Cultivation facility lighting system

A movable lighting system for cultivation facilities addresses the high capital investment and temperature issues by reducing the number of devices and ensuring uniform crop growth and temperature control.

JP7775083B2Active Publication Date: 2025-11-25藤原庆太
View PDF 8 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022001403
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-01-07
Publication Date
2025-11-25
Estimated Expiration
2042-01-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Large-scale cultivation facilities require numerous lighting devices, leading to high capital investment and potential temperature increases due to heat dissipation.

Method used

A movable lighting system within the cultivation facility that can be sequenced to irradiate light onto crops, reducing the number of devices needed and minimizing heat dissipation.

Benefits of technology

The system reduces the number of lighting devices, ensures uniform crop quality and size, and effectively suppresses temperature increases by moving lighting devices to areas where crops need illumination.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 0007775083000001
    Figure 0007775083000001
  • Figure 0007775083000002
    Figure 0007775083000002
  • Figure 0007775083000003
    Figure 0007775083000003
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide an illumination system for a cultivation facility which can reduce the number of illumination devices.SOLUTION: The present invention provides an illumination system for a cultivation facility having a plurality of cultivation sections for cultivating crops. The illumination system has an illumination device provided inside the cultivation facility to irradiate the crops with light, and movement means to move the illumination device in the cultivation facility. The movement means enables the illumination device to move to each position of the cultivation sections in order. This configuration can reduce the number of illumination devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cultivation facility equipped with a lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, cultivation facilities such as vinyl greenhouses are known that can block sunlight when temperatures are high by using a shading curtain placed above the crops.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cultivation greenhouse that, when the temperature inside the greenhouse rises above a predetermined temperature, spreads a light-blocking curtain horizontally to suppress the temperature rise near the cultivation beds.

[0004] In recent years, an increasing number of farmers are installing solar panels above their crops and engaging in agricultural solar power generation (solar sharing).

[0005] In this way, when blackout curtains or solar panels are placed above the crops to prevent the temperature inside the cultivation facility from rising or for profitability reasons, lighting devices such as LEDs are usually installed below the blackout curtains or solar panels to allow the crops to photosynthesize. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2011-244697 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, particularly in the case of large-scale cultivation facilities, hundreds of lighting devices are required, which requires a large capital investment.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for use in a cultivation facility that can reduce the number of lighting devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The object of the present invention is to A lighting system for a cultivation facility having a plurality of cultivation plots for cultivating crops, a lighting device provided inside the cultivation facility and configured to irradiate light onto crops; a moving means for moving the lighting device within the cultivation facility; A lighting system for a cultivation facility, characterized in that the lighting devices are configured to be movable in sequence according to the location of the cultivation sections by the movement means.

[0010] According to the present invention, the lighting devices provided inside the cultivation facility can be moved substantially horizontally by the moving means, so that the number of lighting devices can be reduced.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the lighting device can be moved to an area where the crops are not growing well by using the moving means, thereby making it possible to make the quality and size of the crops uniform.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the number of lighting devices can be reduced, thereby reducing the amount of heat dissipation and suppressing temperature increases within the cultivation facility.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, The lighting device is capable of emitting ultraviolet light.

[0014] According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lighting device is capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays, so that the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated onto crops, thereby sterilizing pathogens and preventing or treating diseases.

[0015] Furthermore, according to this preferred embodiment, the ultraviolet LEDs can be moved in sequence, which prevents ultraviolet light from being continuously irradiated in the same location, and prevents damage to crop leaves and the like caused by ultraviolet light being irradiated for a long period of time.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, Further, an illuminance detection means is provided to detect the illuminance of each cultivation section, When the integrated illuminance of the cultivation section illuminated by the lighting device exceeds a predetermined value, the lighting device is moved to the location of the next cultivation section.

