JP2014060930A - Hydroponics apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydroponics apparatus whose entire body can be downsized, and which is capable of preventing infectious disease from spreading even if such disease occurs.SOLUTION: A hydroponics apparatus 1 has a vertical direction 13 and a horizontal direction 14 orthogonal to the vertical direction, and includes: a cultivation section body 11 where plants are cultivated; and a main body frame 12 for mounting the cultivation section body 11. The main body frame 12 is formed of a plurality of support pillars 21 extending in the vertical direction 13 and a plurality of shelves 22 extending in the horizontal direction 14 between the support pillars 21. The cultivation section body 11 is mounted on the respective top surfaces of a lower stage 22A and a middle stage 22B. A reservoir tank 15 of culture medium is mounted on a top stage 22C of the shelves 22. The cultivation section body 11 includes: a cultivation container 3; a panel 4; pots 5 for holding plants; positioning means 7 capable of positioning the panel 4 in the vertical direction 13; circulating means 8 for circulating solution in the cultivation container 3; and supply means 9 for supplying the solution from the reservoir tank 15 into the cultivation container 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus for cultivating a plant in a cultivation container supplied with a solution for hydroponics, and more specifically, hydroponic cultivation in which a plurality of cultivation containers can be arranged in the vertical direction of the apparatus. Relates to the device.

  Conventionally, a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that uses a plurality of cultivation containers arranged vertically in a three-dimensionally assembled main body frame is known. For example, according to Patent Document 1, a main body frame is configured by a plurality of support posts and a plurality of shelves formed between the support posts, and a cultivation container supplied with a solution for plant cultivation is placed on the shelves. . Each cultivation container is supplied with a solution from a solution tank by a liquid feed pump, and the solution is circulated between the cultivation container and the solution tank.

JP 2006-262750 A

In the conventional hydroponic cultivation apparatus, a relatively large liquid feed pump for circulating the solution is necessary, and the entire apparatus becomes large.
Moreover, since the solution of each cultivation container flows into one solution tank and is again sent to each cultivation container, when infectious disease occurs in any container, the whole cultivation apparatus There is a risk of disease spreading.

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the hydroponic cultivation apparatus which can prevent the spread even if the infectious disease generate | occur | produces while downsizing the whole apparatus.

The present invention has a horizontal direction 14 and a vertical direction 13 perpendicular to the horizontal direction 14, a plurality of struts 21 extending in the vertical direction 13, and extending in the horizontal direction 14 between the struts 21 and a plurality in the vertical direction 13. Hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 having a main body frame 12 including an attached shelf 22 and a cultivation unit main body 11 that is placed on the shelf 22 and includes a cultivation container 3 capable of storing a cultivation solution therein. About.
In the main body frame 12, a storage tank 15 for the solution is disposed at the upper part of the vertical direction 13 of the cultivation unit main body 11.
The cultivation part main body 11 is located in the upper part of the solution in the cultivation container 3 and has a panel 4 in which a through hole 41 is formed, and a pot 5 that can be inserted into the through hole 41 to hold a plant. The positioning means 7 capable of positioning the panel 4 in the vertical direction 13, the circulation means 8 for circulating the solution in the cultivation container 3, and the solution from the storage tank 15 through the tube 18. It has the supply means 9 dripped in the cultivation container 3. FIG.
The supply means 9 includes a float 93 that floats on the surface of the solution in the cultivation container, and a valve 95 that is attached to the tip of the tube 18 and can be opened and closed according to the position of the float 93.

  The present invention includes the following preferred embodiments.

  The positioning means 7 extends in the vertical direction 13 and moves to an outer cylinder 71 fixed to the panel 4, and moves inside the outer cylinder 71 in the vertical direction 13 and a rotation direction 19 about the vertical direction 13. The outer cylinder 71 has a slit 74 that extends in the vertical direction 13 and into which the pin 73 can enter. Thus, the lower position state in which the pin 73 enters the slit 74 and the upper position state in which the distal end portion 71a of the outer cylinder 71 is held above the vertical direction 13 of the pin 73 can be adjusted. .

