KR20210137339A - Plants cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation device. A plant cultivation device according to the present embodiment can suppress generation of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria by adding beneficial bacteria in a medium comprising vermiculite, thereby increasing a cultivation amount of crops.

Description

Plant cultivation apparatus

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus.

A general plant cultivation apparatus forms a predetermined cultivation room having an environment suitable for plant growth, and stores the plants in the predetermined cultivation room. The plant cultivation apparatus is provided with a configuration for supplying nutrients and light energy necessary for plant growth, and the plant grows by the supplied nutrients and light energy.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to the prior art is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1240375. In this prior art, multiple trays are arranged inside the cabinet, light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit to the tray, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the tray through the nutrient solution recovery box, and the inside of the cabinet is set at a set temperature by the air conditioner and air circulation fan. A structure capable of cultivating plants by maintaining a structure is disclosed.

However, in the prior art, water and nutrient solution have a structure in which water and nutrient solution are supplied and recovered through nutrient solution recovery, and there is a problem of being vulnerable to contamination due to a structure in which the nutrient solution is circulated.

In particular, when used for a long time, the nutrient solution is spoiled or contaminated. In a structure in which the nutrient solution recovers the nutrient solution as well as circulates through the entire flow path, there is a problem that inevitably a sanitary environment cannot be maintained.

In addition, a structure for replenishing the nutrient solution and water is not disclosed, and when viewed as a structure in which the flow path is connected, it can be viewed as a structure of a fixed nutrient solution recovery box. In this case, water supply management and washing are very inconvenient.

On the other hand, in US Patent No. 2018/0359946, a plurality of trays for plant cultivation are provided inside the cabinet, and a light irradiating light and a water supply means are provided above the tray to supply nutrient solution, and cooling using a refrigeration cycle A structure is disclosed in which a device and a heating device are provided to control the temperature inside the cabinet.

However, in such a structure, a tank for supplying the nutrient solution is disposed inside the machine room, so there is a problem in that it is not easy to replenish or clean or manage the nutrient solution.

In particular, when the tank is disposed inside the machine room, it has no choice but to have a water replenishment structure through a separate pipe connection.

In addition, when the tank is contaminated, the entire compartment in which the plants are grown inevitably becomes contaminated, and when the nutrient solution and water are stored in a mixed state, this problem becomes more serious.

As such, the problem of contamination in the plant cultivation apparatus may act as an important factor in determining the reliability of the plant cultivation apparatus. When the degree of contamination in the plant cultivation apparatus increases, the generation of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria in the culture media that provides the growth environment for crops increases, thereby reducing the yield of crops may occur.

In order to reduce the generation of these microorganisms, a method of treating the medium with chemical drugs may be considered, but there is a problem that it may adversely affect the crops consumed by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of preventing contamination of a cultivation space and maintaining a sanitary environment at all times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of reducing the amount of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria in the medium by adding beneficial bacteria to the medium.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus in which beneficial bacteria can be easily supplied to the medium in a culture medium or nutrient medium state.

The plant cultivation apparatus according to the present embodiment can suppress the generation of microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria by adding beneficial bacteria to a medium containing vermiculite, thereby increasing the amount of crops cultivated.

The beneficial bacteria, including Bacillus substilis (枯草菌, bacillus substilis) derived from nature, can reduce the amount of microorganisms generated by a biological method rather than a chemical method, thereby increasing stability in the growing environment of crops.

The beneficial bacteria are cultured in a nutrient broth, and the cultured beneficial bacteria are mixed with the plant medium in a liquid or nutrient medium state, so the mixing process of the beneficial bacteria in the medium can be made easily.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cabinet forming a cultivation space; a water tank disposed in the cultivation space and storing water; a bed provided in the cultivation space and supplied with water from the water tank; and a pod provided in the bed and including seeds and nutrients of crops, wherein the pod includes: a container into which the water supplied to the bed flows; a medium provided in the container, in which the seeds and nutrients are mixed; And it may include beneficial bacteria added to the medium to inhibit the growth of microorganisms during the growth of the crop.

The beneficial bacteria may include Bacillus subtilis.

The Bacillus subtilis may be spray-supplied to the medium in the state of a mixed solution by mixing with water or alcohol.

The Bacillus subtilis may be cultured in a nutrient medium, and mixed with the medium in a cultured state in the nutrient medium.

The medium may be composed of vermiculite.

The seeds may be placed on top of the medium, and the top of the seeds may be covered by the medium.

The pod further includes a seed paper to which the seeds are fixed, and the seed paper may be seated on the upper side of the medium.

The pod may further include a brick that is covered with the seed paper and is made of vermiculite.

The pod is provided in the lower portion of the container, further comprising an absorbent member for absorbing the water supplied to the bed, the medium may be located above the absorbent member.

A water suction part protruding downwardly and provided with the absorption member is provided on the bottom surface of the container, and the water suction part may be submerged in a water collecting part formed in the bed.

It is provided on the bed to be withdrawn, and further includes a bed tray forming a pod seating portion on which the pod is placed, wherein the bed tray may have a seating portion opening into which the water suction portion of the container is inserted.

The nutrients may be supplied in a liquid phase or may be provided in a solid phase so as to be dissolved by water supplied from the water tank and contained in the water.

The nutrients include at least phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium components.

It further includes a light assembly provided inside the cabinet and provided above the pod to irradiate light toward the pod.

an evaporator provided in the cabinet and generating cold air; and a blower assembly provided at one side of the evaporator and blowing cold air generated in the evaporator into the cultivation space.

According to the above-described embodiment, beneficial bacteria, particularly Bacillus subtilis, are contained in the medium provided in the pod to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria, thereby increasing the yield of plants.

In addition, the beneficial bacteria can be cultured in a nutrient medium and sprayed in the form of a culture solution, or mixed into the medium in a nutrient medium state, so that the beneficial bacteria can be easily introduced into the medium.

In addition, an openable and openable water tank is provided inside the cultivation space so that the user can additionally supply water. In addition, since a separate line for supplying water to the water tank is not required, there is an advantage that it can be easily installed anywhere a user wants.

In addition, the pod containing the nutrient solution and seeds in the bed can be seated on the bed, and only water is supplied on the entire flow path arranged from the water tank to the bed, so that the water tank, the bed, and the flow path connecting them are not contaminated. , it has the advantage of maintaining a sanitary and clean state as a whole.

In addition, since it is configured to supply an appropriate amount of water, there is no need for a separate structure for recovering water or nutrient solution, so there is an advantage in that the flow path is simplified and management is easy.