[0017] According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lighting devices are moved in sequence based on the integrated illuminance in accordance with the location of the cultivation section, so that light can be efficiently irradiated onto the crops.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, When the duration of illumination in each cultivation section exceeds a predetermined time, the lighting device is moved to the location of the next cultivation section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting system for use in a cultivation facility that can reduce the number of lighting devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an entire lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility to which the lighting system is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the vicinity of the movement mechanism of the lighting system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism taken along line AA shown in FIG. 2, viewed from the right side. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system, communication system, detection system, input system, and drive system of the lighting system shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the movement of the lighting device between stop positions and the irradiation of light. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system, a communication system, a detection system, an input system and a driving system of a lighting system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the interior of a cultivation facility equipped with the lighting system shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cultivation beds and the order in which the lighting devices and housings are moved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an entire lighting system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility 2 to which the lighting system 1 is applied.

[0023] In this embodiment, the cultivation facility 2 is composed of a vinyl greenhouse, and inside it are six rows of cultivation beds 4 aligned in the left-right direction. Strawberries 5 are cultivated in elevated positions in the cultivation beds 4. Each cultivation bed 4 corresponds to a cultivation section according to the present invention.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, solar panels 54 are attached to the top of the cultivation facility 2. In addition, shading curtains 55 are also provided to prevent sunlight from entering through gaps in the solar panels 54, thereby preventing the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 from rising.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting system 1 installed inside the cultivation facility 2 includes a frame 3, a lighting device 9 having LED tubes 10, and a movement mechanism 8 for the lighting device 9. The movement mechanism 8 moves the lighting device 9 to stop positions 11 to 16 above each cultivation bed 4 in turn, thereby irradiating light onto the strawberries 5 in each cultivation bed 4 in turn. The stop positions 11 to 16 are aligned in the left-right direction. Note that FIG. 1 shows the lighting device 9 stopped at stop position 13.

[0026] The frame 3 comprises upright frames 6 provided on the left and right and a horizontal frame 7 suspended between the upright frames 6 on the left and right, and the movement mechanism 8 is attached to the underside of the horizontal frame 7. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the front side of the drawing in Figure 1 will be referred to as the "front" and the back side of the drawing will be referred to as the "rear".

[0027] 2 is a schematic front view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism 8 of the lighting system 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism 8 taken along line AA shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side.

[0028] 2 or 3, the movement mechanism 8 includes a pair of left and right drive housings 23, an endless belt 24 connecting the pair of left and right drive housings 23, a guide rail 20 having the left-right central portion of the endless belt 24 inside and attached to the horizontal frame 7, a power supply rail 21 attached to the front of the guide rail 20 and supplying power to the lighting device 9, and a housing 22 that mediates the supply of power from the power supply rail 21 to the lighting device 9. The lighting device 9 is attached to the housing 22.

[0029] 2, a large pulley 25 and a small pulley 26 are provided inside each of the pair of left and right drive housings 23, and the endless belt 24 is wound around the large pulley 25. The small pulley 26 is used to tension the endless belt 24 tightly.

[0030] The right large pulley 25 is configured to be rotatable by a motor 27, and when the right large pulley 25 is rotated, the endless belt 24 runs.

[0031] 3, an attachment portion 28 is provided on the upper part of the housing 22 to sandwich the lower part of the endless belt 24 in the vertical direction, and when the endless belt 24 runs, the housing 22 attached to the endless belt 24 and the lighting device 9 move approximately horizontally in the left-right direction. A pair of front and rear wheels 29 that can rotate within the guide rail 20 are attached to the upper part of the housing 22, allowing the housing 22 to move smoothly in the left-right direction.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 22 is provided with a brake mechanism 50 that stops the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9, and is configured to activate the brake mechanism 50 when the driving of the motor 27 is stopped.

[0033] Specifically, the brake mechanism 50 comprises a movable brake member 51 and a solenoid 52, and when the movable brake member 51 is slid upward by the solenoid 52, the upper end of the movable brake member 51 comes into contact with the lower surface of the guide rail 20, and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are immediately stopped.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, a ground electrode 30 and a voltage electrode 31 are provided inside power supply rail 21, extending in the left-right direction (toward the front and back of the drawing in FIG. 3).

