Cultivation device

The cultivation device facilitates efficient installation and reconfiguration of cultivation containers with sliding connections, enhancing workability and accommodating multiple working passages for high-traffic environments.

JP2025110809APending Publication Date: 2025-07-29WATANABE PIPE
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024004867
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-01-16
Publication Date
2025-07-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing cultivation devices struggle to efficiently install and move multiple cultivation containers while maintaining good workability, as they often require large-scale mechanisms that limit simultaneous working passages and cannot accommodate large numbers of people, such as in sightseeing farms.

Method used

A cultivation device with suspended cultivation container rows using a support member and sliding connections between suspension and moving members, allowing flexible arrangement and simultaneous operation of multiple working passages.

Benefits of technology

Enables efficient installation of more cultivation containers with simplified mechanisms, allowing simultaneous multiple working passages and easy reconfiguration of container rows, suitable for high-traffic environments like sightseeing farms.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a mechanism in which a larger number of cultivation containers are installed with good workability in a cultivation chamber, and the cultivation containers are moved.SOLUTION: A cultivation device is provided in a cultivation chamber, where a plurality of long and box-shaped cultivation containers for cultivating crop plants are arranged in a cultivation chamber, a plurality of rows of cultivation container rows B are formed in a longitudinal direction of the containers, a support member is provided above the cultivation container rows, each cultivation container row is suspended by suspending members G and holding members extending below the support member, a plurality of long moving members are provided in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of each cultivation container row and between each cultivation container row and the support member, the suspending member is movably inserted into a slide member fixed to each moving member to slidably connect the suspending member and the slide member, and some moving members form a plurality of pairs of combinations slidably connected each other only with the suspending members suspending some cultivation container rows.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cultivation device such as a greenhouse for plants.

Background Art

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, there is provided a plant cultivation device comprising a long box-shaped cultivation container in which plants are planted, and hanging support means for hanging and supporting a row of the cultivation containers arranged in the longitudinal direction at a cultivation work position, and a plurality of the hanging support means are arranged side by side in the lateral direction. Among the side-by-side hanging support means, a transfer device for transferring each of the hanging support means at the intermediate portion excluding both ends thereof in the side-by-side direction is provided, and a plant cultivation device in which the interval between the hanging support means is variable is known.

[0003] As described in Patent Document 2, between beam members installed at a predetermined height at opposing positions in a vinyl house, there is provided a moving pipe spanned so as to be rollable on the beam members, a cultivator suspended via a pair of hanging tools locked at a predetermined interval in the front and rear directions and horizontally moving as the moving pipe rolls, a rail member attached to the lower portion of the hanging tool and extending along the moving pipe, and a storage box suspended movably on the rail member. A cultivation device for a house including these components is known.

[0004] The plant cultivation device described in the above Patent Document 1 can install more cultivation containers in the cultivation room. However, this device uses a sprocket and a chain to horizontally move two rows of adjacent cultivation container rows as a set together with the hanging mechanism of the cultivation containers, thereby forming only one working passage for the cultivation workers. In such a plant cultivation device, the device for driving the heavy sprocket and chain becomes large-scale, and it is difficult to change the combination of the cultivation container rows to be moved determined when the equipment is installed. Moreover, since it is not intended to form a plurality of working passages simultaneously, a plurality of cultivation workers cannot work on separate working passages at the same time. Therefore, it is difficult to improve the work efficiency of the workers. Also, for example, in a strawberry farm for sightseeing, a large number of people enter a single greenhouse, and they cannot act independently.