Meanwhile, a pipe guide recessed in the inner case forming the side wall of the cultivation space may be formed to guide the water supply flow path from the water tank to the multi-stage bed disposed in the cultivation space. The water supply passage is guided through the pipe guide so that independent water supply is possible for each bed disposed up and down.

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of an open door of the plant cultivation apparatus.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a 4-4′ cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 .
5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet.
6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine room of the plant cultivation apparatus.
7 is a perspective view of a water supply module of the plant cultivation apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8' of FIG. 7 .
9 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.
10 is a perspective view in which a part of an outer case of the cabinet is removed.
11 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus is withdrawn.
12 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage.
13 is a plan view of the bed.
14 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the bed taken along line 14-14' of FIG. 13;
15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a perspective view showing a portion of the container of FIG. 15 cut away.
17 is a side view showing a portion of the container of FIG. 15 cut away.
18 is a cross-sectional view of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.
19 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which water is supplied from the pod seated in the plant cultivation device.
FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of part “A” of FIG. 4 .
Figure 21a is a photograph showing the appearance of mold (A1, A2) in the medium when the beneficial bacteria is not added to the medium of the pod according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 21b is a photograph showing the appearance (A1', A2') in which the fungus generated in Figure 21a was isolated and identified.
22 is a photograph showing the state (C1, C2) of the fungus treated with Bacillus subtilis in a nutrient medium for culturing a plurality of molds, and the state (C3 to C7) without it.
Figure 23 (a) is a photograph showing the growth of a certain crop (oak leaf) is reduced due to the occurrence of mold, (b) is a photograph showing the appearance of vigorous growth by preventing the occurrence of mold through treatment with Bacillus subtilis.
Fig. 24 (a) is a photograph showing a form of reduced growth due to the occurrence of mold in a specific crop (arugula), and (b) is a photograph showing a vigorous growth by preventing the occurrence of mold through treatment with Bacillus subtilis.
25 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.
26 is a cross-sectional view of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with drawings. However, the present invention cannot be said to be limited to the embodiments in which the spirit of the present invention is presented, and other inventions that are degenerative by addition, change, deletion, etc. of other components or other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention are easy can suggest

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the open door of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus. And, FIG. 4 is a 4-4' cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 . And, Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet.

1 to 4, in the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cabinet 100 forming a space in which plants are grown and a door 130 for opening and closing the cabinet 100 The appearance may be formed by At this time, the cultivated plant is usually edible by the user, such as leaf vegetables and herbs that can be used in wraps or salads, and it is preferable that plants that do not occupy a lot of space are grown, and seeds and nutrients are It may be provided in the form of an included pod (10, POD).

The pod 10 may be referred to as a seed package.

The cabinet 100 is formed to have an open front surface, and a cultivation space 101 may be provided therein. The cabinet 100 may include an outer case 110 forming an exterior and an inner case 120 forming the cultivation space 101 , and A heat insulating material 102 may be provided between them to insulate the cultivation space and maintain the cultivation space 101 at a set temperature.

The outer case 110 and the inner case 120 may be formed of a metal material, and may be formed by combining a plurality of plate-shaped materials with each other. In particular, the inner case 120 may have both side surfaces, a rear surface, and an upper surface formed in a metal plate shape, and may be coupled to each other.

A plurality of beds 300 may be vertically disposed inside the cabinet 100 . In this embodiment, two upper and lower beds 300a and 300b are provided and may have the same structure. The bed 300 may be referred to as an upper bed 300b and a lower bed 300a, respectively, for convenience of explanation and understanding. Of course, two or more beds 300 may be provided according to the size of the cabinet 100 .

The bed 300 may have a structure in which a plurality of pods 10 containing plant seeds and nutrients necessary for cultivation are seated. The bed 300 may be called a shelf or a tray. In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be seated and maintained in a seated state. In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be easily seated, and to facilitate management and harvesting of plants growing in the pod 10 .

In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which water supplied from the water tank 700 flows and is delivered to all the pods 10 seated on the bed 300 . In addition, the bed 300 may maintain an appropriate water level so as to constantly supply moisture to the pod 10 .

Meanwhile, a machine room 200 may be provided below the cabinet 100 . The machine room 200 may include a compressor 610 and a condenser 620 constituting a refrigeration cycle for controlling the temperature of the cultivation space 101 .

A grill cover 220 may be provided on the front surface of the machine room 200 , and the grill cover 220 includes a grill suction port 221 through which air is sucked into the machine room 200 , and the machine room 200 . ) A grill outlet 222 through which internal air is discharged may be formed.

Meanwhile, the internal temperature of the cultivation space may be controlled by the refrigeration cycle 600 . In this case, the evaporator 630 may be disposed on the inner rear wall surface of the cultivation space 101 . The evaporator 630 may be provided with a roll bond type heat exchanger, and may be referred to as a heat exchanger. The evaporator 630 may have a plate-shaped structure that is easily attached to the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . In addition, the evaporator 630 minimizes the loss of the cultivation space 101 due to the plate-like structure and is close to the cultivation space 101 to effectively control the temperature of the cultivation space 101 .

A heater (not shown) may be provided on the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . Accordingly, heating and cooling may be performed in the rear region of the cultivation space. The interior of the cultivation space 101 by the evaporator 630 and the heater to maintain a temperature suitable for plant growth (eg, 18 ℃ - 28 ℃). Of course, if necessary, a configuration for heating other than the heater may be provided, and various heating methods such as a heating structure through hot gas or a heating structure through conversion of a refrigeration cycle will be possible. The temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is sensed by an internal temperature sensor, and can be kept constant regardless of the external temperature of the cabinet 100 .

In addition, a blower assembly 500 may be provided in front of the evaporator 630 . The blower assembly 500 may circulate inside the cultivation space 101 to uniformly cool or heat the cultivation space 101 .

The blower assembly 500 may include an upper blower assembly 500b disposed in an upper space divided by the bed 300 and a lower blower assembly 500a disposed in a lower space. The blower assembly 500 disposed up and down has the same structure and shape with only a difference in mounting position from each other. The blower assembly 500 may be provided as many as the number corresponding to the number of the beds 300 , and may blow air from the rear of the bed 300 toward the front. Accordingly, independent air circulation can be achieved in each space inside the cultivation space 101 partitioned by the bed 300 .

