Device for growing plant

The present invention relates to a growing device capable of growing a plant in an artificial satellite in outer space as an extreme example in a narrow space or an artificial environment.

Conventionally, plants are grown in a natural environment, or in a greenhouse, greenhouse, or hydroponics, and a method of installing a light irradiation device such as a fluorescent lamp or a high-pressure sodium lamp to promote the growth. Was known.

In addition, there has been one that employs a light irradiation device that positively adjusts a portion to be illuminated and a portion to be shaded by continuously or intermittently changing the irradiation direction over almost the entire circumference of the irradiated plant.

Further, a plant growing device is disclosed in which a fluorescent lamp is installed as a light source near the ceiling surface in the cabinet, the biological information or the amount of growth of the plant is measured, and the light intensity of the light source is adjusted.

Furthermore, a lighting window is provided on the upper surface of a cabinet surrounded by a heat insulating wall, an LED luminaire having a control means is installed therein, and a sensor for detecting the plant growing status in the cabinet and a growing environment monitoring means are provided. Although the added plant growing device is disclosed, it seems that it is mainly used for research on the growing conditions of plants.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-228597 (Fig. 8)</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-251961 (Fig. 1)</text></patcit><patcit num="3"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-79254 (Fig. 1)</text></patcit>

<p> In the above-mentioned plant growing apparatus, all the vegetation surfaces were flat and not a mass production system. On the other hand, the present invention enables the growth of plants even in a limited space such as a space station, that is, in a small area and in a limited material environment, and further, the varieties and growth rates are different. The challenge is to enable the growth of plants at the same time in the same growth device.</p><p> In addition, while normal plant cultivation can be carried out under the control of gravity, it is also an issue to eliminate the influence of gravity and fully automate the growth management of plants.</p>

<p>In the invention of claim 1 of the plant growing apparatus according to the present invention, a plant growing state is provided in a cabinet, the plant growing conditions such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide are measured, and the maintenance of optimum growing conditions is controlled by a computer. In the apparatus, a rotatable substrate surrounded by a cylindrical drum is provided in the cabinet, and a plurality of sector plates are erected radially on the substrate and surrounded by the sector plate and the inner diameter of the drum. A plurality of wedge-shaped close chambers are formed, and a growing floor composed of a tubular body and having a plurality of vegetation opening windows opened on its side surface is erected in the close chamber in the circumferential direction and the vertical direction. In addition, it was assumed that each of them could be vegetated in multiple stages.</p><p>In the invention of claim 2, the radially partitioned cloth chamber is further partitioned in the vertical direction by engaging one or a plurality of partition plates between the sector plates on both sides thereof, and is made into a private chamber. It was made possible to form several stages of training chambers.</p><p>In the invention of claim 3, the light source that illuminates the inside of the cabinet is one or a combination of fluorescent lamp, mercury lamp, sodium lamp, light emitting diode, or incandescent lamp, and the light source is the inner surface of the cylindrical drum. It was configured to irradiate from the center of the drum and to be dimmable.</p><p>In the invention of claim 4, the light source that illuminates the inside of the cabinet is one or several of fluorescent lamps, mercury lamps, sodium lamps, light emitting diodes, or incandescent lamps, and the light source stands at the center of a cylindrical drum. It was set up and surrounded by a tubular body made of a translucent material, and all chambers were to be illuminated evenly.</p><p>In the invention of claim 5, a growing floor made of a tubular body having a large number of opening windows for vegetation is erected integrally from the substrate surface in the growing room to almost the height of the ceiling, and the tubular body growing floor is erected as a unit. By providing a large number of liquid spouts on the circumferential surface within the inner diameter of the floor and installing an irrigation pipe connected to the water storage tank via a liquid pump, the entire tubular growing floor is provided. 360 degree irrigation was made possible for the plants planted on the peripheral surface.</p><p>In the invention of claim 6, the potting soil is a tubular body with a bottom, and a vegetation opening window, a water supply port, and a drainage port are provided on the circumferential surface thereof, and the upper end outer diameter of the tubular body is the lower end. By adopting a structure that inserts and fits into the inner diameter of the plant, the potting soil for each vegetation plant is individualized, and solidification due to the weight of the potting soil is eliminated.</p><p>In the invention of claim 7, a plant is provided by fitting and attaching a foam composed of open cells sown or germinated to a vegetation opening window of a tubular growing floor erected in the cloth chamber. Made it easier to grow towards a horizontal light source.</p><p>In the invention of claim 8, the water ejected from the irrigation pipe installed inside the tubular growing floor or the water in which the liquid fertilizer is dissolved collides with the inner surface of the tubular growing floor above the opening window for vegetation and is reflected. The roots or medium of the plant were irrigated at intervals of time to prevent root rot due to excessive irrigation.</p><p>In the invention of claim 9, a bag body (16a) made of a woven cloth, a non-woven fabric, or the like filled with potting soil 16 mixed with nutrients optimal for growing plants inside a tubular growing bed erected in the cloth chamber. Was loaded to prevent the leakage of potting compost.</p><p>In the invention of claim 10, the humidity inside the growing bed is measured by measuring the electrical resistance of the medium into which the roots of the plant enter, and irrigation is performed only when the medium is in a dry state, so-called interval irrigation. I made it.</p><p>In the invention of claim 11, a ventilation fan is attached to the cabinet to allow outside air to be introduced, and for example, carbon dioxide gas can be replenished by introducing indoor air in the space station into the present device. It can also be used to optimize the temperature and humidity of each of the chambers or the growing chamber that has been made into a private room.</p>

