Plant cultivation device

Abstract

To provide a plant growth device whereby the roots of a plant to be grown can be exposed to air at any rate.SOLUTION: A plant growth device has: a planting part in which a plant is planted; a water tank part that is disposed under the planting part and stores a growth liquid for the plant; and adjustment means that can adjust the vertical length of an air layer formed between the planting part and the growth liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant growing device that grows plants using a growing solution. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a hydroponic cultivation device that uses a nutrient solution to grow plants stably regardless of the external weather, for example, the sunlight conditions (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a hydroponic cultivation device that includes a cultivation tank that can store nutrient solution and cultivate plants, a heat storage tank that is disposed below the cultivation tank and can store a heat medium, and a heat medium temperature adjustment device that cools or heats the heat medium stored in the heat storage tank. According to the hydroponic cultivation device disclosed in Patent Document 1, plants can be grown at an appropriate temperature by performing cooling or heating using a heat storage tank.

[0003] In order to grow plants efficiently using hydroponics, it is effective to properly adjust the composition of the nutrient solution (a growth solution made of nutrients dissolved in water) and to expose part of the plant's roots, which grow downward from the underside of the polystyrene foam supporting the plants, to the air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-207401 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the hydroponic cultivation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 floats the plant on the surface of the nutrient solution, and it is not possible to form an air layer between the bottom surface of the polystyrene foam supporting the plant and the surface of the nutrient solution. Therefore, in the above-mentioned device, the roots of the plant supported by the polystyrene foam are almost entirely submerged in the nutrient solution without coming into contact with air, which raises concerns about insufficient oxygen supply to the roots and root rot. There has been a demand for a hydroponic plant cultivation device that can expose the roots of the plant to air at any ratio.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a plant growing device that is capable of exposing any proportion of the root portion of a plant to air. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. That is, the plant growing device of the present invention has a planting section for planting a plant, a water tank section arranged below the planting section for holding a growing solution for the plant, and an adjustment means for adjusting the vertical distance between the planting section and the growing solution, the adjustment means including an overflow pipe in the water tank section for discharging the growing solution to the outside, The adjustment means has a movable plate that supports the planting section, and a movable plate sliding bar that supports the movable plate so that it can move in the vertical direction and guides the stem of the plant upward. One or more climbing bars that guide the stem of the plant upward are suspended from a connecting member to which the movable plate sliding bar is attached, The overflow pipe is characterized in that it is extendable in the vertical direction or that a plurality of overflow pipes of different lengths are detachably attached.

[0008] According to the present invention, the width of the air layer can be adjusted as desired by appropriately adjusting the distance between the planting part and the liquid surface of the growth solution using the adjusting means. This makes it possible to adjust the exposure of the roots to the air at any desired ratio according to the growth state of the plant roots, thereby providing an appropriate supply of oxygen to the roots, preventing root rot, and enabling the plant to grow in a healthy state. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plant growing device that can expose the root portion of a plant to air at any desired ratio. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a plant growing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the plant growing device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a movable plate. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion showing a connecting member and a supporting member. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lighting device attached to the plant growing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, a plant growing device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment shown below is specifically described to better understand the gist of the invention, and does not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the drawings used in the following description may show essential parts enlarged for convenience in order to make the features of the present invention easier to understand, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as the actual ones.

[0014] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a plant-growing device of one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the plant-growing device of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a movable plate. The plant growing device 10 of this embodiment has a base portion 41, a water tank portion 42 placed on the upper surface of the base portion 41, and a movable plate 43 that can enter the inside of the water tank portion 42.

[0015] The base portion 41 is provided with a growing liquid tank 44 having, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and storing the growing liquid W therein, and a pump 45 that circulates the growing liquid between the water bath portion 42 and the growing liquid tank 44.

[0016] Four support rods 46, 46... extending in the vertical direction are provided on the upper surface of the base portion 41 so as to surround the water tank portion 42. These four support rods 46, 46... are connected to each other at their upper portions via a connecting member 51.

[0017] In this embodiment, the four support rods 46, 46... are erected on the upper surface of the base portion 41, but this is not limited to this, and they can also be formed independently outside the base portion 41, or formed at a position away from the base portion 41. Furthermore, the number of support rods 46 is not limited to four, and any number of support rods 46 can be formed.

[0018] A movable plate sliding bar 55 is attached to the center of the connecting member 51 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The movable plate sliding bar 55 may be fixed to the connecting member 51 at any position by, for example, a screw. In this embodiment, the adjustment means is made up of the movable plate sliding bar 55 and the connecting member 51 that supports the movable plate sliding bar 55 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The movable plate 43 is formed on the lower end side of the movable plate sliding bar 55. The movable plate sliding bar 55 is fixed so as to be located near the center of the water tank section 42 at its lower end side.