[0035] Meanwhile, hook member 32 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction within power supply rail 21, and ground-side electrode 33 and voltage-side electrode 34 extending forward or rearward from hook member 32 attached to the upper front part of housing 22 are configured to always remain in contact with ground-side electrode 30 or voltage-side electrode 31, respectively, extending in the left-right direction (toward the rear or near side of the paper surface in FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the left-right lengths of ground-side electrode 30 and voltage-side electrode 31 are configured to be approximately the same as the left-right length of power supply rail 21.

[0036] Therefore, while the endless belt 24 is running and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moving left and right, and when the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are positioned at any of the stop positions 11 to 16, power can be supplied to the housing 22 from the power supply rail 21 via the ground side electrode 30 and the voltage side electrode 31, as well as the ground side electrode 33 and the voltage side electrode 34, and the hook member 32.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, a ground side electrode 35 and a voltage side electrode 36 are provided inside the housing 22, and a ground side electrode 38 and a voltage side electrode 39 that contact the ground side electrode 35 or the voltage side electrode 36 are attached to a connection member 37 that extends from inside the housing 22 to the lighting device 9.

[0038] Furthermore, voltage side electrode 34 and voltage side electrode 36 are connected via a wire (not shown).

[0039] Therefore, even while the endless belt 24 is running and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are being moved left and right, power can be supplied to the lighting device 9 via the ground side electrode 35, the voltage side electrode 36, the ground side electrode 37, the voltage side electrode 38, and the connecting member 37.

[0040] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a control unit 45 that controls the light emission of the LED tubes 10 of the lighting device 9 is provided inside the front part of the housing 22, and the control unit 45 is operated by power supplied from the power supply rail 21 via the voltage side electrode 34.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system, communication system, detection system, input system, and drive system of the lighting system 1 shown in FIG.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, the control system of the lighting system 1 includes a control device 40 that controls the operation of the lighting system 1, and a control unit 45 (see Figure 3) that outputs a control signal to a driver circuit 47 that drives the light-emitting element 46 of the LED tube 10.

[0043] In this embodiment, the LED tube 10 includes a red light emitting element 46 and a white light emitting element 46 as the light emitting elements 46 .

[0044] The control device 40 includes a processing unit 41 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory unit 42 having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and the memory unit 42 stores various programs and data for controlling the lighting system 1.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, the communication system of the lighting system 1 includes a communication unit 48 on the control device 40 side and a communication unit 45 on the control unit 45 side.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the detection system of the lighting system 1 includes an illuminance sensor 43 provided in each cultivation bed 4, and a potentiometer 44 that detects the left-right positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the input system of the lighting system 1 includes an operation panel 53 including a power switch (not shown).

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the drive system of the lighting system 1 includes a motor 27 that rotates the right-side large pulley 25, and a solenoid 52 of a brake mechanism 50 (see FIG. 3).

[0049] The motor 27 is configured as a bidirectional drive type, and can rotate the large pulley 25 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions when viewed from the front (see FIG. 2).

[0050] In the lighting system 9 of the cultivation facility 2 configured as described above, the lighting device 9 irradiates light onto each cultivation bed 4 while being moved between the stop positions 11 to 16 based on the control of the control device 40 as follows.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the movement of the lighting device 9 between the stop positions 11 to 16 and the light irradiation.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, when the power switch on the operation panel 53 is operated and the control device 40 starts to control the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9, the control device 40 first detects the left-right positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 using the potentiometer 44 (step S1).

[0053] Next, the control device 40 determines whether the detected positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 11 shown in FIG. 1 (step S2).

[0054] If the determination result shows that the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 11, the control device 40 starts lighting up the LED tubes 10 of the lighting device 9 (step S3).