<p> In the present invention, a light adjusted to an appropriate luminous intensity in a limited device irradiates the direction of the vegetation opening window from the circumferential direction to the center direction or from the center as diffused light. The plant will grow towards the light source and is therefore unaffected by the gravitational pull of the earth. This plant growing device can be applied to the cultivation of all plants, edible mushrooms, etc., and is isolated in a wider range of special environments, such as cooling polar regions, submarines, space stations, underground, and underwater. It can be used even in such situations, and it is always possible to obtain fresh vegetables.</p><p>By subdividing the close chamber in the plant growing apparatus according to the present invention into individual chambers, it has become possible to individually manage and maintain the environmental conditions. Therefore, several kinds of plants with different growing conditions can be cultivated at the same time in this device.</p><p>In addition, as a general use, a vegetable dealer can produce and sell vegetables by himself / herself, and is most suitable for growing special fines and managing the production of other plants. In addition to adjusting the temperature, humidity, atmosphere, etc., it is possible to control the maintenance of the optimum conditions of the medium necessary for growing plants by a computer, which eliminates the need for cultivation knowledge.</p>

In the plant growing device 1 of the present invention, a disk-shaped rotating substrate 3 is horizontally mounted inside the cabinet 2, and a plurality of sector plates 4 and 4 are erected radially on the rotating substrate 3 to form a wedge shape. A tubular growing floor that forms partitioned cloth chambers 5, 5 and has a large number of vegetation opening windows 6a, 6a (Fig. 3) between the sector plates 4, 4, that is, in the close chambers 5, 5. 6 is erected, and a drum 7 having a partial opening 7a that also surrounds the rotating substrate 3 is erected together with the outer peripheral portions of the sector plates 4 and 4. A light source 8 with a power source for irradiating the inside of each of the cloth chambers 5 and 5 is mounted on the drum 7 side, and a water tank 10 and a pump and a water injection port 11 for adjusting the humidity of the plant medium and a growing environment for adjusting the growth environment. It is also equipped with an air conditioner 20, a temperature and humidity measuring instrument, a plant growth condition measuring instrument, etc., and the computer 13 is made to perform control for maintaining environmental conditions suitable for plant growth.