The air inside the cultivation space is circulated by the blower assembly 500, and in particular, the circulated air passes through the evaporator 630 so that the entire interior of the cultivation space 101 has a uniform temperature while rapidly Temperature control can be achieved. In addition, the air circulated by the blower assembly 500 may flow while passing through the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

The air flowing by the blower assembly 500 passes through the upper surface of the bed 300 to make the respiration of the plants grown in the bed 300 more smooth and the plants to shake properly by controlling the stress to grow It can provide the optimal airflow required for In addition, the air flowing by the blower assembly 500 can prevent overheating of the light assembly 400 while passing through the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

The blower assembly 500 includes a blower fan 520, a fan guide 510 to which the blower fan 520 is mounted, and a blower cover 530 for shielding the fan guide 510 and the evaporator 630. may be included.

Meanwhile, the light assembly 400 may be provided above the bed 300 . The light assembly 400 provides light necessary for plants by irradiating light toward the bed 300 . In this case, the amount of light irradiated by the light assembly 400 may be set similarly to sunlight, and the amount of light and irradiation time optimized for the plant being grown may be set.

The light assembly 400 may include an upper light assembly 400b provided in an upper space partitioned by the bed 300 and a lower light assembly 400a provided in a lower space. The upper light assembly 400b may be mounted on an upper surface of the cultivation space 101 , and the lower light assembly 400a may be mounted on a lower surface of the upper bed 300b.

That is, the upper light assembly 400b and the lower light assembly 400a may be positioned vertically above the bed 300 disposed below, respectively, and on the upper surface of the divided cultivation space 101 , the bed By irradiating light toward the 300, it is possible to control the growth of the cultivated plant.

A water tank 700 may be provided on a bottom surface inside the cabinet 100 . The water tank 700 may store water supplied to the bed 300 . The water tank 700 may be located below the bed 300 located at the lowermost position among the plurality of beds 300 , and the front side may be located at a position corresponding to the front end of the bed 300 . can

The length of the water tank 700 in the horizontal direction may correspond to the width of the inner space of the cabinet 100 . In addition, the vertical length of the water tank 700 may be formed to correspond to a distance between the bottom of the bed 300 and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 . That is, the water tank 700 may be formed to fill the entire space under the lower bed 300a located at the lowermost position, and the space behind the water tank 700 is located in the water tank 700 . can be covered by

A pump cover 740 may be provided in a space behind the water tank 700 covered by the water tank 700 . A water pump 720 and a water supply valve 724 to be described below may be provided inside the pump cover 740 . The pump cover 740 and the internal components of the pump cover 740 and the piping connected to the components may be referred to as a water supply unit or a water supply module.

The water tank 700 may be provided inside the cultivation space 101 to be withdrawn in the front-rear direction. To this end, tank rails 730 for guiding the inlet/outlet of the water tank 700 may be provided on both left and right sides of the water tank 700 . In addition, the water tank 700 may have a structure in which additional water supply is possible by being opened in the drawn-out state.

Meanwhile, the display assembly 800 may be provided in the opened first half of the cabinet 100 . The display assembly 800 may output the operating state of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 to the outside. In addition, the display assembly 800 may be provided with a manipulation unit to which a user's manipulation is input to set and input the overall operation of the plant cultivation apparatus. For example, the display assembly 800 may include a touch screen structure, and may include a structure such as a button or a switch.

The door 130 may have a size capable of shielding the opened front surface of the cabinet 100 . In addition, an upper hinge 135 and a lower hinge 136 may be shaft-coupled to the upper end and lower end of one of the left and right sides of the door 130 . The door 130 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 100 by the upper hinge 135 and the lower hinge 136 , and the cultivation space 101 is formed by the rotation of the door 130 . can be opened and closed.

At least a portion of the door 130 may have a see-through structure, and the cultivation space 101 may be checked even when the door 130 is closed.

In detail, the door 130 may include a door frame 131 forming a periphery and having an opening in the center, and door panels 132 and 133 for shielding the opening of the door frame 131 . The door panels 132 and 133 may be formed of glass or a transparent plastic material to have a structure in which an interior can be seen through. In addition, the door panels 132 and 133 may have a color or a colored coating, metal deposition, or film attached thereto so that the cultivation space 101 is selectively visible or invisible.

Meanwhile, a plurality of the door panels 132 and 133 may be disposed in front and rear, and a heat insulating space may be formed between the plurality of door panels 132 and 133 . And, if necessary, the door panels 132 and 133 may include insulating glass. Accordingly, it is possible to insulate the inside and the outside of the cabinet 100 .

And, if necessary, the entire front exterior of the door 130 may be formed by the door panel 132 disposed on the front side of the door 130 .

Meanwhile, components of reference numerals not described in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described below.

6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine room of the plant cultivation apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the machine room 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the lower surface of the cabinet 100 , and forms a space independent from the cultivation space 101 under the cabinet 100 . . The machine room 200 may be configured by a bottom plate 211 forming a lower surface, a pair of side plates 212 forming both side surfaces, and a rear plate 213 forming a rear surface.

The bottom plate 211 , the side plate 212 , and the rear plate 213 may be combined in a single module form to be referred to as a machine room frame. The space formed by the machine room frame may be formed so that the upper surface and the front surface are opened. Accordingly, the machine room frame is coupled to the lower surface of the cabinet 100 to form the machine room 200 space under the cabinet 100 .

The internal space of the machine room 200 may be partitioned by a barrier 230 . The barrier 230 may extend rearward from the opened front end of the machine room 200 . A condenser 620 may be provided in a space on the left side partitioned by the barrier 230 , and a compressor 610 may be provided on a space on the right side partitioned by the barrier 230 . In addition, a heat dissipation fan 611 for forcibly flowing air from the left to the right may be provided at the rear end of the barrier 230 .

Meanwhile, a grill cover 220 may be provided on the opened front surface of the machine room 200 . The grill cover 220 shields the open front of the machine room 200, a grill inlet 221 is formed in the front of the left space partitioned by the barrier 230, and a grill outlet ( 222) may be formed respectively.

Accordingly, when the heat dissipation fan 611 is driven, external air is sucked and flows into the space on the left side of the machine room 200 through the grill suction port 221 , and the sucked air passes through the condenser 620 , and the condenser (620) is to exchange heat with the refrigerant inside. Then, the air passing through the heat dissipation fan 611 cools the compressor 610 while passing through the compressor 610 . Also, the air passing through the compressor 610 may be discharged forward through the grill outlet 222 .

That is, in the installed state of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 , both the intake of external air and the discharge of the air inside the machine room 200 pass through the grill cover 220 and are performed from the front. Accordingly, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 can be installed even in a space where the left and right sides and the rear are blocked. In particular, even if the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed in a furniture such as a sink, cooling and heat exchange of the compressor 610 and the condenser 620 inside the machine room 200 can be effectively performed.