  The pot 5 includes a rib portion 51 having a diameter larger than that of the through hole 41 of the panel 4, a concave portion 52 having a diameter smaller than that of the through hole 41, and a large number of plant roots formed in the concave portion 52 through which plant roots can pass. The rib portion 51 is held on the upper portion of the panel 4.

  The recess 52 of the pot 5 is provided with a holding member 6 formed of a porous resin that holds plants.

  According to the embodiment of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the present invention, the solution can be supplied from the storage tank to the cultivation container via the supply means, and a large liquid feed pump is not required. It is effective to plan. Further, since the solution is not circulated between the storage tanks, it is effective in preventing the spread of diseases.

It is the schematic of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The figure which fractured | ruptured one part. The perspective view of a cultivation container. (A) The perspective view of a holding member. (B) The figure seen from the bottom face of the holding member. The perspective view at the time of use of a holding member. (A) Explanatory drawing when the valve of a supply means is closed. (B) Explanatory drawing when the valve of a supply means opens. (A) Explanatory drawing which shows the upper position of a positioning means. (B) Explanatory drawing which shows the lower position of a positioning means.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 has a horizontal direction 14 and a vertical direction 13 perpendicular to the horizontal direction 14, and a cultivation unit main body 11 for cultivating plants and a cultivation unit main body 11 for placing the cultivation unit main body 11 thereon. Main body frame 12. The main body frame 12 is formed by a plurality of support columns 21 extending in the vertical direction 13 and a plurality of shelves 22 extending in the horizontal direction 14 between the support columns 21. In this embodiment, four struts 21 are provided at the four corners of the shelf 22 (not shown), and the shelf 22 includes a lower stage 22A, a middle stage 22B, and an upper stage 22C. Wheels 23 are respectively attached to the main body frame 12 at the lower ends of the columns 21 so that the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 1 can be moved.

  The cultivation unit main body 11 is placed on the upper surfaces of the lower stage 22A and the middle stage 22B, respectively. On the lower surface of the middle stage 22B and the lower surface of the upper stage 22C, an artificial light source 16 for a plant to perform photosynthesis is arranged. The artificial light source 16 irradiates the cultivation part main body 11 placed on the lower stage 22A and the cultivation part main body 11 placed on the middle stage 22B, respectively. As the artificial light source 16, usual techniques used in the technical field of the present invention, such as a light emitting diode (LED) and an incandescent light bulb, can be used. Since it can irradiate with the artificial light source 16, the plant cultivated by the cultivation part main body 11 can perform photosynthesis even indoors. When natural light is used for photosynthesis, the artificial light source 16 can be omitted. Further, the storage tank 15 for the culture solution is placed on the upper stage 22 </ b> C of the shelf 22.

  In addition, referring to FIG. 2, the cultivation unit body 11 includes a cultivation container 3 that can store a cultivation solution, a panel 4 that is positioned so as to cover at least a part of the opening 31 of the cultivation container 3, and a plant The pot 5 for holding the liquid, the positioning means 7 capable of positioning in the vertical direction 13 of the panel 4, the circulating means 8 for circulating the solution in the cultivation container 3, and the solution from the storage tank 15 into the cultivation container 3. And supply means 9 for supplying. A cultivation solution 17 is stored between the cultivation container 3 and the panel 4.

  As the circulation means 8, a general circulation pump can be used. Since the circulation pump is for circulating so that the solution 17 in the cultivation container 3 does not stay, its capacity may be small, and is a size that can be stored in the cultivation container 3, There is no need to use a large pump outside the container. Further, it is preferable to use a circulation pump that can send air as the solution circulates.

  The panel 4 has a dimension capable of moving in the vertical direction 13 inside the opening 31 of the cultivation container 3, and a plurality of through holes 41 are formed in the panel 4. Although the through-hole 41 is circular (not shown), it is not limited to this and may be a polygon. Pots 5 for inserting plants are inserted into the through holes 41. The pot 5 has a rib portion 51 having a diameter larger than that of the through hole 41 and a concave portion 52 having a diameter smaller than that of the through hole 41, and the lower end of the rib portion 51 is in contact with the panel 4. 41 is held by the panel 4 so as to hang from the panel 41. A large number of gaps 53 are provided in at least a part of the recess 52, and plant roots can pass through the pot 5 through the gaps 53 (see FIG. 6).