[0019] In addition, a support member 52 is formed on the connecting member 51. As shown in Fig. 4, this support member 52 suspends the climbing bar 48 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The climbing bar 48 is suspended so that the lower end side is located, for example, directly above the planting part 49 described later.

[0020] The climbing rod 48 is a member that guides the stem (vine) of the plant P upward by winding the stem (vine) of the plant P as the seed or seedling of the plant P grows. In this embodiment, only one climbing rod 48 is formed in the plant growing device 10, but multiple climbing rods 48 can be supported by the support member 52, and vines that branch out from one vine and grow or stems (vines) of multiple plants P can be wound around the multiple climbing rods 48. That is, multiple climbing rods 48 can be configured. For example, when multiple plants P are supported on the movable plate 43, if multiple vines are wound around one climbing rod 48, there is a risk that multiple vines and leaves will overlap, and there is a risk of growth being hindered due to insufficient sunlight in the overlapping areas. Therefore, by forming a plurality of climbing poles 48, overlapping of vines and leaves is reduced, sufficient sunlight is ensured for the vines and leaves, and a plurality of plants P can be grown in good conditions.

[0021] In addition, in this embodiment, the climbing bar 48 is used as a member for guiding the stem (vine) of the plant P upward, but the movable plate sliding bar 55 formed at the center of the connecting member 51 can also be used as a member for guiding the stem (vine) of the plant P upward. In this case, a simple configuration can be achieved by forming only the movable plate sliding bar 55 that also serves as a climbing bar. In addition, by using the movable plate sliding bar 55 as a climbing bar, the number of climbing bars can be reduced when multiple climbing bars are required.

[0022] In addition, in this embodiment, a rod-shaped member such as a climbing pole 48 is used as a member for guiding the stem (vine) of the plant P upward, but this is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration is also possible in which a mesh member (net) is suspended and the stem (vine) of the plant P is entangled in it to allow it to climb.

[0023] The water tank section 42 is formed of, for example, a transparent material, a semi-transparent material, or a non-transparent material that transmits visible light, and has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the growth liquid W is stored inside. When the water tank section 42 is made of a transparent material, the visibility of the water tank section 42 is improved, and the growth state of the roots of the plant P and the water level of the growth liquid W can be easily confirmed from the outside. On the other hand, when the water tank section 42 is made of a transparent material, algae and the like are likely to grow in the water tank section 42, so it is also preferable to form a light-shielding member on the outer surface of the water tank section 42 to block light from the water tank section 42 except when it is visible. Such a light-shielding member may be, for example, a light-shielding film formed on the outer surface of the water tank section 42 that can be opened and closed in the vertical and circumferential directions, a light-shielding curtain formed on the outer surface of the water tank section 42 that can be attached and detached.

[0024] In addition, an overflow pipe (adjustment means) 47 for returning the growing liquid W stored in the water tank section 42 to the growing liquid tank 44 of the base section 41 is provided in an area of ​​the water tank section 42 that does not overlap with the lower end of the movable plate sliding rod 55. The growing liquid W flows into the overflow pipe 47 from an upper open end. As a result, the height position of the upper end of the overflow pipe 47 becomes the liquid level of the growing liquid W stored in the water tank section 42.

[0025] The overflow pipe 47 in this embodiment is made extendable and contractible in the vertical direction by, for example, forming hollow pipes of different diameters into a nested structure. This allows the position of the liquid surface of the growing liquid W stored in the water tank portion 42 to be adjusted to any desired height position.

[0026] In addition, such an overflow pipe 47 can be configured by preparing multiple overflow pipes of different lengths and making each of them detachable from the bottom surface of the water tank section 42, so that the position of the liquid surface of the cultivation liquid W can be changed in stages.

[0027] An inflow pipe 56 extending from the discharge side of the pump 45 of the base part 41 is connected to the lower part of the water bath part 42. With this configuration, the growing liquid W is pumped up from the growing liquid tank 44 via the pump 45 by the operation of the pump 45 into the water bath part 42. The growing liquid W then flows down from the upper open end of the overflow pipe 47 into the growing liquid tank 44. As a result, a circulation path for the growing liquid W is formed between the growing liquid tank 44 and the water bath part 42.

[0028] Although not shown in the figure, it is also preferable that a sensor for monitoring the components of the growing liquid W, a filtering device for removing impurities from the growing liquid W, an injection port for adding new growing liquid W, etc. are formed in the middle of the circulation path of the growing liquid W.

[0029] In addition, in this embodiment, the cultivation liquid tank 44 is formed in the base portion 41, but the cultivation liquid tank may be provided externally and a circulation path for the cultivation liquid W may be formed between the base portion 41 and the water tank portion 42 using various pipes, hoses, etc.