On the other hand, the evaporator 630 constituting the refrigeration cycle 600 is provided inside the cabinet 100 , is vertically disposed on the rear surface of the cultivation space 101 , and includes components and refrigerant pipes in the machine room 200 . can be easily connected by

A condensate receiver 250 is provided in the machine room 200 . In this case, the condensate receiver 250 may be provided below the condenser, and the condensed water flowing down from the condenser 620 may be stored, and water discharged from the cultivation space 101 may be stored. .

On the other hand, the upper side of the machine room 200 may be provided with a control box 190 for controlling the operation of each component of the plant cultivation apparatus. For example, the control box 190 may be provided between an upper surface of the machine room and an inner bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 , and may be accessible by opening the grill cover 220 . Therefore, even in a state in which the plant cultivation apparatus is installed and in use, the control box 190 can be easily accessed, and maintenance can be facilitated.

7 is a perspective view of the water supply module of the plant cultivation apparatus, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along 8-8' of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.

7 to 9 , the water supply module according to an embodiment of the present invention is for supplying water to the pod 10 for cultivation of crops, and the water stored in the plant cultivation device 1 is at an appropriate time. It may be configured so that it can be supplied in an appropriate capacity to the

In particular, in this embodiment, only water may be supplied through the water supply module, and nutrients may be provided through the pod 10 . That is, various nutrients required for a variety of crops may be provided through the pod 10 , and even if heterogeneous pods 10 are provided in one bed 300 , nutrients may be provided from each pod. In addition, water may be supplied from the water supply module, and therefore, other components other than water are not stored or flowed inside the water supply module, so that contamination is prevented and a clean state can be maintained.

The water supply module forms a water tank 700 for storing water for water supply, a water pump 720 for forcibly supplying water from the water tank 700, and a mounting space for the water pump 720, It may include a pump cover 740 that shields components including the pump 720 . In addition, a water supply valve 724 may be provided on the pump cover 740, and water supply pipes 780a and 780b for guiding water to the bed 300 may be connected to the water supply valve 724 (refer to FIG. 12). have.

In detail, the water tank 700 is formed in a rectangular box shape with an open upper surface so that water supplied to the bed 300 can be accommodated therein. In addition, the water tank 700 may be formed to have a width corresponding to the horizontal length of the cultivation space 101 , and fill the space between the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 and the bottom surface of the bed 300 . It can be formed so that

A tank cover 713 may be provided on the opened upper surface of the water tank 700 . The tank cover 713 is for opening and closing the opened upper surface of the water tank 700 , and a rear end thereof may be rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the water tank 700 . Accordingly, the user may fill the inside of the water tank 700 with water after opening the tank cover 713 .

In addition, tank rails 730 may be provided on both left and right sides of the water tank 700 . The tank rail 730 is for drawing in and out of the water tank 700 , and may have a sliding drawing in and out structure. In addition, one end of the tank rail 730 is fixed to the side surface of the water tank 700 , and the other end is fixed to both sides of the inner case 120 to guide the inlet and outlet of the water tank 700 .

Meanwhile, the water tank 700 may be located at a position corresponding to the front surface of the bed 300 in the retracted state. A tank handle 711 may be provided on the front surface of the water tank 700 , and the user may take out the water tank 700 by holding the tank handle 711 and pulling it forward.

The water tank 700 may be withdrawn as much as a distance at which the tank cover 713 can be completely exposed. 700) can be filled with water.

A connection pipe 760 may be provided in the water tank 700 . The connection pipe 760 may be configured such that water from the water tank 700 is supplied to the water pump 720 in a state in which the water tank 700 is introduced. In addition, it may be configured to be selectively connected to the pipe connection part 721 formed on the pump cover 740 according to the inlet/outlet of the water tank 700 .

In detail, the connection pipe 760 may be provided in the tank cover 713 , may be located in the center of the tank cover 713 in the left and right directions, and may be provided at the rear end. Accordingly, even when the tank cover 713 is rotated for opening and closing, the connection pipe 760 may be configured not to interfere with the water tank 700 .

The connecting pipe 760 may include a vertical pipe 761 extending downward from the lower surface of the tank cover 713 and a horizontal pipe 762 extending rearward from the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 . The vertical pipe 761 may extend downward from the tank cover 713 to a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the tank cover 713 . Accordingly, the water stored in the tank cover 713 may flow upward along the vertical pipe 761 .

In addition, the horizontal pipe 762 is connected to the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 and may extend rearward. The horizontal pipe 762 may protrude further rearward than the rear surface of the water tank 700 , and may extend rearward at a position corresponding to the pipe connection part 721 . The horizontal pipe 762 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 in a state where the water tank 700 is fully drawn in, and the water flowing upward through the vertical pipe 761 is the pipe connection part. It can be guided to be supplied to (721).

The horizontal pipe 762 can be completely separated from the pipe connection part 721 when the water tank 700 is withdrawn, and even if the tank cover 713 is rotated, it does not interfere with the pipe connection part 721 . It can be configured not to. In addition, when the horizontal tube 762 and the rear surface of the tank cover 713 corresponding to the horizontal tube 762 are partially depressed and the horizontal tube 762 is rotated together by the rotation of the tank cover 713, the tank cover 713 ) can be prevented from interfering with the rear surface.

Meanwhile, a pump cover 740 may be provided at the rear of the water tank 700 . Both ends of the pump cover 740 may be coupled to both left and right sides of the cultivation space 101 , and a front surface and an upper surface may be formed to shield the space behind the water tank 700 . The bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 in which the pump cover 740 is provided has a step height in the second half due to the height of the compressor 610 in the machine room 200 , and the pump cover 740 has a step step. It may be disposed in front of the part. In addition, the water tank 700 is located in front of the pump cover 740 . At this time, the upper surface of the water tank 700 , the upper surface of the pump cover 740 , and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 above the compressor 610 may have the same height, and are shielded by the bed 300 . can be

In addition, the pump cover 740 may include a pipe connection part 721 , a water pump 720 , and a water supply valve 724 .

In detail, the opened front surface of the pipe connection part connected to the connection pipe 760 may be exposed on one front side of the pump cover 740 . The front surface of the pipe connection part 721 may be formed at a position corresponding to the rear end of the connection pipe 760 . Accordingly, when the water tank 700 is drawn in, the rear end of the connection pipe 760 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 .

In addition, a water pump 720 may be provided on the rear surface of the pump cover 740 . The water pump 720 forces the water of the water tank 700 to flow toward the bed 300 , and the inlet of the water pump 720 is connected to the pipe connection part 721 , and the outlet 722 . ) may be connected to a pipe 723 connected to the water supply valve 724 .