  The recess 52 of the pot 5 is provided with a holding member 6 for holding a plant. The holding member 6 can be made of a porous resin such as a sponge in consideration of absorption and respiration of the root culture solution. Referring to FIG. 3A, the holding member 6 is a substantially cube having an upper surface 6A, a bottom surface 6B, and side surfaces 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, and connects the center P1 on the upper surface 6A and the center P2 on the bottom surface 6B. It has a virtual center line 61 and a virtual surface 62 that bisects the upper surface 6A and the bottom surface 6B. The holding member 6 includes a first slit 63 penetrating from the upper surface 6A to the bottom surface 6B and formed between the virtual center line 61 and the side surface 6C, and a second slit 64 extending on the extended line of the first slit 63 on the upper surface 6A. A third slit 65 passing through the center P1 and orthogonal to the second slit 64 is formed. The length dimension extending along the upper surface 6A of the second and third slits 64 and 65 is a dimension that does not reach the side surfaces 6D, 6E, and 6F, and the depth dimension is a dimension that does not reach the virtual surface 62. It is.

  In addition, referring to FIG. 3 (b), the holding member 6 has a bottom slit 6B, a fourth slit 66 passing through the center P2 and parallel to the side faces 6C and 6E, and parallel to the side faces 6D and 6F and at the center P2. And a fifth slit 67 connected to the first slit 63. The lengths of the fourth and fifth slits 66 and 67 that extend along the bottom surface 6B reach the side surfaces 6C, 6D, 6E, and 6F, that is, the end portions of the fourth and fifth slits 66 and 67 are side surfaces, respectively. The depth dimension is a dimension that does not reach the virtual surface 62. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in use, in the vicinity of the bottom surface 6B, the four corners can be deformed so as to spread outward. In such a holding member 6, a plant stem is inserted from the first slit 63 so that the stem is held along the virtual center line 61, and the leaf extends from the top surface 6 </ b> A side, and from the bottom surface 6 </ b> B side. It can be set so that the roots extend. Since the holding member 6 is porous, the plant can absorb moisture, nutrients, and oxygen in the culture solution via the holding member 6. Moreover, when a root grows by cultivation, the plant can be further extended while being deformed so as to spread the holding member 6 in all directions in the vicinity of the bottom surface 6B. Therefore, the holding member 6 does not hinder plant growth. Further, as described above, since the gap 5 through which the root of the plant can pass is also provided in the pot 5, the root can extend through the holding member 6 and the pot 5.

  The cultivation unit main body 11 is provided with a supply means 9 for supplying the solution from the storage tank 15 when the water level of the solution in the cultivation container 3 is lower than a certain position. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the supply means 9 includes a tube member 91 connected to the tube 18 connected to the storage tank 15, and an open / close attached to the tube member 91 so as to be pivotable. A member 92 and a float 93 connected to the opening / closing member 92 are included. The tube member 91 has a hollow portion 94 formed therein. A valve 95 is attached to the tip of the hollow portion 94. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the solution 17 stored in the cultivation container 3 is sufficiently supplied and the float 93 is positioned above by the water surface 17A, the valve 95 is closed via the opening / closing member 92. The supply of the solution from the hollow portion 94 is stopped. When the amount is reduced by absorption or evaporation of the solution 17 by the plant, the position of the water surface 17A of the solution 17 is lowered as shown in FIG. When the water surface 17 </ b> A is lowered and the float 93 is positioned below, the valve 95 is opened via the opening / closing member 92, and the solution is dropped from the hollow portion 94, and the solution is supplied to the cultivation container 3. Therefore, even if it is a case where multiple cultivation part main bodies 11 are provided, a solution can be supplied to each cultivation container 3 only by connecting each supply means 9 and the storage tank 15 using the tube 18. FIG. In addition, since a large mechanism is not required for supplying the solution and a simple mechanism can be used, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus and reduce the cost. Furthermore, since the solution of the storage tank 15 is only supplied to the cultivation container 3 and the solution is not returned to the storage tank 15 again, even if a disease has occurred in any of the cultivation containers 3 However, it does not spread to other cultivation containers 3 through the solution.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the pipe member 91 of the supply means 9 is fixed to the cover portion 32 that covers a part of the cultivation container 3. Inside the cover portion 32, a part of the pipe member 91 of the supply unit 9, the opening / closing member 92, the float 93, the valve 95, and a part of the circulation unit 8 are accommodated.

