Rotating vertical plant cultivation system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotary vertical plant cultivation system, and more specifically, to a rotary vertical plant cultivation system comprising: an aerial rail installed along a circulating track at a certain height; a vertical planting structure that rotates while suspended from the aerial rail; a work platform installed on one or both sides of the circulating track; a driving means for continuously moving the planting structure along the aerial rail; and a watering means for supplying water and nutrient solution to crops planted in the planting structure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary vertical plant cultivation system, and more specifically, to a rotary vertical plant cultivation system comprising: an aerial rail installed along a circulating track at a certain height; a vertical planting structure that rotates while suspended from the aerial rail; a work platform installed on one or both sides of the circulating track; a driving means for continuously moving the planting structure along the aerial rail; and a watering means for supplying water and nutrient solution to crops planted in the planting structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, agricultural cultivation systems can be broadly divided into open-field cultivation and greenhouse cultivation. Greenhouse cultivation involves cultivating crops in, for example, glass greenhouses or vinyl greenhouses, and therefore requires a relatively large investment in facilities compared to open-field cultivation. Therefore, various vertical plant cultivation devices have been developed that can maximize the plant cultivation area within a limited amount of land.

[0003] For example, Korean Patent No. 10-2436872 (August 23, 2022) introduces a vertical hydroponic cultivation device that allows for free horizontal movement for easy planting and harvesting, Korean Patent No. 10-2467384 (November 10, 2022) introduces a vertical hydroponic cultivation device that minimizes noise and vibration, and Korean Patent No. 10-2479560 (December 15, 2022) introduces a vertical hydroponic cultivation device that improves space efficiency and is easy to install.

[0004] 1 is a reference to the vertical hydroponic cultivation device of Korean Patent No. 10-2436872, and includes a frame unit 10 having a first rail 12 attached to the lower end of a pipe 11, a movable body 20 suspended from the frame unit 10 and arranged side by side so as to move along the first rail 12, a cultivation pot 30 attached to the vertical surface of the movable body 20 and having a planting opening 31 formed in an inclined direction, a light generating unit 40 installed on the other side of the cultivation pot 30 to irradiate light toward the movable body 20, a nutrient solution receiving tube 50 and a supply pump 60 for supplying nutrient solution to plants planted in the planting opening 31.

[0005] Such a vertical hydroponic cultivation device can secure as large a cultivation area as possible within a limited space by planting crops on the vertical surface of the movable body 20 that is extended in the vertical direction, and also has the effect of easily securing working space as needed, since the movable body 20 can be moved along the frame portion 10.

[0006] However, when planting crops in the cultivation pots 30 installed on the mobile body 20 or harvesting the harvested products, the worker must continue to move between the mobile bodies 20, and especially when the mobile body 20 is tall, the worker must continue to move ladders, supports, etc. while working, which still places a considerable burden on labor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] 1. Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2436872 (August 23, 2022) 2. Republic of Korea Korean Patent No. 10-2467384 (November 10, 2022) 3. Republic of Korea Korean Patent No. 10-2479560 (December 15, 2022) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a new concept vertical rotary plant cultivation system that can maximize the efficiency of crop cultivation space and, by allowing workers to plant crops and harvest crops almost on the spot without moving their work position, can reduce fatigue caused by work and increase work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The rotating vertical plant cultivation system according to the present invention comprises:

[0010] Aerial rails installed along a circular track at a certain height;

[0011] a plurality of planting structures each having a planting surface on one or both sides on which crops can be planted, the planting surfaces being suspended from an aerial rail at one side so that the planting surfaces are arranged vertically, and the planting structures moving in a line along a circular track;

[0012] a work platform installed on one or both sides of the circular track so as to face the planting surface of the planting structure;

[0013] a drive means for continuously moving the planting structure along said aerial rail;

[0014] and a water supply means for supplying water and nutrient solution necessary for the growth of crops planted in the planting structure.

[0015] The planting structure is a lattice structure with an open interior to accommodate the roots of crops, and is characterized in that a support roller that rotates along the aerial rail is installed on one side.

[0016] The planting structure is characterized in that a planting mat, a planting net or a planting pot for supporting the roots of the crop is installed on the planting surface of the planting structure.

[0017] The work platform has a multi-layer structure, and guardrails are installed on the edges of each layer.

[0018] The water supply means may include a drip hose or a spray nozzle installed along the aerial rail.

[0019] The aerial rail has straight sections arranged side by side at regular intervals and curved sections continuously connecting the straight sections, and lighting means for irradiating light necessary for crop growth are installed between the planting surfaces of the planting structures on both sides that move adjacent to each other and cross each other on the straight sections. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to the present invention has a structure in which the aerial rails are repeatedly arranged along straight sections and curved sections, and a number of vertical planting structures are successively suspended from the aerial rails, thereby enabling the most efficient utilization of crop cultivation space within a limited land area.