The water supply valve 724 is opened when the water pump 720 is driven so that water can be supplied toward the bed 300 . A plurality of water supply valves 724 may be provided according to the number of the beds 300 , and one water supply valve 724 may be branched to supply water to each of the plurality of beds 300 .

In this embodiment, the input side 733 of the water supply valve 724 is connected to the outlet 722 of the water pump 720 and the pipe 723, and the output side of the water supply valve 724 is branched, so that the upper A fitting 724b and a lower fitting 724a may be formed. In addition, an upper water supply pipe 780b and a lower water supply pipe 780a are connected to the upper fitting 724b and the lower fitting 724a, respectively, so that independent water supply to the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a is possible. can have a structure. Accordingly, different water supply environments may be created in the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, and an appropriate amount of water may be supplied to each of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a.

Accordingly, the connection pipe 760 and the pipe connection part 721 , the water pump 720 , the water supply valve 724 , and the water supply pipe are sequentially connected, and the water tank 700 is operated by the operation of the water pump 720 . Water may be supplied to the bed 300 through the water pump 720 and the water supply valve 724 .

Meanwhile, a water level sensing device 750 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The water level detecting device 750 is for detecting the water level of the water tank 700 and may include a capacitive sensor. In addition, the water level sensing device 750 may be formed to protrude forward, and may be configured to be in close contact with the circumferential surface of the water tank 700 in a state in which the water tank 700 is retracted. When the water level of the water tank 700 is lower than the set water level by the water level detection device 750 , the control unit outputs no water in the water tank 700 through the display assembly 800 so that the user can The water tank 700 may be filled with water.

A tank switch 741 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The tank switch 741 may protrude toward the water tank 700 , and may be configured to be pressed in contact with the rear surface of the water tank 700 while the water tank 700 is fully retracted.

Accordingly, the tank switch 741 may detect whether the water tank 700 is normally mounted and supply water to the controller of the control box 190 . When the installation signal of the water tank 700 is not input by the tank switch 741 , the pump may not be operated. In addition, information about not mounting the water tank 700 may be displayed on the display assembly 800 so that the user can recognize it. In addition, the water level sensing performance of the water tank 700 through the water level sensing device 750 may be guaranteed by maintaining the water tank 700 in a fully retracted state.

Meanwhile, a lower residual water detection device 742 may be provided on the upper surface of the pump cover 740 . The lower residual water detection device 742 is for determining whether water supplied to the lower bed 300a remains, and to distinguish it from the upper residual water detection device 440 provided in the lower light assembly 400a, the lower It may be called a residual water detection device 742 . The upper residual water detecting device 440 and the lower residual water detecting device 742 have the same structure with only a difference in their mounting position, and they are collectively referred to as a “residual water detecting device”.

That is, the residual water detection devices 742 and 440 may include a residual water detection sensor capable of detecting moisture. As an example, the residual water detection sensors 742 and 440 may be capacitive sensors. The residual water detection devices 742 and 440 may be configured to accurately detect whether water is present in the bed 300 by protruding upward so that the residual water detection sensor 440 approaches the lower surface of the bed 300 . In order to more accurately detect whether the water remains in the bed 300, a detection unit 323 may be formed to protrude from the bed 300, and the residual water detection device 742 includes the detection unit 323 (see FIG. 12). It may have a structure in close contact with

10 is a perspective view in which a part of an outer case of the cabinet is removed.

7 to 10 , inside the pump cover 740 , a pipe connection part 721 and a water pump 720 are connected to each other, and the water pump 720 includes a water supply valve 724 and a pipe 723 . ) can be connected by In addition, a water supply flow path 780 for supplying water to the bed 300 may be connected to the output side of the water supply valve 724 .

When the pump cover 740 is mounted, components for water supply may be shielded. In addition, a discharge fan 180 may be provided under the pump cover 740 . The discharge fan 180 allows the air in the cultivation space 101 to be discharged to the outside via the machine room 200 . The discharge fan 180 can be shielded by the pump cover 740 to prevent external exposure, and is provided on the lower surface of the cultivation space 101 adjacent to the machine room 200 to allow more exhaust can make it run smoothly.

The pump cover 740 may shield the lower end of the pipe guide 121a recessed in the side surface of the inner case 120 . The pipe guide portion 121a may be formed on the side plate 121 forming both sides of the cultivation space 101 of the inner case 120 . The pipe guide portion 121a may be formed to protrude outward to accommodate the water supply flow path 780 . For example, an opening may be formed in the side plate 121 , and the pipe guide portion 121a formed in a shape corresponding to the outer side of the opening along the opening may be coupled to each other. The inner case 120 may be formed of a metal material, and the pipe guide part 121a may also be formed of the same material as the inner case 120 . In addition, the outer surface of the pipe guide portion 121a may be embedded in the heat insulating material 102 between the outer case 110 and the inner case 120 .

The pipe guide 121a may be formed to a size that can accommodate the water supply passage 780, that is, the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe 780a, and the upper water supply pipe 780b and the lower water supply pipe ( 780a) may be disposed along the pipe guide portion 121a and extend to rear ends of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, respectively.

Since the pipe guide part 121a is recessed from the inside to the outside of the cultivation space 101 , interference by components disposed inside the cultivation space 101 may be prevented. In particular, it is possible to have an arrangement structure that does not interfere with the beds 300 that are arranged to be withdrawable. In addition, it is possible to prevent the volume of the cultivation space 101 from being reduced.

In detail, the pipe guide portion 121a includes a first vertical portion 121c extending upward from a space shielded by the pump cover 740 and a first horizontal portion guided rearward from the first vertical portion 121c. It may include a portion 121d and a second vertical portion 121e extending upward from the rear end of the first horizontal portion 121d.

On the other hand, the lower surface of the cultivation space 101 may be formed by the lower plate 123 of the inner case 120 , and the rear end of the lower plate 123 has a step to prevent interference with the compressor 610 . A portion 123a may be formed. and. The first vertical portion 121c and the first horizontal portion 121d extend along the front and upper surfaces of the stepped portion 123a, and the second vertical portion 121e forms the rear surface of the cultivation space 101. Accordingly, it may be formed to extend upward.

The first vertical portion 121c communicates with a space shielded by the pump cover 740 , and may serve as a passage through which a water supply flow path 780 connected to the water supply valve 724 may be introduced. In addition, the first horizontal portion 121d may be located on the side of the lower bed 300a mounted in the cultivation space 101, and may be covered by the lower bed 300a so as not to be exposed to the outside. .