[0055] On the other hand, if the determination result shows that the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are not at the stop position 11, the control device 40 starts driving the motor 27, moves the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stop position 11 (step S4), and then starts lighting the LED tube 10.

[0056] At this time, when the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to the stop position 11, the control device 40 stops driving the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50 based on the output signal of the potentiometer 44.

[0057] When the LED tubes 10 start to light up, the control device 40 determines whether the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) from the time the control device 40 started to control the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 exceeds 35,000 lux based on the detection signal of the illuminance sensor 43 (the leftmost illuminance sensor 43) provided near the cultivation bed 4 (the leftmost cultivation bed 4) located below the stop position 11 (step S5). The value of 35,000 lux is set because the light saturation point of strawberries is between 30,000 and 40,000 lux.

[0058] If the result of the determination is that the integrated light amount does not exceed 35,000 lux, the determination is continued until the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux.

[0059] On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the accumulated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux, the control device 40 determines whether the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44 (step S6).

[0060] If the determination result shows that the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16, the control device 40 stops lighting the LED tubes 10 (step S7) and ends the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9.

[0061] On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are not at the stop position 16, the control device 40 drives the motor 27 to move the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stop position 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 to the right adjacent to the current stop position of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 (step S8).

[0062] After moving the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stopping position 12, 13, 14 or 15, the control device 40 determines whether the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) from the time the movement and lighting control of the lighting device 9 began has exceeded 35,000 lux based on the output signal from the illuminance sensor 43 provided in the cultivation bed 4 below the stopping position 12, 13, 14 or 15.

[0063] If the result of the determination is that the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux, the control device 40 determines whether the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44.

[0064] Thereafter, the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9, the determination of the integrated light amount, and the determination of whether or not they are at the stop position 16 are repeated until the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux and the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16. Then, when the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux and the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16, the control device 40 stops the lighting of the LED tube 10 as described above, and the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 by the control device 40 is terminated.

[0065] As described above, when the accumulated light intensity of each cultivation bed 4 exceeds 35,000 lux, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 can be automatically moved to a stop position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 on the right side, thereby allowing the lighting device 9 to be moved efficiently and effectively suppressing heat dissipation and power consumption.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved to any of the stopping positions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 using the operation panel 53.

[0067] Specifically, when the stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 is selected on the operation panel 53, the control device 40 first determines the current positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the potentiometer 44.

[0068] After determining the positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in this manner, the control device 40 causes the motor 27 to rotate the right large pulley 25 clockwise or counterclockwise so that the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 approach the selected stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, and when the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 reach the selected stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, stops driving the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50, causing the LED tube 10 to start emitting light.

[0069] Therefore, for example, at night, workers at the cultivation facility 2 can promote the growth of the strawberries 5 by moving the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 to a stop position (any of 11 to 16) above the cultivation bed 4 where the strawberries 5 are not growing well, thereby making the quality and size of the strawberries within the cultivation facility 2 uniform.

[0070] According to this embodiment, the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 is moved left and right by the moving mechanism 8 having the endless belt 24, so there is no need to install a lighting device above each cultivation bed 4, and therefore the number of lighting devices 9 installed in the cultivation facility 2 can be significantly reduced.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved by the operator to a stop position (any of 11 to 16) selected on the operation panel 53, thereby promoting the growth of strawberries 5 in cultivation beds 4 where the growth condition is poor and making the quality and size of the strawberries 5 in the cultivation facility 2 uniform.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the number of lighting devices 9 installed within the cultivation facility 2 can be significantly reduced, thereby reducing the amount of heat dissipated from the lighting system and effectively suppressing temperature increases within the cultivation facility 2.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) near each cultivation bed 4 exceeds a predetermined light amount (35,000 lux in this embodiment), the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 can be automatically moved to an adjacent stopping position (one of 12 to 16, a position above the cultivation bed 4 to the right of the cultivation bed 4 located below the current stopping position), so that the lighting device 9 can be moved efficiently and heat dissipation and power consumption can be effectively suppressed.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system, a communication system, a detection system, an input system and a driving system of a lighting system 1 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, the control system of the lighting system 1 includes a control device 40 that controls the operation of the lighting system 1, a control unit 45 (see Figure 3) that outputs a control signal to a driver circuit 47 that drives the light-emitting element 57 of the ultraviolet LED tube 17, and a timer 18 that measures time.