[0030] The movable plate 43 is, for example, a disk-shaped member made of flexible resin, and has a through hole 43a formed in the center through which the movable plate sliding bar 55 passes. The movable plate 43 may be fixed to the movable plate sliding bar 55 by a protrusion (not shown) formed near the end of the movable plate sliding bar 55.

[0031] As a modified example, the hole diameter of the through hole 43a of the movable plate 43 may be formed to be equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the movable plate sliding bar 55, so that the movable plate 43 can be locked at any position in the vertical direction of the movable plate sliding bar 55 by the elastic force of the movable plate 43. In this case, the movable plate 43 can be fixed to the movable plate sliding bar 55 movably by, for example, screws or pins, in addition to the fixing by the elastic force of the movable plate 43. In such a modified example, the adjustment means of this embodiment is composed of the movable plate 43 and the movable plate sliding bar 55. Furthermore, both a configuration in which the movable plate sliding bar 55 can be fixed at any position relative to the connecting member 51 and a configuration in which the movable plate 43 can be locked at any position in the vertical direction of the movable plate sliding bar 55 may be provided.

[0032] In this embodiment, the movable plate 43 is placed inside the water tank portion 42, but the movable plate 43 may be disposed above the water tank portion 42.

[0033] With this configuration, the movable plate 43 can be fixed at any height position inside the water tank portion 42. That is, by moving the movable plate sliding rod 55 up and down, the movable plate 43 can be fixed at any distance from the liquid surface of the growing liquid W stored in the water tank portion 42, and an air layer G can be formed between the movable plate 43 and the liquid surface of the growing liquid W.

[0034] Further, a fixed planting section 49 is formed near the through-hole 43a of the movable plate 43. The fixed planting section 49 is a member that supports the plant P grown in the plant growing device 10, and is formed of a porous material such as a sponge. Seeds or seedlings of the plant P are planted in the fixed planting section 49. As the seeds or seedlings of the plant P grow, the stems (vines) of the plant P are wound around the climbing rod 48. Furthermore, from the lower part of the fixed planting section 49, the roots of the plant P extend downward toward the growing liquid W.

[0035] In this embodiment, three planting sections 49 can be installed on the movable plate 43, but this is not limited to this, and any number of planting sections 49, one or more, can be formed on the movable plate 43.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lighting device attached to the plant growing device. The lighting device 1 is attached to the support rods 46, 46.... The lighting device 1 includes two support parts 11, 11 arranged opposite to each other, a light source holding part 12 supported by each support part 11, and a light source 13 attached to the light source holding part 12.

[0037] The support part 11 is composed of a pair of slide rails 21, 21 arranged apart from each other and a connecting material 22 that connects the slide rails 21, 21 at one end side of the slide rails 21, 21, and is formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. The support part 11 may be integrally formed from an insulating and lightweight material, for example, resin.

[0038] The slide rails 21, 21 are each formed with a recess 21a, 21a extending in the longitudinal direction, and the recesses 21a, 21a are formed so that the openings of the recesses 21a, 21a face each other. Also, the joining material 22 is formed with a recess 22a that supports a power cable 28 extending from the light source 13.

[0039] The light source 13 emits light rays (irradiated light) that promotes photosynthesis of the plant P whose stem (vine) is wrapped around the climbing pole 48. In this embodiment, an LED element that generates little heat, for example, an LED bulb, is used as the light source 13. The light source 13 may be an LED bulb that emits light in a wide wavelength range from the infrared range to the visible light range to the ultraviolet range, similar to sunlight, or an LED bulb that emits light in the red range or blue-violet range, which are wavelength ranges effective for photosynthesis.

[0040] With this configuration, the lighting device 1 irradiates light necessary for the growth (photosynthesis) of the plant P in the direction of the climbing rod 48 around which the stem (vine) of the plant P is wound. The light source 13 is supported by the light source holder 12, and is supported at any height position of the support rods 46, 46.... The optical axis direction of the light source 13 can be adjusted to any angle with respect to the horizontal direction, and the direction of the irradiation optical axis of the light source 13 can be adjusted to any direction within a hemispherical range, for example, diagonally upward or diagonally downward. Therefore, the lighting device 1 can irradiate the plant P with light at any illumination angle and any illumination distance.

[0041] In this embodiment, two lighting devices 1 are formed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of lighting devices 1 can be formed in the height direction as the plant P grows. Furthermore, when the plant growing device 10 is installed in an environment (such as a greenhouse) where it can be irradiated with natural light (sunlight), the lighting device 1 need not necessarily be provided.