  The cultivation container 3 is provided with positioning means 7 for adjusting the position of the panel 4 in the vertical direction 13 at almost four corners of the panel 4. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the positioning means 7 includes an outer cylinder 71 extending in the vertical direction 13 and fixed to the panel 4, and the inner side of the outer cylinder 71 is set in the vertical direction 13 and the vertical direction. The inner cylinder 72 movable in the rotation direction 19 and the pin 73 protruding from the inner cylinder 72 in the horizontal direction 14 are included. The outer cylinder 71 is formed with a slit 74 that extends in the vertical direction 13 and into which the pin 73 can enter. 6A, when the pin 73 of the inner cylinder 72 is rotated in the rotation direction 19 so as not to coincide with the slit 74 while lifting the outer cylinder 71, the lower end portion 71A of the outer cylinder 71 is It is held at the top, and the outer cylinder 71 can hold the upper position. Therefore, the panel 4 fixed to the outer cylinder 71 can also maintain the upper position state. In such an upper position state, a stopper 75 for the outer cylinder 71 is provided on the upper part of the inner cylinder 72.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the inner cylinder 72 is rotated in the rotation direction 19 and the pin 73 is made to coincide with the slit 74, the outer cylinder 71 and the panel 4 fixed to the outer cylinder 71 have their own weight. The pin 73 slides along the slit 74 of the 71, and the outer cylinder 71 moves downward in the vertical direction 13. That is, the outer cylinder 71 is in the lower position state. Since the outer cylinder 71 is fixed to the panel 4, the panel 4 also moves downward with this movement and maintains the lower position state. Thus, the panel 4 can be held at the lower position or the upper position in the vertical direction 13 by using the positioning means 7.

  Plants require a large amount of water, for example, at the time of seedling. By holding the panel 4 in the lower position and making the pot 5 constantly immersed in the solution 17, most of the plant roots can be immersed in the solution to absorb sufficient water, which is suitable for this period. Good growth can be promoted. In addition, in the growing season after the seedling raising season, respiration by the roots is active. By holding the panel 4 in the upper position and leaving at least a part of the pot 5 exposed to the air, a part of the roots of the plant can be positioned in the air. That is, since the plant root held in the pot 5 extends through the gap 53, the vicinity of the root located in the vicinity of the gap 53 is exposed to the air, and the vicinity of the tip is immersed in the solution 17. Accordingly, moisture and the like can be absorbed from the solution 17 in the vicinity of the tip of the root, and oxygen in the air can be efficiently absorbed in the vicinity of the root, thereby promoting good growth suitable for this period. Can do. In this embodiment, by changing the position of the panel 4, it is possible to realize the supply of moisture and air suitable for plant growth. It is also possible to grow seedlings with the panel 4 in the lower position in any of the plurality of cultivation containers 3 and to grow after the seedling with the panel 4 in the upper position in any other. Furthermore, the kind of plant cultivated with each cultivation container 3 can be changed, and the water level of the solution optimal for these plants can also be made. In any case, the panel 4 can be easily positioned.

(Example)
One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As the plant, so-called leafy vegetables such as Sunny lettuce, Tarzai and Basil were used.
The panel 4 is made of stainless steel of 260 mm × 350 mm, and a total of 15 through holes 41 having a diameter of 34 mm are provided in 3 rows × 5 columns.
The cultivation container 3 has a size in which the panel 4 can be inserted at least in the opening 31 and has a dimension in the depth direction of about 70 mm. In the cultivation container 3, the solution 17 was stored so as to have a depth of about 40 mm. The vertical dimension of the pot 5 was about 31 mm, the outer diameter of the recess 52 was about 31 mm, and the gap 53 was 3 mm × 3 mm. In the cultivation container 3 as described above, when the panel 4 was set at the lower position by the positioning means 7, the pot 5 was set to be submerged in half or more.
In the circulation means 8, a circulation pump having a discharge rate of 3 liters / minute was used.