[0076] As shown in Figure 6, the detection system of the lighting system 1 includes an illuminance sensor 43 that detects the illuminance of each cultivation bed 4, a potentiometer 44 that detects the left-right position of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22, and a potentiometer 56 that detects the front-to-back position of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22.

[0077] As shown in Figure 6, the drive system of the lighting system 1 includes a motor 27 that rotates the large pulley 25 on the right side and moves the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in the left-right direction, a solenoid 52 of the brake mechanism 50 (see Figure 3), and a motor 77 that moves the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in the forward-backward direction.

[0078] On the other hand, the communication system and input system are the same as those shown in FIG.

[0079] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the lighting system 1 shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cultivation beds 4 and the order of movement of the lighting devices 9 and the housings 22.

[0080] Fig. 7 illustrates a lighting system 1 installed inside a cultivation facility 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the lighting system 1 according to this embodiment includes a frame 74 installed in the cultivation facility 2, a lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 that irradiates ultraviolet light, and a forward / backward movement mechanism 70 and a left / right movement mechanism 60 for the lighting device 9. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, in this embodiment, a total of 18 cultivation beds 4 are installed inside the cultivation facility 2, and are arranged in three rows in the forward / backward direction and six columns in the left / right direction.

[0081] In this embodiment, the lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 that irradiates ultraviolet light is moved left and right or forward and backward using a forward and backward movement mechanism 70 or a left and right movement mechanism 60, and is configured to stop sequentially at the stopping positions above each cultivation bed 4 shown in Figure 8 so that ultraviolet light can be irradiated.

[0082] The front-rear direction movement mechanism 70 is an application of a known opening and closing mechanism for a light blocking sheet (for example, a foldable and extendable ceiling movable frame body described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-263905).

[0083] That is, the plurality of pipes 79 and 82 are arranged in the front-to-rear direction, each equipped with a bearing 84 that is configured to be movable on a pair of left and right guide rails 83, and are connected to a drive shaft 78 that is rotated by a motor 77 by a wire 68. When the motor 77 is driven and the wire 68 is wound around the drive shaft 78, the pipe 82 located at the forefront is moved backward, and when the motor 77 is driven and the wire is unwound from the drive shaft 78, the pipe 82 located at the forefront is moved forward.

[0084] Here, a left-right movement mechanism 60 is attached below the pipe 82 located at the forefront, and when the pipe 82 is moved in the front-to-rear direction by operation of the front-to-rear movement mechanism 70, the left-to-rear movement mechanism 60, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved integrally in the front-to-rear direction approximately horizontally.

[0085] The left-right movement mechanism 60 of the lighting system 1 is configured identically to the movement mechanism 8 of the above embodiment, except that the guide rail 20 is attached to the pipe 82 located at the front, and in the same way, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved left-right.

[0086] In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved in the order shown by the dashed line with arrows in Figure 8, and are stopped at a position above each cultivation bed 4 for a predetermined time (the irradiation duration, based on the timer 18), and ultraviolet rays are continuously irradiated onto the strawberries 5 (not shown in Figure 8) in each cultivation bed 4, thereby preventing the occurrence of diseases in the strawberries 5.

[0087] Specifically, first, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to a position above the cultivation bed 4 (the cultivation bed 4 at the top left of the drawing) at a position 61 in the left-right direction and a position 73 in the front-to-back direction, and the ultraviolet LED tube 17 is turned on.

