Fluid Delivery Systems

Abstract

To provide a fluid transport system that can be effectively automated by utilizing the flow of fluid. [Solution] A fluid transport system 1 used for hydroponic cultivation of plants 2, comprising a transport flow path 4 for transporting the plants 2 by the flow of water 3, and a plurality of floats 5 for keeping the plants 2 floating in the water 3 in the transport flow path 4. The transport flow path 4 is provided inside a building and is composed of a tubular body with a plurality of straight pipe sections that are arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern parallel to each other and perpendicular to the straight pipe sections.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid delivery system for use in hydroponic cultivation of plants. [Background technology]

[0002] Various methods for hydroponic cultivation of plants have been disclosed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vegetable factory in which a cultivation unit is made up of an aquarium for holding nutrient solution, a crate for planting plants, and a panel for controlling the cultivation environment of the plants, and in which a number of such cultivation units are installed in a cultivation room so that the cultivation environment for each unit is maintained and managed individually. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-279269 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, because this vegetable factory has a large number of cultivation units installed and processes crops in batches, the following problems arise.

[0006] (1) Pruning and other maintenance work requires the movement of personnel.

[0007] (2) A large number of devices and equipment are required, and a large amount of electricity is also required.

[0008] (3) Because the water temperature tends to rise, the entire space needs to be cooled, which is energy inefficient.

[0009] (4) The spacing needs to be adjusted as the plants grow.

[0010] (5) Unnecessary gaps are created.

[0011] (6) Low production volume per unit area.

[0012] (7) If roots grow unevenly, they will not be submerged in water, resulting in stunted growth.

[0013] The present invention has been made in light of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a fluid transport system that can be effectively automated by utilizing the flow of fluid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, the fluid transport system according to the present invention is a fluid transport system used for hydroponic cultivation of plants, and includes a transport flow path for transporting plants by the flow of fluid, and a plurality of holders for holding the plants in a floating state in the fluid of the transport flow path. The conveying flow path is provided in a building and is composed of a circular pipe, and the circular pipe has a plurality of straight pipe sections, and these straight pipe sections are arranged in parallel with each other and in a hexagonal lattice pattern in a direction perpendicular to the straight pipe sections. It is characterized by the following.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an inspection passage in the center of the plurality of straight pipe sections, which allows workers to pass through and inspect the pipes.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the transport flow path is provided with a gradient of about 1%.

[0019] Furthermore, the holding device is preferably configured to control the spacing between the plants and the portions of the plants that are immersed in the fluid by their size and shape.

[0020] Additionally, the holder preferably includes a float for holding the plant.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an RFID tag on the holder.

[0022] Furthermore, the transport flow path is preferably provided in a serpentine shape, but may also be linear, spiral, volute, or endless.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that the transport flow path be provided with at least an input section and an output section among an input section for inputting plants, an output section for outputting plants, a quality check section for checking the pruning and quality of plants, an output section for outputting plants of unsuitable quality, and a cleaning section for cleaning the fluid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the fluid transport system of the present invention, it is possible to effectively achieve automation by utilizing the flow of fluid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a transport flow path of the fluid transport system. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of straight pipe sections and inspection passages in the fluid transport system. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hexagonal lattice arrangement of the straight pipe sections. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a holder of the fluid transport system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0027] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a fluid transport system according to the present invention.

[0028] This fluid transport system 1 is used for hydroponic cultivation of various plants 2, such as wasabi and lettuce, and is equipped with a transport flow path 4 for transporting the plants 2 by the flow of water (fluid) 3, and a plurality of floats (holding devices) 5 made of, for example, urethane or air bags, which keep the plants 2 floating in the water 3 of this transport flow path 4.

[0029] In addition, this transport flow path 4 is provided with an input section 6 for inputting plants 2, a discharge section 7 for discharging plants 2, a quality check section 8 for checking the pruning and quality of plants 2, a quality-defective product discharge section 9 for discharging plants 2 that are of poor quality, and a water treatment section 10 for purifying and cooling water.

[0030] Furthermore, the transport flow path 4 is formed in a serpentine shape with a plurality of straight portions 11 and a plurality of turning portions 12, and is provided with a gradient of about 1%.

[0031] The input unit 6 is provided at the most upstream of the transport flow path 6, and the plants 2 are input therein by a robot or manually.

[0032] The discharge unit 7 is provided at the most downstream of the transport flow path 6, and is adapted to pack the plants 2 into boxes, etc.

[0033] The quality check section 8 is provided in the folding section 12 and is designed to allow pruning and quality checks to be performed manually, but automation through mechanization is also possible.