  In the apparatus as described above, the cultivation container 3 placed on the lower stage 22A set the panel 4 in the lower position, and planted the plants in all 15 pots 5. After raising the seedlings, the panel 4 of the cultivation container 3 placed on the lower stage 22A and the middle stage 22B is set to the upper position, and 7 plants of the grown vegetables are moved to the middle stage 22B, and the remaining 8 strains are left as they are. It was made to grow in the cultivation container 3 of no. Plants in the growing season are larger than plants in the seedling growing season and require a larger space for growth. Therefore, it was possible to cultivate in a more favorable environment by moving some of the plants.

In this embodiment, leafy vegetables are cultivated, but various plants can be cultivated without being limited thereto. Moreover, according to the kind and growth time of a plant, the quantity of the solution 17 in the cultivation container 3 can be increased / decreased, or the number of strains can be increased / decreased.
The number of shelves 22 in the main body frame 12 can also be changed as appropriate. In this embodiment, the solution is supplied to the plurality of cultivation containers 3 from one storage tank 15, but the storage tanks 15 corresponding to the respective cultivation containers 3 can also be used. In any case, since it is not necessary to use a large pump for supplying the solution to the cultivation container 3, an increase in the size of the entire apparatus can be avoided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydroponic cultivation apparatus 3 Cultivation container 4 Panel 5 Pot 6 Holding member 7 Positioning means 8 Circulation means 9 Supply means 11 Cultivation part main body 12 Frame main body 13 Vertical direction 14 Horizontal direction 15 Storage tank 18 Tube 19 Rotation direction 21 Strut 22 Shelf 31 Opening portion 32 Cover portion 41 Through hole 51 Rib portion 52 Recess portion 53 Clearance 71 Outer tube 72 Inner tube 73 Pin 74 Slit 93 Float 95 Valve

Claims (4)

A body frame having a horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular thereto, and extending in the vertical direction, and a plurality of shelves extending in the horizontal direction and attached in the vertical direction between the support columns; A hydroponic cultivation apparatus having a cultivation section main body including a cultivation container that can be placed on the shelf and store a cultivation solution therein.
In the main body frame, a storage tank for the solution is disposed at the upper part in the vertical direction of the cultivation unit main body,
The cultivation unit main body is positioned above the solution in the cultivation container and has a through-hole formed therein, a pot that can be inserted into the through-hole to hold a plant, and the vertical of the panel Positioning means capable of positioning in a direction, circulating means for circulating the solution in the cultivation container, and supply means for dropping the solution from the storage tank into the cultivation container through a tube. Have
The hydroponics comprising the float floating on the surface of the solution in the cultivation container and an on-off valve attached to a tip of the tube and capable of opening and closing depending on the position of the float. Cultivation equipment. The positioning means includes an outer cylinder that extends in the vertical direction and is fixed to the panel, an inner cylinder that is movable inside the outer cylinder in the vertical direction and a rotation direction about the vertical direction, and the inner cylinder A pin protruding in the horizontal direction from the cylinder,
The outer cylinder extends in the vertical direction and is formed with a slit into which the pin can enter, the lower position state where the pin enters the slit, and the tip of the outer cylinder at the upper side in the vertical direction of the pin. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, which can be adjusted to a held upper position state.   The pot has a rib portion having a diameter larger than the through-hole of the panel, a concave portion having a diameter smaller than the through-hole, and a plurality of gaps formed in the concave portion through which plant roots can pass. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rib portion is held on an upper portion of the panel.   The hydroponic cultivation apparatus of Claim 3 provided with the holding member formed in the said recessed part of the said pot with the porous resin which hold | maintains a plant.

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