[0021] In addition, the rotary vertical plant cultivation system of the present invention allows workers to plant crops in the planting structure or harvest crops without moving their work position on the work table, which reduces fatigue from work and improves work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional vertical hydroponic cultivation device. [Figure 2] 1 is a configuration diagram of a rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing the installation structure of lighting means 40a and 40. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings are illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of elements that are essential for implementing the present invention but are introduced in the prior art or can be easily implemented by a person skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0024] Furthermore, the term "means" among the components of the present invention means a unit that processes at least one common function or operation, and may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of these. Furthermore, the term "comprises" a certain component means that it may further include other components as needed in addition to the explicitly stated components.

[0025] The rotary vertical plant cultivation system of the present invention comprises an aerial rail 10 installed along a circular track at a certain height, a vertical planting structure 20 that rotates while suspended from the aerial rail 10, a work platform 30 installed on one or both sides of the circular track, a driving means (not shown) that continuously moves the planting structure 20 along the aerial rail 10, and a watering means (not shown) that supplies water or nutrient solution to crops planted in the planting structure 20.

[0026] First, the aerial rail 10 is installed along a circular track having a certain height from the ground. Here, the circular track is a track that continues to circulate without beginning or end, and in order to improve space efficiency, straight sections 11 and curved sections 12 may be arranged alternately as shown in Figure 2.

[0027] In the straight section 11, aerial rails 10 of a predetermined length are arranged side by side at regular intervals, and the curved section 12 continuously connects both ends of the straight section 11 in a round shape. The aerial rails 10 may be supported on the ceiling of a greenhouse or an enclosed plant factory, and a support stand (not shown) may be installed in an appropriate location.

[0028] Next, the planting structure 20 has a planting surface on one or both sides for planting crops, and may be formed as a flat rectangular parallelepiped plate structure with an open interior. The planting structures 20 move side by side along the direction of travel of the aerial rail 10, with one short side suspended from the aerial rail 10 so that the planting surface faces vertically. Therefore, in the straight section 11, the planting surfaces of many planting structures 20 form a single plane, and the planting structures 20 in adjacent straight sections 11 move crosswise in opposite directions.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planting structure 20 is a lattice structure made of wires 21, as shown in Fig. 3, and is hollow inside to accommodate the roots of plants. Reinforcing rims 22 made of angle members may be installed on the four edges of the planting structure 20. A support roller 23 that rotates along the aerial rail 10 may be installed on one side of the planting structure 20. The attached drawings show an example of a planting structure 20 with two support rollers 23 installed on each side.

[0030] Crops planted in the planting structure 20 can be grown hydroponically or aeroponically. To this end, one or more of a planting mat, a planting net, or a planting pot for supporting the roots of the crops may be installed on the planting surface of the planting structure 20. As shown in Figure 3, the planting structure 20 made of a lattice wire 21 is lightweight and has a sturdy structure, making it easy to install a planting mat, net, pot, etc.

[0031] The work platform 30 is a structure on which a worker stands when planting crops in the planting structure 20 or harvesting harvested products, and is installed on one or both sides of the circular track so as to face the planting surface of the planting structure 20 moving along the aerial rail 10.

[0032] When only one side of the planting structure 20 is provided with a planting surface, the work platform 30 is installed on only one side of the circulating track centered on the planting structure 20. When both sides of the planting structure 20 are provided with planting surfaces, the work platform 30 can be installed on both sides of the circulating track. When the work platform 30 is installed inside the circulating track, an appropriate interval can be provided between some of the planting structures 20 to allow workers to enter and exit the inside of the circulating track.

[0033] In addition, if the planting structure 20 is tall, the work platform 30 may have a multi-layer structure for ease of operation. The attached drawings show an example of a three-layer work platform 30. Guardrails 31 may be installed at the edges of each layer of the work platform 30 to ensure the safety of workers.

[0034] The driving means (no drawing number) continuously moves the planting structures 20 along the aerial rail 10, and any conventional driving means may be installed as long as it can achieve the object of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the driving means may include a driving motor, and the driving motor may be mounted on the upper side of each planting structure 20.

[0035] In this case, a drive gear driven by the drive motor may be installed on the upper side of the planting structure 20, and a cogged rail with which the drive gear engages may be installed on the aerial rail 10. Conversely, a drive motor and a drive gear may be installed on the aerial rail 10, and a rack rail may be installed on the planting structure 20.

[0036] The drive motor and the drive gear may be installed one for each planting structure 20, for example, one for every 4 to 5 planting structures 20. In this case, the planting structures 20 without drive gears may be connected to each other by a connecting rope so as to be pulled by the planting structures 20 with drive gears.

[0037] Finally, the water supply means (no drawing number) supplies water or nutrient solution to the crops planted in the planting structure 20, and may include, for example, a water-dropping hose or a spray nozzle. For example, by installing a drip hose or a spray nozzle along the aerial rail 10, the water or nutrient solution can be installed so that it flows down from the top to the bottom along a mat or net installed on the planting structure 20.