[0005] Similar to the above Patent Document 1, the above Patent Document 2 can install more cultivators in the greenhouse. Then, by rolling a moving pipe with two adjacent rows of suspended cultivators as a set, this set can be horizontally moved together with the mechanism that suspends it to secure a walking path for the workers. In such a plant cultivation device, it is difficult to change the combination of the cultivation container rows to be moved determined when the equipment is installed. Moreover, since it is not intended to form a plurality of working walking paths simultaneously, a plurality of workers cannot work on separate working passages at the same time. Therefore, it is difficult to improve the work efficiency of the workers. Also, for example, in a strawberry farm for sightseeing, a large number of people enter a single greenhouse, and they cannot act independently.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The problem of the present invention is to install more cultivation containers in a cultivation room with good workability, and to simplify and streamline the mechanism for moving the cultivation containers. Furthermore, between the cultivation containers, a plurality of working passages are provided simultaneously, so that a large number of cultivation operations can be carried out simultaneously, or a cultivation device that allows a large number of people to enter the cultivation room simultaneously for harvesting, etc., like a sightseeing farm, can be obtained, and it is to easily change the combination of cultivation container rows to be moved after the installation of the equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] 1. A cultivation device provided in a cultivation room, In the cultivation room, a plurality of cultivation container rows are formed by arranging a plurality of long box-shaped cultivation containers in which crops are cultivated in the longitudinal direction thereof, A support member is provided above the cultivation container rows, Each cultivation container row is suspended by a suspension member and a holding member extending downward from the support member, A plurality of long moving members are provided in a direction intersecting the length direction of each cultivation container row and between each cultivation container row and the support member, and the suspension member is movably inserted into a sliding member fixed to each moving member, and the suspension member and the sliding member are slidably connected, A plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the suspension members that suspend some of the cultivation container rows, Cultivation device. 2. Above each of the cultivation container rows, the support member is provided horizontally in parallel with the length direction of each cultivation container row, Each cultivation container row is suspended by the suspension member and the holding member extending downward from the support member, A plurality of long moving members are provided horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of each cultivation container row and above each cultivation container row and below the support member, and the suspension member is movably inserted into the sliding member fixed to each moving member, and the suspension member and the sliding member are slidably connected, A plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the hanging members that hang some of the cultivation container rows. The cultivation device according to claim 1. 3. Above the cultivation container rows, the support members are provided vertically and horizontally in the length direction of each cultivation container row, and each cultivation container row is suspended by the hanging members and the holding members extending downward from the support members. A plurality of long moving members are horizontally arranged perpendicular to the length direction of each cultivation container row and above each cultivation container row. The hanging members are movably inserted into the sliding members fixed to the moving members and are slidably connected. A plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the hanging members that hang some of the cultivation container rows. The cultivation device according to claim 1.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, more cultivation containers can be installed in the cultivation room of a plant cultivation house with good workability, the mechanism for moving the cultivation containers is simplified and made more efficient, a plurality of working passages can be provided simultaneously between the cultivation containers, and a large number of cultivation operations can be carried out simultaneously. Also, like in a sightseeing farm, a cultivation device can be obtained that allows a large number of people to enter the cultivation room simultaneously to perform harvesting and the like. Furthermore, it is possible to easily change the combination of the cultivation container rows to be moved after the installation of the equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 4

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Overall Structure] FIG. 1 is an overall view of a cultivation room such as a greenhouse in which the cultivation device of the present invention is provided. The basic structure of the cultivation room may be the same as that of a known cultivation room, having a foundation, columns, and a roof such as a gable roof, and the wall surface and the roof may be made of a material that transmits sunlight, or other structures may also be used. Usually, it is provided with beams A etc. and has sufficient strength. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction along the wall surface facing the end of the cultivation container row is defined as the left-right direction, the direction parallel to the length direction of the cultivation container row is defined as the front-back direction, and the vertical direction of the cultivation room is defined as the up-down direction. The cultivation room shown in FIG. 1 has a structure in which two cultivation rooms are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, but it may also consist of only one cultivation room, or may have a structure in which three or more cultivation rooms are connected. In FIG. 1, a plurality of rows of cultivation container rows B are installed in the left-right direction of the cultivation room. Although not shown, the cultivation room is provided with an entrance / exit for operators, machines, and equipment to enter and exit.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view showing a cultivation container b and a cultivation container row B installed in a cultivation room. In FIG. 2, each cultivation container row B is formed by arranging a plurality of long box-shaped cultivation containers b for cultivating crops in their long directions. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cultivation container rows B are provided at substantially the same height in the vertical direction, and the cultivation container rows B are arranged in parallel with each other with respect to the left-right direction of the cultivation room, and cultivation container rows B (B1, B2, B3, ··· Bn in order from the end) are provided in the cultivation room. The cultivation container row B is suspended by a suspension member G. This suspension member can be provided with a height adjustment part E of any means in the middle, and thereby the vertical position of the cultivation container row can be adjusted. When the intervals between these cultivation container rows B are made equal, the intervals may be too narrow for an operator to enter and work, or may be such that an operator can enter and work.