Examples of the plant growing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings show the embodiment of the device. FIG. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the main body of the device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a growing floor which becomes a tubular body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a growing floor in a connected configuration, FIG. 5 is a central vertical sectional view of the plant growing device of Example 2, FIG. 6 is a central cross section of the plant growing device of Example 2, and FIG. 7 is a central cross section. A cross-sectional view showing a part of the tubular growing floor in the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a central vertical cross-sectional view showing the plant growing device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the plant growing apparatus of the present invention by a central vertical cross-sectional view. Desirably, the cabinet 2 made of a heat insulating material is divided into upper and lower parts, and the upper part is tentatively the growing room 2u and the lower part is the adjusting equipment room 2d. And. In the growing room 2u above it, a window 2a for putting in and taking out plants is opened in front, and a door 9 having a viewing window 9a in front of it is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable.

The disk-shaped substrate 3 is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 14 provided at the center position of the lower end of the growing chamber 2u. The disk-shaped substrate 3 may be manually rotated, or for example, a pulley 12 may be attached to the back surface side of the disk-shaped substrate 3 and connected to a drive device (not shown) via a belt 12a. A plurality of sector plates 4 and 4 are erected radially on the upper surface of the disk-shaped substrate 3, and the space is partitioned in a wedge shape to form close chambers 5 and 5 having an opening on the inner diameter side. Further, a detachable partition plate 5a that divides the inside of the close chambers 5 and 5 in the vertical direction can be attached according to the height of the growing plant or the spread of branches and leaves. In addition, a thermometer, a hygrometer, and an illuminance meter are installed in appropriate places in each close chamber 5 and are connected to the control computer 13.

A drum 7 having a partial opening 7a so as to surround the substrate 3 on which the sector plates 4 and 4 are erected is installed in the growing chamber 2u, and a fluorescent lamp, a mercury lamp, and a mercury lamp are installed on the inner wall surface of the drum 7. A large number of one or more light sources 8 such as a sodium lamp, a light emitting diode or an incandescent lamp are mounted and connected to a power source (not shown), and the illuminance thereof is controlled by a computer 13. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state in which the light source 8 is installed outside the drum 7 and irradiates the inside of the drum through the opening on the side of the drum, it goes without saying that the position of the light source may be any of them. Is.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the above-mentioned close chambers 5 has a large number of opening windows 6a for vegetation, and a growing floor 6 filled with potting soil 16 in a cloth bag 16a is provided on each sector 5. It is mounted so as to reach near the ceiling of the plant growing device 1 from above the substrate 3. The water supply nozzle 11 is brought close to the water supply port 6c of the growing floor 6 for irrigation (FIG. 3 (a)), or the growing floor 6 is moved to just below the spray nozzle 11s provided in the plant growing device. (Fig. 3 (b)) makes it possible to irrigate.

Further, the potting soil 61 shown in FIG. 4 is shown in a state of being mounted on the right side of the center of the plant growing device 1 in FIG. It is a tubular body that fits together, has a bottom plate 6b, has a vegetation opening window 6a on the front, a water supply port 6c and a drainage port 6e on the back side, and is loaded with potting soil 16 inside the inner diameter. , The vegetation opening window 6a is erected in each cloth chamber 5 so as to face the light source side in the same manner as described above. In this case, the hose H connected to the water tank via a pump is introduced into each water supply port 6c and is irrigated when necessary.

The growing floor 62 in the plant growing device 1 shown in FIG. 5 has a large number of opening windows 6a for vegetation on the circumferential surface in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and a large number of liquids are discharged at the center of the growing floor 62. A water supply pipe 23 having pores 23n and 23n opened is erected. Only one of these growing floors 62 is erected at the center position of the substrate 3, and a pump is provided in the water supply pipe. It is connected to a water tank and a liquid fertilizer tank (not shown) via a liquid fertilizer tank, and water or liquid fertilizer W ejected from the liquid discharge pores 23n collides with the inner surface of the growing floor 62 and is reflected as droplets to irrigate the vicinity of the roots of the plant. It will be. In the above, the water supply pipe 23 was erected in the center of the growing floor 62, and the opening window 6a for vegetation was formed on the entire peripheral surface of the growing floor 62. It goes without saying that the vegetation opening window 6a may be formed only symmetrically with the installation close to the inner wall surface.