[0038] In the case of aeroponics, where the roots of the crops are exposed, water and nutrient solution can be sprayed directly onto the roots of the crops using a spray nozzle. In this case, a planting surface is formed on one side of the planting structure 20, and the crops are planted on the opposite side of the planting surface so that the roots are exposed, and then a spray nozzle is placed on the opposite side of the planting surface. This type of aeroponics has the advantage of reducing the weight burden on the planting structure 20.

[0039] Meanwhile, when the plant cultivation system according to the present invention is applied to greenhouse cultivation, it may further include a lighting means 40 for irradiating light necessary for crop growth. The lighting means 40 may be installed between the planting surfaces of the planting structures 20 on both sides that move adjacent to each other and cross each other on the linear section 11 of the aerial rail 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

[0040] In addition, the lighting means 40 may be made of LEDs and installed so as to be movable toward the planting surfaces of the planting structure 20 on both sides. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a threaded rod 41 may be installed in a direction intersecting the straight section 11, and two lighting means 40a and 40b may be installed on the threaded rod 41. The threaded rod 41 may be supported on the aerial rail 10 or a separate support (not shown) so as not to interfere with the movement of the planting structure 20, and the lighting means 40a and 40b may be supported on the threaded rod 41 by threaded pipes 42 having female threads arranged in opposite directions.

[0041] Therefore, when the threaded rod 41 rotates, the lighting means 40a, 40b on both sides move in opposite directions, and can be installed so as to move toward or away from the planting surface of the planting structure 20 on both sides. Therefore, the distance between the lighting means 40a, 40b and the planting surface can be adjusted according to the growth state of the crops. The unexplained reference numeral "43" in FIG. 4 denotes a "motor" that rotates the threaded rod 41.

[0042] In the present invention, the water supply means, driving means, lighting means, etc. can be automatically controlled by a separate central control unit using the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), various wireless communications, etc. Therefore, the driving means continuously moves the planting structures 20 along the aerial rails 10 at a certain time interval. At this time, the water supply means and lighting means sequentially supply water, nutrients, and light necessary for the growth of crops according to preset conditions. Therefore, the crops planted in each planting structure 20 can grow at a uniform level.

[0043] When planting cultivated crops in the planting structure 20 or harvesting harvested products, the worker can perform the necessary work on the planting structure 20 as it moves sequentially on the work platform 30. In addition, a robot that applies Internet of Things (IoT) or artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be installed on the work platform 30 to automatically perform tasks such as sowing, planting, harvesting, and moving the harvested products. Therefore, since the worker does not need to move between work positions or carry heavy harvested products, fatigue from work can be significantly reduced.

[0044] The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to the present invention is expected to dramatically increase productivity compared to cultivation space, particularly when cultivating leafy vegetables such as lettuce, bok choy, and chicory, or various mushrooms such as shiitake mushrooms, mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms, and conversely, to significantly reduce the burden of labor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10: Aerial Rail 11: Straight section 12: Curved section 20: Planting structure 21: Wire 22: Reinforced rim 23: Support roller 30: Workbench 31: Guardrail 40, 40a, 40b: Lighting means 41: Threaded rod 42: Threaded pipe 43: Drive motor

Claims

1. an aerial rail installed along a circular track at a certain height; a plurality of planting structures each having a planting surface on one or both sides on which crops can be planted, the planting surfaces being suspended from an aerial rail at one side so that the planting surfaces are arranged vertically, and the planting structures moving in a line along a circular track; a work platform installed on one or both sides of the circular track so as to face the planting surface of the planting structure; a drive means for continuously moving the planting structure along the aerial rail; a water supply means for supplying water and nutrient solution necessary for the growth of the crops planted in the planting structure; A rotary vertical plant cultivation system comprising:

2. 2. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the planting structure is a lattice structure having an open interior to accommodate roots of crops, and a support roller that rotates along the aerial rail is installed on one side.

3. 2. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein a planting mat, a planting net, or a planting pot for supporting the roots of the crops is installed on the planting surface of the planting structure.

4. 2. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the work platform has a multi-layer structure and guardrails are installed on the edges of each layer.

5. 2. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the water supply means is a drip hose installed along the aerial rail to supply water or nutrient solution, or a spray nozzle to spray water or nutrient solution toward the roots of the crops planted in the planting structure.

6. 2. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the aerial rail has straight sections arranged side by side at regular intervals and curved sections continuously connecting the straight sections, and lighting means for irradiating light necessary for crop growth are installed between the planting surfaces of the planting structures on both sides that move adjacent to each other and cross each other on the straight sections.

7. 7. The rotary vertical plant cultivation system according to claim 6, wherein the lighting means is installed so as to be movable toward or away from the planting surfaces of the planting structures on both sides.

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