[0013] The number of cultivation containers installed in the cultivation room and the number of cultivation container rows B are arbitrary and can be determined by the size of the cultivation room, the plants to be cultivated, etc.

[0014] [Formation of Cultivation Container Row B] In the present invention, when moving each cultivation container b, the cultivation container row B is used as a single unit. As described above, a plurality of cultivation containers b arranged in their length directions are used as a cultivation container row B, and it is necessary to integrate the cultivation containers b by a holding member or the like that can hold the plurality of cultivation containers b in the cultivation container row B at the same time. A plurality of columns J are provided in the cultivation room of FIG. 4, and these columns J support a drive shaft K via a drive shaft support member L shown in FIG. 9. By rotating the drive shaft K, for example, the moving member H can be moved.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cultivation container row B cut at a location held by a holding member. In FIG. 3, two pipes D are provided on the lower surface of the cultivation container b, and are supported by bent portions Ci provided at both ends of a holding member C bent into a substantially pentagonal shape so as to hold from below the two pipes D, that is, it is shown that the two pipes D directly support the cultivation container row B. Alternatively, instead of directly supporting in this way, the two pipes D may support the cultivation container row B via another member such as a plate-like object. The cultivation containers b provided in this way are connected in their longitudinal direction to form a row of cultivation containers, and are held by the holding member C in units of the row of cultivation containers. Of course, a plurality of cultivation containers b may be integrated into a row of cultivation containers B by other means.

[0016] Members such as such pipes D and holding members C need to have a strength to withstand the weight of the row of cultivation containers B, and are preferably made of metal or a strong resin. Note that the size of the cultivation containers b constituting the row of cultivation containers B is arbitrary, and the depth, length and width, etc. can be set according to the plants to be cultivated, etc. Also, when the width of the cultivation container b is narrow, or at the seedling stage, if the operator's hand can reach beyond the cultivation container b at hand to another cultivation container b adjacent to the long side of the cultivation container b, for example, on one holding member C, through another member such as the above-mentioned plate-like member, two or more rows of cultivation container rows B may be placed or fixed, or two or more rows of cultivation container rows B may be brought into contact with each other and moved together. When such an operation is performed, when the plants grow and are out of reach, instead of moving two or more rows of cultivation container rows B in contact with each other, they can be changed to move as separate rows of cultivation container rows B.

[0017] [Suspension structure of the row of cultivation containers B] In the present invention, in order to suspend the row of cultivation containers B, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (cross-sectional view of the cultivation room), above the row of cultivation containers B, a support member F (which may also serve as the beam A) connected to the column of the cultivation room is provided, and each row of cultivation containers B is suspended via the holding member C by a suspension member G such as a wire extending downward from each support member F. This support member F may be a long member installed horizontally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the row of cultivation containers B, or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction). FIG. 4 is a view in which the support member F is installed in a direction perpendicular to the row of cultivation containers B. Also, a support member F may be installed for each upper part corresponding to each location where the row of cultivation containers B is suspended. With only this suspension structure, the row of cultivation containers B is only suspended below the support member F, and the row of cultivation containers B does not move in any direction.

[0018] (Suspension structure 1 of cultivation container row B) Among the suspension structures, as the suspension structure 1-1 (not shown), each support member F may be installed on columns, beams, etc. in the cultivation room so as to extend in the direction parallel to the length direction of each cultivation container row B (front-rear direction), and each cultivation container row B may be suspended by a suspension member G extending downward from each support member F. In this case, in FIG. 4, each support member F is installed so as to extend in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the figure (left-right direction). At this time, one support member F is provided directly above one cultivation container row B, and a structure in which the cultivation container row B is suspended by one suspension member G fixed to this support member F is provided in plural for one cultivation container row B.