In order to control the humidity required for plant growth, an electrode E is inserted into the culture soil 16 through the above-mentioned vegetation opening window 6a, and the electrical resistance of the culture soil is measured by an electrical resistance measuring instrument R (Fig. 3) connected to the electrode E. Is measured. The computer 13 compares this measured value with the reference value stored in advance, and when the resistance value becomes large, water or liquid fertilizer is given. This measurement is performed via a timer (not shown) or by attaching a pulse transmitter P to periodically send a signal. It is also possible to artificially irrigate at appropriate intervals. In FIG. 3A, the electrodes are installed at positions close to the roots of the plant, and in FIG. 3B, the electrodes are installed at a wide distance from the upper and lower ends of the growing floor 6.

A water tank 10 for liquid fertilizer and water is installed below the cabinet 2, that is, in the adjusting equipment room 2d, and reaches the vegetation opening window 6a via the water injection port 11 extended to the growing room 2u via the pump 15 (Fig. It is possible to irrigate from the upper end of 3 (a)) or the growing floor 6 via the spray nozzle 11s (Fig. 3 (b)). The water injection port 11 of FIG. 3 (a) is, for example, attached to a pole 17 erected at the center of the support shaft 14 so as to be able to move up and down, and is moved to the height of the vegetation opening window 6a where water supply is required under the control of the computer 13. On the other hand, it is also possible to rotate the substrate 3 to guide the vegetation opening window 6a that requires irrigation immediately before the water injection port 11, and the spray nozzles 11s in FIG. 3 (b) are respectively. One is installed on the upper part of the growing floor 6, and the substrate 3 is rotated to guide the upper end of the growing floor 6 directly under the water injection port 11s to spray liquid fertilizer, etc., but the upper part of each growing floor 6 The water injection port 11s may be arranged in.

Photosynthesis is involved in the growth of plants, and carbon dioxide is required for this. A carbon dioxide measurement sensor is installed in the cabinet, and the information is obtained and replenished by, for example, releasing the concentrated carbon dioxide 18 in the membrane installed in the adjusting equipment room 2d. In addition, the plant growing device according to the present invention is planned to be used in a space station as one of the places of use, and there is carbon dioxide emitted by humans in this space station, and a ventilation fan 19 is attached to a part of the cabinet 2. It is possible to replenish by introducing the air in the space station. Further, an air conditioner 20 is also attached to maintain the optimum temperature in the close chamber 5 according to the instruction of the computer 13.

In addition, it is necessary to set the illuminance according to the degree of growth of the plant. This is determined by directly inside the device or by visually observing the image captured by a CCD camera or the like. The degree of growth of the plant is estimated by measuring the illuminance on the opposite side of the plant with respect to the light source 8, or the difference in the amount of reflected light due to the chlorophyll of the leaves of the plant is measured and the numerical values are calculated by the computer 13. It is also possible to analyze and adjust the illuminance of the light source 8. This allows the plant to grow in the same way that it grows under natural conditions.

5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the plant growing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, one growing floor 6 is erected in each close chamber 5, and this figure shows. 5, FIG. 6 shows a growing floor 62 having a slightly thick center of the substrate and a large number of opening windows 6a for vegetation on the circumferential surface, and the irrigation pipe 23 is installed inside the inner diameter as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a foam such as a resin that becomes open cells is used as a plant medium, and the foam is sown in the foam, or the foam is cut in a germinated state after sowing. It is inserted and held through the opening window 6a for vegetation. Water or liquid fertilizer ejected from the liquid ejection hole 23n of the irrigation pipe 23 collides with the inner surface of the growing bed 6 and bounces off the foam that protrudes into the inner diameter of the growing bed 62 in this way. Will fall into or near the roots of the plant to supply humidity or nutrients (Fig. 7).