The second vertical portion 121e may extend upward along the rear end of the side plate 121 , and may extend slightly higher than the upper end of the upper bed 300b to pass through the water supply passage 780 . It is possible to enable water supply to the bed (300b).

In addition, the second vertical portion 121e may be disposed on the side of the blower assembly 500 and may be configured to be covered by the blower assembly 500 .

Hereinafter, the structure of the bed 300 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Even if a plurality of beds 300 are provided, only one bed 300 will be described because they all have the same structure except for different mounting positions.

11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus is withdrawn, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage, FIG. 13 is a plan view of the bed, and FIG. 14 is a cutout of the bed is a perspective view.

11 to 14 , the bed 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be formed in a rectangular plate shape partitioning the cultivation space 101, and is mounted on both sides of the cultivation space 101. The bed rail device 140 may be mounted so as to be drawn in and out.

The bed rail device 140 may include a slidably extending bed rail 142 and a rail bracket 141 capable of fixing the bed rail 142 to both sides of the cultivation space 101 . The bed rail 142 may have a structure extending in multiple stages, and may connect the left and right side surfaces of the bed 300 and the rail bracket 141 .

The bed 300 may be formed in a rectangular shape as a whole to provide a space in which a plurality of pods 10 are disposed, and may form a structure in which water to be supplied can be stored. In addition, the bed 300 may be formed of a plastic material to form a structure for guiding the flow of supplied water.

A bed flange 301 extending outwardly is provided around the bed 300 . A bed tray 350 to be described below may be seated on the bed flange 301 . And, the inner region of the bed flange 301 becomes a region in which the pod 10 can be disposed.

A depression 302 is formed inside the bed flange 301 , and the bed tray 350 may be seated in the depression 302 . The recessed part 302 may be formed to accommodate the entire plurality of pod seating parts 352 formed in the bed tray 350 . In addition, when the bed tray 350 is mounted, the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the bed tray 350 may be in contact with each other and overlapped.

A water supply unit 310 may be provided at the rear end of the bed 300 . The water supply part 310 may be located at one end of both left and right sides, and may be formed in a shape protruding backward from the rear end of the bed 300 . That is, the water supply unit 310 may be positioned vertically below the ends of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b protruding from the side surface of the cultivation space 101 .

The water supply part 310 may be formed in a shape in which an upper surface is opened and a lower surface is depressed. The periphery of the water supply unit 310 protrudes to a predetermined height to prevent water supplied from the water supply pipes 780a and 780b from splashing or overflowing.

A water collecting unit 320 in which water supplied through the water supply unit 310 is stored may be formed in the bed 300 . A water guide part 330 may be recessed between the water supply part 310 and the water collection part 320 . That is, the water guide unit 330 may connect the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 , and the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 follows the water guide unit 330 to the water collection unit. 320 may be supplied.

The water supply unit 310 is positioned higher than the water collection unit 320 , and water from the water supply unit 310 may naturally flow into the water collection unit 320 . In addition, the water guide part 330 may be formed to have an inclination that gradually decreases from the water supply part 310 toward the water collecting part 320 . Accordingly, when water is supplied to the water supply unit 310 , it may be naturally supplied to the water collection unit 320 along the water guide unit 330 .

Meanwhile, guide walls 331 may be provided on both sides of the water guide part 330 to form the water guide part 330 . The guide wall 331 may extend from the water supply unit 310 to the water collection unit 320 , and a pair may be spaced apart from each other to form both sides of the water guide unit 330 . In addition, the guide wall 331 may be formed to have a height corresponding to the height of the bed flange 301 to support the bed tray 350 from below.

The water guided from the water supply unit 310 to the water collecting unit 320 by the water guide unit 330 may be directed toward the water collecting unit 320 without overflowing to the outside. In particular, the bottom surface of the water guide part 330 may be inclined at a height higher than that of the water collecting part 320 by the guide wall 331 extending upward. In addition, even in a situation in which the height difference between the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 is not large, the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 does not overflow and can be directed to the water collection unit 320, smoothly It is possible to provide a path with sufficient space to be guided. That is, it provides a structure in which the water of the water supply unit 310 can be stably supplied without excessively deepening the depression depth of the water collection unit 320 , thereby increasing the vertical thickness of the bed 300 . This can be prevented, and thereby the bed 300 can have a slim structure.

In addition, the guide wall 331 and the water guide part 330 may extend between a pair of pod seating parts 352 recessed in the bed tray 350 . Accordingly, the guide wall 331 can be prevented from interfering when the bed tray 350 is seated, and a space for water supply can be secured through the space between the adjacent pod seating parts 352 .

Meanwhile, in the central region of the bed 300 , a water collecting unit 320 for storing water supplied to the pod 10 may be recessed. The water collecting unit 320 is more depressed than the bottom surface of the depression 302 formed around the water collecting unit 320 so that water supplied to the water supply unit 310 is stored only in the water collecting unit 320 area. to exist as a state.

In detail, the water collecting part 320 is located at the center of the bed 300 and may be formed to extend from the left end to the right end of the bed 300 . In addition, the water collecting part 320 may be formed to have a predetermined width in the front-rear direction so that all of the seating part openings 351a formed in the bed tray 350 can be accommodated.

In addition, a bed protrusion 340 protruding upward may be formed in the central portion of the bed 300 . The height of the bed protrusion 340 may be the same as or higher than that of the depression 302 . The bed protrusion 340 may be located in the center of the water collecting part 320 . Accordingly, the water collecting unit 320 may have a closed loop shape, and water introduced through the water guide unit 330 may flow along the inside of the closed loop water collecting unit 320 . In addition, a portion of the area of the water collecting unit 320 located in front of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as a front water collecting unit 321 , and a portion located at the rear of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as a rear side. It may also be referred to as a water collecting unit 322 .

In addition, a distance between the outer end of the water collecting part 320 and the bed protrusion 340 may be greater than the front-rear width of the seating part opening 351a. Accordingly, when the bed tray 350 is seated, the seating part opening 351a may be disposed along the water collecting part 320 .

The front and rear widths of the front water collecting part 321 and the rear water collecting part 322 in which the seating part opening 351a is located may be the same as or slightly larger than the front and rear width of the pod seating part 352. Therefore, it has a structure in which an appropriate amount of water required for water supply to the pod 10 can be effectively supplied to the pod 10 . In addition, unnecessary water is prevented from remaining in the water collecting unit 320 for a long time to prevent contamination of the bed 300 and to always maintain a clean state.