[0019] (Suspension structure 2 of cultivation container row B) Among the suspension structures, as shown in FIG. 4, as the suspension structure 2, a support member F connected to a column in the cultivation room is provided horizontally so as to extend in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of each cultivation container row B (left-right direction), and one holding member C is suspended from each suspension member G hung one by one from each support member F, and the cultivation container row B may be suspended through these holding members C for the cultivation container row B located directly below each support member F.

[0020] [Matters common to suspension structures 1 and 2 of cultivation container row B] As shown in FIG. 3, in order to suspend the cultivation container or the cultivation container row B, support members F are installed horizontally above the cultivation room in parallel (front-rear direction) or perpendicular (left-right direction) to the length direction of each cultivation container row B as in the above suspension structures 1 and 2. One or more support members F may be installed for one cultivation container row B, and the support member F is connected and fixed to a column in the cultivation room. This column may be a column constituting the wall portion of the cultivation room, or a column installed in the cultivation room separately from such a column, or may be connected to both of these columns. To connect and suspend such a row of cultivation containers B and the support member F, as shown in Fig. 4, a suspension member G such as a wire or a metal wire is fixed to the support member F, and these are hung downward. A substantially pentagonal holding member C is connected downward to the lower end of the suspension member G. This holding member C may hold the pipe D that holds the above-mentioned row of cultivation containers B. When connecting the substantially pentagonal holding member C downward to the lower end of the suspension member G, the holding member C may be connected to the lower end of the suspension member G so as to be rotatable, or may be connected so as not to be rotatable.

[0021] For one cultivation container, two or more sets of a combination consisting of one suspension member G extending directly downward and one holding member C may be provided. Also, one holding member may be suspended by two suspension members G, and a plurality of those configured like a Y shape may be used to hold the row of cultivation containers B. The suspension member G and the holding member C used here need to have the strength necessary to suspend the row of cultivation containers B over a long period. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, the suspension member G is inserted into the hole i of the sliding member I fixed to the moving member H and is slidable. Therefore, when the moving member H moves at the point where it contacts the sliding member I, the suspension member G is bent at the location where it contacts the hole i. To hold and move the row of cultivation containers B, a plurality of long moving members H are installed. And it is necessary that the suspension member G does not deteriorate due to the friction during sliding and the force acting in the lateral direction. Such a suspension member G may be selected from wire materials such as metal wires, metal cords, and piano wires that have sufficient strength and can be bent as described above. Also, it can be made of a rigid material such as a metal rod. When a rigid material is used, it will not bend due to the hole i. In Figs. 1 and 4, the moving member H is a linear member in which a plurality of moving members H are installed in parallel below the support member F. And this moving member H is moved in the left - right direction while maintaining the vertical position in Fig. 4, for example.

[0022] [Moving Structure of Cultivation Container and Row of Cultivation Containers B] In parallel with the left - right direction of the cultivation chamber in FIG. 1, and above each cultivation container row B (B1, B2, B3, ··· Bn) and below the support member, a plurality of long moving members (H1, H2, H3, ··· Hn) are horizontally arranged in parallel with each other. As a result, when viewed from above, the moving member H is positioned so as to cross a plurality of cultivation container rows B. As shown in FIG. 4, each moving member H is arranged so as to be close to a plurality of suspension members G arranged in parallel in the length direction of each cultivation container row B. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a sliding member I is fixed to each moving member H at a location close to each suspension member G, and each suspension member G is movably passed through a hole i of the sliding member I and connected. As a result, the suspension member is movably inserted into the sliding member I. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the position of the suspension member G and the position of the moving member H so that the suspension member G suspending the cultivation container row B to be moved can be approached.

[0023] One moving member H cannot be connected so as to slide the suspension members G connected to all the cultivation container rows B. At this time, some moving members are slidably connected only to the suspension members suspending some cultivation container rows, and a plurality of combinations with other non - moving adjacent cultivation container rows are formed. If each moving member H is connected to all the cultivation container rows B, even if the moving member H is moved, all the cultivation container rows will move simultaneously, and the interval between the cultivation container rows will not change. This state is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as a state where the moving member H is not moved. At this time, each cultivation container row B is in the state when installed in the cultivation chamber, and the intervals between each cultivation container row B are equal. This interval may be an interval where an operator can enter, or an interval where an operator cannot enter, and more cultivation container rows B may be provided in the cultivation chamber.