[0034] The quality-defective product discharge section 9 is equipped with a quality-defective product line 13 that branches off from the transport flow path 4, and plants 2 that have been deemed quality-defective can be transported along this line and shipped, for example, for use as processed products.

[0035] The water treatment section 10 includes a bypass line 13 that branches off from the transport flow path 4 upstream of the turning section 12 and joins the transport flow path 4 downstream, and a water treatment and cooling section 14 is provided on this bypass line 13.

[0036] The water 3 that has reached the most downstream side of the transport flow path 4 is returned to the most upstream side of the transport flow path 4 by a return line 15 .

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the transport flow path 4 is configured to have an insulated structure using a tubular body, such as a transparent, non-open circular pipe 16 with a diameter of, for example, 0.5 m, and a heater 17 and the like are provided inside the circular pipe 16.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, this circular pipe 16 is installed inside a building 18 and has multiple straight pipe sections 19, and in the center of these multiple straight pipe sections 19 is an inspection passage 20 that allows workers to pass through and inspect the pipe, and this inspection passage 20 is composed of a circular space with a radius of, for example, 2.0 m.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the multiple straight pipe sections 19 are arranged parallel to each other and in a hexagonal lattice pattern with the center-to-center distance being, for example, √3 / 2 times the diameter in a direction perpendicular to the straight pipe sections 19.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the float 5 is configured so that the spacing L between the multiple plants 2 and the portion H of the plants 2 that is immersed in the water 3 can be controlled, for example, by the size and shape.

[0041] Furthermore, each swim ring 5 is provided with an RFID tag 21 or the like.

[0042] According to the above configuration, it is possible to effectively achieve automation by utilizing the flow of fluid.

[0043] That is, (1) there is no need for people to move around for maintenance such as pruning. (2) Fewer devices are required, and less electricity is required. (3) The water temperature can be kept constant, making it energy efficient. (4) There is no need to change the spacing as the plants 2 grow. (5) There are no unnecessary gaps. (6) There is a high production volume per unit area. (7) The roots of the plants 2 are always immersed in water 3, so growth is not hindered.

[0044] Furthermore, since the straight pipe portions 19 of the circular pipes 16 are arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern, the packing rate of the straight pipe portions 19 can be maximized.

[0045] Furthermore, the circular pipe 16 has a non-open structure, which not only improves energy efficiency, but also allows for the air concentration of CO2 and the like to be freely controlled according to the plants, and also prevents insects and the like from entering.

[0046] Furthermore, since the RFID tag 21 is provided on the float 5, the plants 2 can be managed efficiently.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the transport flow path 4 is arranged in a serpentine shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the transport flow path 4 may be arranged in a linear, helical, spiral, endless shape, etc.

[0048] When the transport flow path 4 is arranged endlessly, the transport flow path 4 can be shortened by discharging the plants 2 after making several turns.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tubular body is configured as a circular tube 16, but in the present invention, it may be an elliptical tube, or in other words, any tube may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Fluid transport system 2 plants 3 Fluid (water) 4. Transport channel 5. Holder (inflatable ring) 6 Input section 7 Discharge section 8. Quality Check Department 9 Inappropriate quality product discharge department 10 Water treatment section 16 Tubular body (circular tube) 18 Building 19 Straight pipe section 20 Inspection passage 21 RFID tags

Claims

1. A fluid transport system for use in hydroponic cultivation of plants, comprising: a transport channel for transporting the plant by a fluid flow; a plurality of holders for holding the plants in a floating state in the fluid in the transport flow path; Equipped with The transport flow path is provided inside a building and is made of a circular pipe, The circular pipe includes a plurality of straight pipe portions, The plurality of straight pipe portions are arranged parallel to each other and in a hexagonal lattice pattern in a direction perpendicular to the straight pipe portions. A fluid transport system comprising:

2. 2. The fluid transport system according to claim 1, wherein an inspection passageway is provided in the center of the plurality of straight pipe sections, allowing workers to pass through and inspect the system.

3. 2. The fluid transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport flow path is provided with a gradient of about 1%.

4. 2. The fluid transport system according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is configured to control the spacing between the plurality of plants and the portions of the plants that are immersed in the fluid by their size and shape.

5. 2. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises a float for holding the plant.

6. 2. The fluid transport system according to claim 1, wherein an RFID tag is provided on the holder.

7. 2. The fluid transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport flow path is provided in a linear, helical, spiral, serpentine, or endless shape.

8. The fluid transport system of claim 1, characterized in that the transport flow path is provided with at least the input section for inputting the plants, the discharge section for discharging the plants, the quality check section for checking the pruning and quality of the plants, the non-conforming product discharge section for discharging non-conforming plants, and the cleaning section for cleaning the fluid.

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