[0088] Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed with the ultraviolet LED tube 17 turned on, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved by the motor 27 to a position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 (the cultivation bed 4 whose left-right position is 62 and whose front-back position is 73), and ultraviolet rays are again irradiated onto that cultivation bed 4 until the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0089] In this way, irradiation of ultraviolet light for a predetermined period of time and movement to the right are repeated in order, and when irradiation of ultraviolet light is completed up to a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-right position of 66 and a front-back position of 73, the motor 77 is driven, and based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 56, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-right position of 66 and a front-back position of 72, and at this position, ultraviolet light is again irradiated for a predetermined period of time.

[0090] As shown in Figure 8, in the row with a front-to-back position of 72, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are configured to move to the left, and irradiation of ultraviolet rays at a position above each cultivation bed 4 in the row of 72 for a predetermined period of time and movement to the adjacent cultivation bed 4 to the left by driving the motor 27 are repeated.When irradiation of ultraviolet rays for a predetermined period of time at a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-to-right position of 61 and a front-to-back position of 72 is completed, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved by driving the motor 77 (front-to-back movement mechanism 70) to a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-to-right position of 61 and a front-to-back position of 71, and ultraviolet rays are again irradiated at this position for a predetermined period of time.

[0091] As shown in Figure 8, in the row with a front-to-back position of 71, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are configured to move to the right, and irradiation of ultraviolet light at a position above each cultivation bed 4 in the row of 71 for a predetermined period of time and movement to the adjacent cultivation bed 4 to the right by driving the motor 27 are repeated.When the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 move to the cultivation bed 4 at the bottom right of the drawing in Figure 8 (the cultivation bed 4 with a left-to-right position of 66 and a front-to-back position of 71), ultraviolet light has been irradiated for a predetermined period of time, and then the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 by the control device 40 ends.

[0092] In this manner, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LEDs 17 can be moved left and right and front and rear directions within the cultivation facility 2 to irradiate each cultivation bed 4 with ultraviolet light, thereby sterilizing pathogens on the strawberries 5 in each cultivation bed 4 and preventing or treating diseases in the strawberries 5. Furthermore, the number of lighting devices 9 can be significantly reduced compared to when a lighting device 9 is provided above each cultivation bed 4.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after a predetermined time has passed since the cultivation bed 4 was moved to a position above it, it is configured to be moved to a position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 in the left-right or front-back direction. This allows ultraviolet rays to be efficiently irradiated onto each cultivation bed 4, and prevents ultraviolet rays from being irradiated onto a single strawberry 5 for a long period of time, thereby preventing damage to the leaves of the strawberry 5, etc.

[0094] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved to a position above any cultivation bed 4 using the operation panel 53.

[0095] Specifically, when an operator of the cultivation facility 2 specifies a left-right position (any of 61 to 66) and a front-to-back position (any of 71 to 73) on the operation panel 53, the control device 40 first determines the current left-to-right positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44.

[0096] Next, the control device 40 rotates the right large pulley 25 clockwise or counterclockwise using the motor 27 of the left-right movement mechanism 60 so that the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 approach the selected left-right stop position until they are positioned at the selected left-right position (any of 61 to 66), and when they are positioned at the selected left-right position 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66, stops the drive of the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50.

[0097] After the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 have been moved to the selected left-right position in this manner, the control device 40 determines the current front-rear positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 56.

[0098] Next, the control device 40 drives the motor 77 and rotates the drive shaft 78 until the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are positioned in the selected forward / backward position (any of positions 71 to 73), and then irradiates ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED tube 17.

[0099] Therefore, the worker at the cultivation facility 2 can sterilize the pathogenic bacteria by moving the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 to a position above the cultivation bed 4 where the disease has occurred in the strawberries 5.