[0024] In this way, the cultivation container rows B can be divided into two or more groups, and one group of cultivation container rows B can be moved while the other cultivation container rows B are not moved (the former). Also, the moving direction of one group of cultivation container rows B and the moving direction of the other group can be made opposite (the latter).

[0025] In the former case, for example, all the moving members H are connected to the cultivation container rows B where n of Bn is odd. Also, it can be achieved by connecting the first group of moving members H where n of Hn is odd to the cultivation container rows B where n of Bn is odd, and not connecting the second group where n of Hn is even to the cultivation container rows B where n of Bn is even. Also in this case, two adjacent cultivation containers are grouped together, and by alternately connecting them to the moving member H, an interval that allows an operator to work easily can be provided between those groups.

[0026] As the former case, all the moving members H are connected to the cultivation container rows where n of Bn is even, and the state after moving upward on the drawing is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, only those cultivation container rows Bn where n is even move by the same amount as the moving amount of the moving member H and approach the cultivation container rows Bn where n is odd in the upper adjacent row. FIG. 8 is a view of the cultivation device seen from above, and a view of the cultivation device seen from the left - right direction of the cultivation room is shown as FIG. 10. Compared with the constant interval between the cultivation container rows B shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 10, the cultivation container rows B2, B4, B6, etc. moved by the moving member H are displaced so as to approach the adjacent cultivation container rows, and at the same time, the height also changes slightly and becomes higher. Even if the degree of increase in height is not so large, for example, when an operator works from the side of B3, since the cultivation container row B2 located behind B3 is at a slightly higher position, it is easier to reach and the work can be facilitated.

[0027] Also, in FIG. 8, the moving direction of the moving member H may be downward. Furthermore, the degree of this proximity may be adjusted, for example, so that the plants during cultivation do not contact the adjacent cultivation container rows B, or may be made constant.

[0028] In the latter case, a plurality of moving members H may be divided into two or more groups and each group may be moved. For example, the moving members H of the first group where n of Hn is odd may be connected to the cultivation container rows B where n of Bn is odd, and the moving members of the second group where n of Hn is even may be connected to the cultivation container rows B where n of Bn is even. In this case, by reversing the moving directions of the moving members H of the first group and the moving members H of the second group, the moving amounts of the moving members H of both groups may be reduced. Also by this, two adjacent cultivation containers may be brought close to each other to form a set, and an interval that allows an operator to work easily may be provided between those sets. The distinction between the moving members H of the first group and the moving members H of the second group described above was made by distinguishing the even and odd numbers of the numbers attached to the moving members H shown in FIG. 8, for example. Instead of this, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIG. 9 below, one moving member H1 may be divided into two parallel moving members by a pulley N or the like, and they may be configured to move in opposite directions to each other. One of the two parallel moving members may be connected to the cultivation container row B where n of Bn is odd, and the other one may be connected to the cultivation container row B where n of Bn is even. At this time, each moving member Hn can move the cultivation container rows divided into two groups in opposite directions. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of installed moving members H required. Furthermore, in this case, the difference in the relative vertical positions between the cultivation container rows before movement remains unchanged even after movement. In addition, in either the former or the latter case, among the cultivation container rows B, the two cultivation container rows B arranged along both side surfaces of the cultivation room may not be moved. In this case, it is sufficient to make the other cultivation container rows B movable.