[0042] The operation and effects of the plant growing device 10 of this embodiment configured as above will be described. When cultivating a plant using the plant cultivating device 10 of this embodiment, the plant P is planted in the fixed planting section 49. During cultivation, the cultivation solution W is circulated between the cultivation solution tank 44 that stores the cultivation solution W and the water tank section 42, and the circulating cultivation solution is filtered, nutrients are added, and so on, as necessary.

[0043] During the cultivation of the plant P, a gap, i.e., an air layer G, is formed between the liquid level of the cultivation solution W stored in the water tank section 42 and the lower surface of the movable plate 43 on which the fixed planting section 49 for supporting the plant P is formed. The vertical width H of the air layer G is adjusted according to the growth state of the roots of the plant P so that an arbitrary ratio of the roots is exposed to the air.

[0044] The width H of the air layer G is adjusted by an adjustment means. In this embodiment, the adjustment means can adjust the vertical length of the overflow pipe 47 to any height. For example, by extending the length of the overflow pipe 47, which is vertically extendable and contractible, in the upward direction, the liquid level of the growing liquid W stored in the water tank section 42 becomes higher. Also, by shortening the length of the overflow pipe 47 in the downward direction, the liquid level of the growing liquid W becomes lower. In this way, by changing the liquid level of the growing liquid W in the water tank section 42, the width H of the air layer G can be adjusted as desired.

[0045] In this embodiment, the adjustment can be performed by moving the movable plate sliding bar 55 up and down to change the height position of the movable plate 43 fixed to the movable plate sliding bar 55. For example, if the movable plate sliding bar 55 is moved in a vertical direction in a direction in which the height position of the movable plate 43 becomes higher, the movable plate 43 moves away from the liquid level of the growth liquid W. If the movable plate sliding bar 55 is moved in a vertical direction in a direction in which the height position of the movable plate 43 becomes lower, the movable plate 43 moves closer to the liquid level of the growth liquid W. In this way, the width H of the air layer G can also be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the height position of the movable plate 43 on which the planting portion 49 supporting the plant P is formed.

[0046] In this way, by adjusting the exposure of the roots of the plant P to air at any desired ratio according to the growth state of the roots, it is possible to provide an appropriate supply of oxygen to the roots, prevent root rot, and grow the plant P in a healthy state.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by making the movable plate sliding rod 55 movable in the vertical direction, for example, when the vines of the plant P are wrapped around the movable plate sliding rod 55, even if the movable plate sliding rod 55 is pulled up to increase the height of the movable plate 43 to observe the condition of the roots, the positional relationship between the planting portion 49 and the movable plate sliding rod 55 does not change, and therefore the plant P being grown is not subjected to stress such as being stretched.

[0048] Furthermore, by making the movable plate 43 movable in the vertical direction, if the water tank section 42 is formed from a light-blocking material, the condition of the roots of the plant P can be checked by periodically pulling the movable plate 43 upward during cultivation.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the adjustment means includes an overflow pipe 47 whose length in the vertical direction is adjustable, and a movable plate 43 having a fixed planting portion 49 whose height can be changed by a movable plate sliding bar 55 that can move in the vertical direction. However, it is not necessary to include both of these, and it is sufficient to have only one of them. For example, the adjustment means may be a combination of an overflow pipe 47 whose length in the vertical direction is adjustable and a movable plate sliding bar whose height is fixed, or a combination of a movable plate 43 fixed to a movable plate sliding bar that can move in the vertical direction and an overflow pipe whose length in the vertical direction is constant and whose liquid level of the growing liquid is fixed.

[0050] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Such an embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Lighting equipment 10...Plant growing device 11...Support part 12...Light source holding part 13...Light source 14...Frame 41…Base 42...Aquarium section 43...Movable plate (adjustment means) 44…Growth solution tank 45…Pump 46...Support rod 47...Overflow pipe (adjustment means) 48…Climbing pole 51...Connecting member 52...Support member 55... Movable plate sliding rod

Claims

【Claim 1】 a planting part for planting plants, a water tank part arranged below the planting part for retaining the growth liquid of the plants, and adjusting means for making adjustable the vertical distance between the planting part and the growth liquid; the adjusting means includes an overflow pipe for discharging the growth liquid to the outside in the water tank part; the adjusting means has a movable plate for supporting the planting part and a movable plate sliding rod for supporting the movable plate so as to be movable in the vertical direction and guiding the stem of the plant upward; one or a plurality of climbing rods for guiding the stem of the plant upward are suspended from a connecting member to which the movable plate sliding rod is attached; the overflow pipe is characterized in that it is telescopically extendable in the vertical direction or a plurality of overflow pipes having different lengths are detachably formed, a plant growing device.

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