impenetrable from the outside. In this case, the inner side of the door 10 does not reflect the light flux, but allows it to pass through. For example, if the light source 17 operates in night mode and the room lights are turned on, then the proposed design of the door 10 prevents excess light from entering the plant growing chamber. And vice versa, if the light source 17 operates in daylight mode, and at the same time the room is dark, then the design of the door prevents the scattering of light into the surrounding space.

If any value received from one of the sensors 8, 9, 18 deviates in comparison with a given threshold value, the controller 14 adjusts the rotation speed of the circulation fan 12 or the intensity of lighting generated by the light source 17. The heat generated by the light source 17 is discharged into the surrounding space at using the circulation fan 16 of the lighting module 13.

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples.

Example 1. Cultivation of lettuce seeds. Lettuce seeds are placed on the surface of the biochemical substrate 21, filling the container 7 for plants, in which the wick 19 is installed. The said container 7 is left for approximately 24 hours in a darkened room until the first shoots emerge. After this, the container 7 is installed in the free seat 6 of the stand 5 installed inside the plant growing chamber so that the wick 19 is immersed in a previously prepared nutrient solution. Then, using the information display means 15, the program is configured on the controller 14, setting the duration of daylight hours for 16 hours, and the lighting level. During the first hour of daylight, controller 14 increases the light intensity from 0 to 100%. During the last hour of daylight, controller 14 reduces the light intensity from 100 to 0%. For lettuce, the acceptable light level is approximately 40% of the available light level of a dual-spectrum LED fixture, which is approximately 5300 lux. After approximately 25 days, the lettuce harvest is ready for harvest, which corresponds to 25 cycles of alternating day and night modes simulating dawn and dusk with a daylength of 16 hours.

Example 2. Cultivation of wild arugula seeds. Wild arugula seeds are placed on the surface of the biochemical substrate 21, filling the container 7 for plants, in which the wick 19 is installed. The specified container 7 is left for approximately 24 hours in a darkened room until the first shoots emerge. After this, the container 7 is installed in the free seat 6 of the stand 5 installed inside the plant growing chamber so that the wick 19 is immersed in a previously prepared nutrient solution. Then, using the information display means 15, the program is configured on the controller 14, setting the duration of daylight for 12 hours and the lighting level. During the first hour of daylight, controller 14 increases the light intensity from 0 to 100%. During the last hour of daylight, controller 14 reduces the light intensity from 100 to 0%. For wild arugula, the acceptable light level is approximately 70% of the available light level of a dual-spectrum LED fixture, which is approximately 9300 lux. After approximately 25 days, the wild arugula crop is ready for harvest, which corresponds to 25 cycles of alternating day and night modes with imitation of dawn and sunset.

For safe operation, the device must be placed on a flat surface in a place protected from direct sunlight. The ambient temperature should not fall below 17°C, and a constant flow of air through ventilation must be ensured. No heat sources such as radiators or heating devices should be located near the device.

Claims (8)

1. A device for cultivating plants, including a plant growing chamber equipped with a door made of a transparent material, a control controller, and an associated lighting module including a light source that is mounted to illuminate the interior of the plant growing chamber, different the fact that a reflective coating is applied to both sides of the door, characterized by a light transmittance coefficient of no more than 0.05, the light source is represented by a dual-spectrum lamp consisting of two full-spectrum matrices, and this lamp is equipped with a feedback sensor that is capable of transmitting the temperature value of the lamp to the controller, Moreover, the controller is capable of adjusting the luminous flux from the lamp depending on the temperature at the lamp. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber for growing plants in its lower part is equipped with a stand for containers with plants. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent material is a polymer material, inorganic glass or organic glass - plexiglass. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting module is equipped with a cooling device. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting module is equipped with a diffusing panel placed between the light source and the internal space of the chamber for growing plants. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the diffusing panel is made of a material providing a light transmittance of at least 0.95. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber for growing plants is equipped with an air circulation fan, wherein said fan is located in one of the walls of the chamber for growing plants. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant growing chamber is equipped with an information display device connected to the controller.