[0029] A mechanism for slidably connecting the suspension member and the sliding member in the present invention will be described. Depending on the cultivation period and cultivation policy, there may be cases where it is not necessary for the cultivation device of the present invention to move all the cultivation container rows B or all the cultivation container rows B other than the two cultivation container rows B arranged along both side surfaces of the cultivation room described above. In such a case, for example, among the cultivation container rows B in FIGS. 1 and 5, the suspension member G connected to half of the cultivation container rows B from one side surface of the cultivation chamber can be prevented from passing through the hole i of the sliding member I. When not moving all the rows, for example, among the three cultivation container rows B in FIG. 5, the sliding member I is provided only on the suspension member G that suspends the middle cultivation container row B. The suspension member G is passed through the hole i of this sliding member I. If the two cultivation container rows B on both sides in FIG. 5 are not moved, as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding member I is removed from the moving member H or the like so that the sliding member I is not attached. Or the hole i has a structure that can be opened and closed like a carabiner, and the sliding member I is loosened with respect to the moving member H, the sliding member I is rotated to change the mounting direction, removed from the suspension member G, or temporarily fixed at a position where it does not contact or interfere with the suspension member G, so that the suspension member G does not pass through the hole i of the sliding member I. In this way, by simple measures such as preventing the moving member H and the sliding member I from interfering with the suspension member G at the same time, it is possible to select the cultivation container row B to be moved or not to be moved.

[0030] A mechanism for moving the moving member H is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a view of the cultivation chamber seen from above, corresponding to a cross-sectional view taken along the plane including the moving member H in FIG. 4. The column J, drive shaft K, and drive shaft support L shown in FIG. 9 respectively correspond to the column J, drive shaft K, and drive shaft support L in FIG. 7, and the column J and drive shaft K in FIG. 4. Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, a drive device M may be provided on the column J. Note that the moving member H, drive shaft K, etc. may be provided on all the columns J, or the moving member H may be provided on some of the columns. In FIG. 9, the drive shaft support L provided on the column J of the cultivation chamber has, for example, a known member that inserts a rotating member such as a bearing inside to support the rotating shaft. The drive shaft K is inserted into a known member such as this bearing to support the drive shaft K installed over the entire length of the cultivation chamber in FIG. 7, for example. Although not shown, the drive shaft K is rotationally driven by a known drive device such as a motor. By this rotational drive, the moving member H such as a wire wound around the drive shaft K is paid out or wound back.

[0031] In Fig. 9, one moving member H is fed out in the direction of the arrow, and the other H is wound back and moved in the direction of the arrow. Although not shown, a sliding member I is fixed to these two moving members H, and is connected to the suspension member G by passing through the hole i therein. By moving these moving members H, the connected suspension member can be moved. The two moving members Hi in Fig. 9 are each installed, for example, by a pulley N or the like fixed to another column J as described in Figs. 4 and 7, so as to return the moving member H to the drive shaft K. As an example, each moving member H is composed of one wire or the like, and both ends thereof are installed so as to be wound around one drive shaft K by the pulley or the like (not shown). Therefore, in Fig. 9, when the two moving members H are each moved in the direction of the arrow, the two moving members Hi are each moved in the opposite direction and are wound back or fed out by the drive shaft K.

[0032] With such a structure, there is no need to provide a drive device for moving the moving member H between each column J and / or between each column J as in the above prior art. There is no need to provide a complicated device for moving the suspension member. And it is also possible to cope with changes in the length of the cultivation container row to be moved by relatively simple operations such as removing or attaching some of the moving members wound around the drive shaft K as necessary. In the present invention, the cultivation container row B is maintained in a suspended state in the cultivation room, and plants are cultivated in that state. At this time, the height of the cultivation container may be a height at which the operator can easily work. Also, since a space is formed below the cultivation container, although not shown, for example, containers, working tools, etc. may be temporarily placed during work.

[0033] Note that a known drive device such as a motor may be directly connected to the end of the drive shaft K. In this case, this drive device is installed at the height of the drive shaft K. Also, the drive device may be installed at a low place such as on the ground, and the generated power may be transmitted to the drive shaft K by known means to rotate the drive shaft K. With such a configuration, the load on the columns of the cultivation chamber can be reduced, and furthermore, simplification of the structure and the like can be achieved. Also, the drive device may be provided on the column of the wall portion of the cultivation chamber, or may be provided as the drive device M on the column installed in the cultivation chamber in FIG. 4. Although a wire has been exemplified as the above-described moving member H, it is not limited to a wire as long as it is a mechanism that can convert the rotational motion of the drive shaft K into a linear motion of the moving member H. Instead of a wire, a rod-like object may be used, or a rack & pinion mechanism or a parallel crank mechanism may be used.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a view showing a state after moving every other cultivation container row B in the cultivation apparatus of the present invention and bringing adjacent cultivation container rows closer to each other. FIG. 10 is an example in which the moving direction of the moving member H suspending the cultivation container rows is limited to one side as shown in FIG. 9, for example. This example brings two rows of cultivation container rows closer to each other.