[0100] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0101] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the lighting device 9 is configured to be movable left and right using a movement mechanism 8 that rotates the right-side large pulley 25 (see Figure 2) and drives the endless belt 24. Meanwhile, in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, the lighting device 9 is configured to be movable left and right and forward and backward using a left-right movement mechanism 60 configured substantially similar to the movement mechanism 8 and a forward-backward movement mechanism 70 that utilizes a known mechanism for opening and closing a shading sheet by moving multiple pipes 79 and 82. However, the movement mechanism (moving means) for the lighting device is not limited to these as long as the lighting device can be moved to match the location of each cultivation section (cultivation bed 4). Therefore, the lighting device may be configured to be movable using other mechanisms for opening and closing shading curtains or heat-retaining curtains used in greenhouses, for example.

[0102] Furthermore, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8, the cultivation facility 2 is constructed of a greenhouse, but it is not necessarily required that the cultivation facility be constructed as a greenhouse, and the cultivation facility in which the lighting system 1 of the present invention is installed may be a plant factory or the like.

[0103] In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8, a cultivation bed 4 is given as an example of a cultivation section, but it is not necessarily necessary to use a cultivation bed as a cultivation section within a cultivation facility.For example, the lighting device 9 may be configured to be moved in accordance with the position of the ridges or each row of crops within the cultivation facility, or may be configured to be moved for each area within the cultivation facility.

[0104] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, one LED tube 10 is configured to be able to slide left and right, but it is also possible to provide multiple LED tubes 10 at the back (rear) of the drawing, as well as a frame 3 and a moving mechanism 8 for moving the multiple LED tubes 10 left and right, so that light can be irradiated onto more cultivation beds 4.

[0105] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are configured to be moved to a desired position in the left-right direction based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44, but it is not necessarily necessary to provide the potentiometer 44, and the left-right positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 may be calculated from the drive amount (drive time) and drive direction (rotation amount and rotation direction of the large pulley 25 on the right side) of the motor 27.

[0106] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the lighting device 9 is configured to irradiate light from the light blocking curtain 55 until the cumulative light intensity of each cultivation bed 4 reaches 35,000 lux when the blackout curtain 55 is closed. However, for example, it is also possible to provide a plurality of blackout curtains 55 arranged horizontally and leave them open, and automatically close the blackout curtain 55 located above the cultivation bed 4 when the cumulative light intensity reaches 35,000 lux.

[0107] 1 to 5, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are configured to move from the stop position 11 at the left end to the stop position 16 at the right end to irradiate light, but the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 may be configured to stop and irradiate light only at positions above the cultivation beds 4 that are not exposed to light due to the presence of the solar panels 54 within the cultivation facility 2. Furthermore, it is not necessarily necessary to stop the lighting device 9 sequentially for each cultivation section (cultivation bed 4), and the lighting device 9 may be configured to move continuously at a low speed to positions above or near multiple cultivation sections.

[0108] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 is configured to move left and right based on the accumulated light amount in each cultivation bed 4, and in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LED tube 17 is configured to move left and right and forward and backward based on the duration of irradiation at a position above each cultivation bed 4. However, the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 may be moved when a predetermined time (irradiation duration) has elapsed at each stop position (any of 11 to 16), or the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be configured to move when the accumulated light amount in each cultivation bed 4 exceeds a predetermined amount (in this case, an integrating light meter may be used as the illuminance detection means). Alternatively, the ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be configured to move only left and right, and the LED tube 10 may be configured to move left and right and forward and backward.

[0109] Furthermore, when the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 is configured to move when a predetermined time (irradiation duration) has elapsed at each stop position (any of 11 to 16), it is not necessarily necessary to configure the irradiation duration (irradiation time) for all cultivation beds 4 to be the same, and the irradiation time may be configured to be short (e.g., 2 hours) at the stop position above the cultivation bed 4 where sunlight is shining, and long (e.g., 8 hours) at the stop position above the cultivation bed 4 where sunlight is not shining.

[0110] In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the calculation of the integrated light amount is configured to start when the power switch on the operation panel 53 is operated and control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 is started, but the timing for starting the calculation of the integrated light amount may be configured to start when the lighting device 9 stops at each of the stopping positions 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, or may be configured to start the calculation of the integrated light amount from a specific time or any time in a day.