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the plant growing apparatus of the present invention. The description of the device 30 omits a portion that overlaps with the first embodiment. In this device 30, a substrate 3 surrounded by a drum 7 is rotatably supported in the upper growing chamber 2u of the cabinet 2, and is rotated by a drive device controlled by a computer 13 in a timely manner. Is the same as described above. A light source 22 such as a fluorescent lamp surrounded by a tubular body 21 made of a translucent material such as acrylic resin is erected in the vertical direction at the center position of the upper surface of the substrate 3, and its luminous intensity can be adjusted by a computer 13. Has been made.

A plurality of sector plates 4 and 4 extending from the outer periphery of the translucent tubular body 21 to the outer periphery of the substrate 3 are erected radially, and the space on the substrate is partitioned in a wedge shape to form the cloth chambers 5 and 5. There is. In the close chamber 5, a tubular growing floor 6 is erected with the vegetation opening window 6a facing the light source side. The water injection port 11 for irrigation of the medium of the growing floor 6 is made movable up and down by screwing the base thereof to a pole 17 erected near the outer diameter of the translucent tubular body 21, and the computer 13 is used to make the base movable. Controls vertical movement.

A detachable partition plate 5a that divides the inside of the close chambers 5 and 5 in the vertical direction is attached according to the height of the plant or the spread of branches and leaves, and the temperature, humidity and other plant growth environment conditions in the close chamber 5 are measured. , Humidity measurement and irrigation of the plant growth medium, control by the computer 13, and installation of the ventilation fan are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the plant growing apparatus 1 of the present invention having the above configuration, artificial access such as sowing on the growing floor 6 or collecting grown plants is performed through the window 2a which opens the door 9 and opens to the cabinet 2. Be done.

Plants grow in the direction of the location of the light source. When the plant growing apparatus according to the present invention installs a light source in the horizontal direction with respect to the growing bed 6 as the sowing soil, the plant grows and grows in the direction of the light source. Therefore, since the narrow area, that is, the distance from the growing floor 6 to the drum as the outer wall can be grown to the extent that it matches the height of the growing plant, a large number of plants can be cultivated if the installation area is reduced and the device is long in the vertical direction. It is possible to use it in a special environment such as in a space station.

In addition, since the installation area is small, even in a small store that sells vegetables, it is possible to install it at the eaves to grow vegetables, collect them according to the customer's request, and sell them immediately. A business that appeals to freshness is established.

<figref num="1">It is a central vertical sectional view which showed an example of the plant growing apparatus which concerns on this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a cross-sectional view of a plant growing apparatus.</figref><figref num="3">(A) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a growing floor that becomes a tubular body.</figref><figref num="4">It is a perspective view of the growing floor which becomes the connection structure.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which showed the plant growing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example in the central longitudinal section.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which showed the plant growing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example in the central cross section.</figref><figref num="7">In the cross-sectional view showing a part of the tubular body growing floor in the second embodiment, (a) is an example in which the water supply pipe is erected at the center of the growing floor and (b) is eccentric.</figref><figref num="8">It is a figure which showed the plant growing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Example in the central cross section.</figref>

Code description

1 Plant growing device 2 Cabinet 3 Disc-shaped substrate 4 Sector plate 5 Claus chamber 6,61,62, 63 Growing floor 7 Drum 8 Light source 9 Door 10 Water tank 11 Water inlet 12 Pump 13 Computer 14 Support shaft 15 Pump 16 Potting soil 18 Concentration Carbon dioxide 19 Ventilation fan 20 Air conditioner 21 Translucent tubular body 22 Foam 23 Irrigation pipe