[0035] In addition to such a mode, for example, in the structure shown in FIG. 9, the moving direction of the moving member H is as shown in FIG. 9. However, in the sliding member I of the moving member H, the suspension member G of the cultivation container row Bn is inserted into the hole i of the sliding member I so that every other cultivation container row B can be connected. And the immediately adjacent cultivation container row Bn+1 is not connected to the moving member H, and the cultivation container row Bn+2 next to it can be connected to the moving member Hi in the same manner as the cultivation container row Bn. In such a configuration, by driving the drive shaft K, without moving the cultivation container row Bn+1, the cultivation container row Bn on one side is moved so as to approach the cultivation container row Bn+1, and the cultivation container row Bn+2 on the other side is moved so as to approach the cultivation container row Bn+1. As a result, the three cultivation container rows can be brought closer to each other. Thus, in FIG. 10, for example, the cultivation container row of B4 can be moved to the B3 side, B6 is not moved, B5 is moved to the B6 side, and B7 (not shown) can be moved to the B6 side. When the width of the cultivation container row is relatively narrow or the plants during cultivation are still small, etc., it becomes easy to change the cultivation container row to be moved according to the timing and the like.

[0036] In the cultivation apparatus of the present invention, the function of the support member is to continuously suspend the cultivation container row B throughout the entire cultivation period. In addition, the support member itself is fixed even when moving the position of the cultivation container row B. Note that pipes or hoses for supplying water, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. to the cultivation container, and devices for observing, measuring, and controlling various cultivation conditions may be fixed or supported.

Explanation of Signs

[0037] A Beam (may also serve as the support member F) B Cultivation container row b Cultivation container C Holding member Ci Bending part D Pipe E Height adjuster F Support member (may also serve as the beam A) G Suspension member H Moving member Hi moving member (not connected to the suspension member) I Sliding member i Hole J Column K Drive shaft L Drive shaft support M Driving device N Pulley

Claims

1. A cultivation device provided in a cultivation room, wherein a plurality of cultivation container rows formed by arranging a plurality of long box-shaped cultivation containers in which crops are cultivated in the longitudinal direction thereof are formed in a plurality of rows in the cultivation room, a support member is provided above the cultivation container rows, each cultivation container row is suspended by a suspension member and a holding member extending downward from the support member, a plurality of long moving members are provided in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of each cultivation container row and between each cultivation container row and the support member, and the suspension member is movably inserted into a sliding member fixed to each moving member to slidably connect the suspension member and the sliding member, a plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the suspension members suspending some of the cultivation container rows, cultivation device.

2. above each of the cultivation container rows, the support member is provided horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal direction of each cultivation container row, each cultivation container row is suspended by the suspension member and the holding member extending downward from the support member, a plurality of long moving members are provided horizontally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each cultivation container row and above each cultivation container row and below the support member, and the suspension member is movably inserted into the sliding member fixed to each moving member to slidably connect the suspension member and the sliding member, a plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the suspension members suspending some of the cultivation container rows, the cultivation device according to Claim 1.

3. above the cultivation container rows, the support member is provided vertically and horizontally in the longitudinal direction of each cultivation container row, and each cultivation container row is suspended by the suspension member and the holding member extending downward from the support member, a plurality of long moving members are horizontally arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each cultivation container row and above each cultivation container row, the suspension member is movably inserted into the sliding member fixed to each moving member and slidably connected, and a plurality of combinations are formed in which some of the moving members are slidably connected only to the suspension members suspending some of the cultivation container rows, the cultivation device according to Claim 1.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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    JP2002034337A

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