[0111] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 is determined based on whether the accumulated light intensity exceeds 35,000 lux (see step S5 in Figure 5), but the threshold accumulated light intensity is not limited to this and may be 30,000 lux or 40,000 lux, which is the light saturation point of strawberries 5, and furthermore, the crop to be cultivated is not limited to strawberries 5.

[0112] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, a lighting device 9 having an LED tube 10 equipped with white and red light-emitting elements 46 is used, and in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, a lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 is used, but it is not necessary to provide only one of the lighting devices 9 and a moving means in the cultivation facility 2; both a lighting device 9 having an LED tube 10 equipped with white and red light-emitting elements 46 and a lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be provided in a single cultivation facility 2, each movable approximately horizontally. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1. Lighting system 2. Cultivation facilities 3 frames 4. Growing beds 5. Strawberries 6 Standing Frame 7 Horizontal Frame 8 Moving mechanism 9. Lighting equipment 10 LED tubes 11 Stop position 12 Stop position 13 Stop position 14 Stop position 15 Stop position 16 Stop position 17 UV LED tube 18 Timer 20 Guide rail 21 Power Rail 22 Case 23 Drive housing 24 endless belt 25 Large pulley 26 Small pulley 27 Motor 28 Mounting part 29 wheels 30 Ground side electrode 31 Voltage side electrode 32 Hooking member 33 Ground side electrode 34 Voltage side electrode 35 Ground side electrode 36 Voltage side electrode 37 Connecting member 38 Ground side electrode 39 Voltage side electrode 40 Control device 41 Processing section 42 Storage section 43 Illuminance sensor 44 Potentiometer 45 Control Unit 46 Light-emitting element 47 Driver Circuit 48 Communications Department 49 Communications Department 50 Brake mechanism 51 Movable brake member 52 Solenoid 53 Operation Panel 54 Solar Panels 55 Blackout curtains 56 Potentiometer 57 Light-emitting element 60 Lateral movement mechanism 61 Left and right stopping positions 62 Left and right stopping positions 63 Left and right stopping positions 64 Left and right stopping positions 65 Left and right stopping positions 66 Left and right stopping positions 68 wires 70 Forward and backward movement mechanism 71 Forward and backward stopping positions 72 Forward and backward stopping positions 73 Forward and backward stopping positions 77 Motor 78 Drive shaft 79 Pipe 82 Pipe 83 Guide Rail 84 bearings

Claims

1. A lighting system for a cultivation facility having a plurality of cultivation plots for cultivating crops, a lighting device provided inside the cultivation facility and configured to irradiate light onto crops; a moving means for moving the lighting device in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other within the cultivation facility; a position detection means for detecting a position of the lighting device in a first direction and a second direction; a stopping means for stopping the movement of the lighting device at each position of the plurality of cultivation sections; a control means for controlling the moving means and the stopping means based on the detection information of the position detection means to move and stop the lighting device to each position of the plurality of cultivation sections; A cultivation facility lighting system characterized in that the control means is configured to control the moving means and the stopping means, and to automatically move and stop the lighting devices in a predetermined order in accordance with the positions of each of the multiple cultivation sections.

2. 2. The lighting system for a cultivation facility according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is a lighting device capable of irradiating ultraviolet light.

3. Further, an illuminance detection means is provided to detect the illuminance of each cultivation section, The lighting system for a cultivation facility according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the integrated illuminance of the cultivation section illuminated by the lighting device exceeds a predetermined value, the lighting device is moved to the position of the next cultivation section.

4. 3. The lighting system for a cultivation facility according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is moved to the position of the next cultivation section when the duration of illumination in each cultivation section exceeds a predetermined time.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Light source irradiation method in illumination cultivation

    JP1983063330A

  • Method for cultivating vegetable having health function through regulation of cultivation environment, and cultivation establishment for the same

    JP2004305040A

  • Plant environment control system

    JP2011244697A

  • Artificial light source for cultured matter

    JP2011244740A

  • Lighting device

    JP2012170361A