Meanwhile, a sensing unit 323 may be formed in an inner region of the water collecting unit 320 . The sensing unit 323 may be formed at a position corresponding to the lower residual water sensing device 742 located below. In a state in which the bed 300 is fully retracted, the residual water detection device 742 may have a structure capable of being in close contact with the detection unit 323 .

In this case, the sensing unit 323 may have a shape that protrudes when viewed from above and is recessed when viewed from below. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the residual water detecting device 742 from interfering with the detecting unit 323 in the process of withdrawing and withdrawing the bed 300 , thereby preventing the bed 300 from being blocked.

In addition, due to the structure of the protruding sensing unit 323 , the water supplied to the sensing unit 323 does not accumulate, and it is possible to accurately determine whether additional water is needed to the water collecting unit 320 .

A bed handle 361 may be formed on the front surface of the bed 300 . The bed handle 361 may have a structure in which a lower surface is depressed so that a user can hold the bed 300 when withdrawing it. In addition, the front surface of the bed handle 361 may be formed of the same material as the tank handle 711 or may be formed of a material of the same texture to have a sense of unity.

Meanwhile, the bed tray 350 is seated on the upper surface of the bed 300 , and may form an upper surface appearance of the bed 300 . The bed tray 350 may be formed of a metal material such as stainless to keep the appearance neat and hygienically managed.

The bed tray 350 is formed in a size capable of shielding the upper surface of the bed 300 and may be formed in a plate shape. Accordingly, in a state in which the bed tray 350 is mounted on the bed 300 , the upper surface of the bed 300 is formed.

In addition, a plurality of pod seating portions 352 on which the pods 10 are mounted may be formed in the bed tray 350 . The pod seating part 352 is recessed in a shape corresponding to the pod 10 so that the pod 10 can be seated, and a plurality of pod seating parts 352 may be sequentially disposed. Accordingly, a plurality of the pods 10 may be disposed on the bed tray 350 .

A plurality of the pod seating parts 352 may be respectively disposed in the first half and the second half with respect to the center, and may be respectively formed in the same size. In addition, a seating part opening 351a may be formed in the pod seating part 352 . The water suction part 14 protruding from the lower surface of the pod 10 may pass through the seating part opening 351a, and the water suction part 14 may be connected to the water collecting part through the seating part opening 351a. (320) to be in contact with the water inside.

The seating part opening 351a may be formed for each of the pod seating parts 352 . In addition, the seating part openings 351a respectively formed in the plurality of pod seating parts 352 may be disposed along an area corresponding to the water collecting part 320 .

In detail, when the bed tray 350 is seated on the bed 300 , the seating part opening 351a is located on the water collecting part 320 so that water stored in the water collecting part 320 is stored in the seating part opening. It can be supplied to the pod 10 through (351a).

In this embodiment, the water collecting part 320 is arranged in the horizontal direction at the center of the bed 300 , so that the seating part openings 351a are also located above the inside of the water collecting part 320 and corresponding to the upper side. It may be formed at a position close to the center side of the bed tray 350 . In more detail, all of the seating part openings 351a formed in the pod seating part 352 disposed in front of the bed 300 are positioned adjacent to the rear end of the pod seating part 352, and the bed ( All of the seating part openings 351a formed in the pod seating part 352 disposed at the rear of 300 may be positioned adjacent to the front end of the pod seating part 352 . That is, the seating part openings 351a may be continuously disposed along the inner region of the water collecting part 320 .

15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a part of the container of FIG. 15 cut away, and FIG. 17 is a side view showing a part of the container of FIG. , Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

15 to 18 , the pod 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to include the medium 20 containing the fertilizer F acting as a nutrient for crops, and through the water supply module, By supplying only the feed water, the fear of deterioration of the feed water by the nutrient solution is prevented, and the feed water supplied to the bed 300 is always supplied in the required amount to prevent the phenomenon that the feed water remains in the bed 300. can

The pod 10 may be configured by types of plants that can be cultivated with the plant cultivation device 1 . Of course, each of the pods 10 composed of several types of plants may all have the same size, and may have a size set to be accommodated in the pod seat 352 . Therefore, the user can select the pod 10 of the plant desired to be cultivated, and can start the cultivation by being seated at a desired position on the bed 300 .

The pod 10 can be used for one-time use, and when plant cultivation is completed, the existing pod 10 is removed, and a new pod 10 is installed inside the plant cultivation apparatus to grow plants again.

The pod 10 includes a container 11 . The container 11 may have a three-dimensional shape in which an upper portion is opened and an accommodation space 13 is formed therein. For example, the container 11 has a rectangular frame shape, but it is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be made in various shapes having an accommodating space 13 therein. The container 11 may be made of various materials, preferably made of an insoluble material such as synthetic resin.

The container 11 includes a bottom 11a and sidewalls 12 that form the exterior of the container 11 . In addition, a water suction part 14 protruding downward is provided on the bottom 11a. The water suction unit 14 forms a suction port 14a at its lower end to absorb water, and the absorbed water is delivered to the medium 20 provided in the receiving space 13 .

The water suction part 14 has a protruding wall 14c defining a seating space 14b therein to form an exterior thereof.

The seating space 14b communicates with the accommodation space 13 . The absorption member 40 is inserted into the seating space 14b. The absorbent member 40 absorbs and retains moisture through the suction port 14a and delivers it to the medium 20 of the receiving space 13 .

For example, the absorbent member 40 may be composed of at least one of absorbent cotton, polymer absorbent, cotton pulp, or cotton fiber.

A step 14d is formed at the tip of the protruding wall 14c on which the suction port 14a is formed. The step 14d is made by having different heights of both edges of the suction port 14a located at the bottom of the protruding wall 14c. That is, the height of both sides of the suction port 14a formed at the tip of the protruding wall 14c is different due to the step 14d. The step 14d is when the end of the protruding wall 14c is seated on the bottom of the bed 300 and touches the bottom of the bed body 300, the end of the protruding wall 14c is It prevents the suction port 14a from being blocked by not being completely in close contact with the bottom surface of the bed body 300 .

A flange portion 15 is connected to the side wall 12 . The flange portion 15 constitutes the outer wall of the container, and has a structure in which it extends outwardly from the sidewall 12 and then extends downward again. For example, the flange portion 15 and the side wall 12 have a cross-sectional shape of an approximately 'C' shape. A cover 90 may be attached to the upper surface of the flange portion 15 .

An edge of the flange portion 15 extends downward to form a seating portion 16 . The lower end of the seating portion 16 is formed at a higher position than the bottom 11a of the container 11 . The seating portion 16 may be positioned outside the sidewall 12 to be supported by the pod seating portion 352 of the bed tray 350 . With this structure, the seating portion 16 allows the pod 10 to be fixed in an accurate position on the bed tray 350 .

A plurality of seating ends 18 protrude from the bottom 11a of the container 11 . When the pod 10 is seated on the bed tray 350 , the seat end 18 may contact the pod seat portion 352 of the bed tray 350 . The seating end 18 allows the container 11 to be relatively stably mounted on the bottom surface of the bed tray 350 even if the bottom 11a of the container 11 is twisted or flatness is reduced.

An upper portion of the container 11 may be shielded by a cover 90 . The cover 90 covers the upper portion of the container 11 in a detachable state. Accordingly, when the user separates the cover 90 from the container 11 , the inside of the container 11 may be exposed. The type of plant to be cultivated may be printed on the cover 90 to provide information about the pod to the user.

A packing member 70 may be provided under the cover 90 . When the cover 90 is separated, the packing member 70 may be exposed. The packing member 70 may be made of Styrofoam or paper.

The packing member 70 is detachably coupled to the fixing groove 12a formed on the inner surface of the container 11 . The fixing groove (12a) is recessed around the inner surface of the side wall (12), it can fix the packing member (70). The pod 10 may be installed in the plant cultivation apparatus 1 with the cover 90 and the packing member 70 removed.

The medium 20 is inserted into the receiving space 13 of the container 11 . The medium 20 is a part that allows crops to take root and grow, and may perform a function of providing nutrients and moisture necessary for crops. That is, the medium 20 may be composed of an activated material that mechanically supports the plant and supplies various nutrients and moisture necessary for the growth of crops.

The medium 20 is located above the absorbent member 40 .

In this embodiment, the medium 20 may be composed of vermiculite. The vermiculite may have properties that are very light and have excellent hygroscopicity and breathability. Accordingly, water present in the absorbing member 40 can be easily absorbed into the vermiculite by capillary action. Also, moisture present in the air may be absorbed into the vermiculite.

The medium 20 may include a fertilizer (F) for supplying nutrients to crops. The fertilizer (F) may be supplied in a liquid or solid form, and when supplied in a liquid form, it may be referred to as a “nutrient solution”. As an example, the fertilizer (F) may be provided in the form of a water-soluble capsule that is gradually dissolved in water, and may be configured to be contained in the feed water while gradually dissolving each time the feed water is supplied.

The nutrient solution may contain macronutrients and micronutrients. The macroelement is a nutrient required in large amounts by plants, and includes carbon, phosphorus, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like. And trace elements are essential nutrients, although only small amounts are required for growth, and include zinc, nickel, boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, silica, chlorine, and the like.

The seed (S) is located on the upper portion of the medium (20). The seeds (S) are planted on the upper portion of the medium (20), receive moisture and nutrients from the medium (20), and grow by the light irradiated from the light assembly (400). A plurality of the seeds (S) may be directly planted on the upper portion of the medium (20), and the medium (20) may be covered on the upper side of the seeds (S).

The medium 20 may further include elements for reducing the generation of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria in the process of growing crops. The medium 20 according to the present embodiment may contain beneficial bacteria (50, beneficial bacteria) derived from nature as a biological method.

As an example, the beneficial bacteria 50 may include Bacillus subtilis (枯草菌, Bacillus subtilis). The Bacillus subtilis can improve the environment of the medium 20 by decomposing organic matter and inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. And, the Bacillus subtilis acts as a nutrient for crops, and may perform a function of secreting hormones that promote the growth of crops.

The Bacillus subtilis may be cultured in a nutrient broth, and the cultured Bacillus subtilis may be mixed with water or alcohol and supplied to the medium 20 as a mixed solution. For example, the mixture of Bacillus subtilis may be supplied by being sprayed onto the medium 20 .

As another example, the Bacillus subtilis may be provided mixed with the medium 20 in a nutrient medium state.

Hereinafter, the operation of the plant cultivation apparatus will be briefly described with reference to the drawings.

19 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which water is supplied from a pod seated in the plant cultivation apparatus, and FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of part “A” of FIG. 4 .

19 and 20 , when the pod 10 is seated on the pod receiving part 352 , the water suction part 14 may protrude downward through the receiving part opening 351a. At this time, the water suction part 14 is positioned inside the water collecting part 320 , that is, the front water collecting part 321 .

When water is supplied to the inside of the water collecting unit 320 in this state, the water suction unit 14 can come into contact with the water inside the water collecting unit 320 . In addition, water from the water collecting unit 320 may be introduced through the suction port 14a, and water may be absorbed along the absorbing member 40 inside the water suction unit 14 .

Water absorbed through the absorbent member 40 may be uniformly supplied to the medium 20 . When water is supplied to the medium 20 , water may be delivered to the seeds S seated on the upper side of the medium 20 . By the water and fertilizer (F) supplied to the seeds (S), the seeds (S) germinate and crops can grow.

In addition, the beneficial bacteria 50 act in the process of growing crops, thereby preventing the growth of microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria in the medium 20 .

Hereinafter, the operation of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above structure will be described.

The user selects a plant to be cultivated, removes the protective paper of the corresponding pod, and then places it on the bed. When the pod 10 is seated on the bed 300 , a predetermined amount of water stored in the water tank 700 is supplied to the bed 300 .

In this case, the amount of water supplied is a set amount, and may be slightly less than the amount to be sufficiently supplied to the pod 10 . Accordingly, the supplied water may be absorbed from the water collecting unit 320 to the pod 10 , and when a predetermined time elapses, the supplied water is completely absorbed, so that no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 .

When it is detected that there is no water in the water collecting unit 320, the residual water detecting device 742 detects that there is no water left in the water collecting unit 320 and re-supplying the fixed amount again. By detecting the time at this time, it is determined whether the set time has elapsed.

While repeating this process, a quantity of water is continuously supplied and the time taken to be absorbed by the pod 10 is measured. If the time for which no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 after water supply has elapsed for a set time, it is determined that sufficient water has been supplied and the water supply is stopped for a certain period of time. Then, when the conditions for re-watering are satisfied, water-supply is started again.

Accordingly, the water collection unit 320 does not maintain a state of being accommodated for a long time, and water in an amount necessary for plant growth can be supplied in a timely manner. In addition, nutrients necessary for plant growth are supplied by the fertilizer F included in the pod 10 , so that the plant inside the pod 10 can grow effectively.

Meanwhile, light is irradiated toward the plant growing in the bed 300 by the operation of the light assembly 400 . The light assembly 400 may be turned on and off at an appropriate time period according to the growth state and environment of the plant. In particular, by turning the light assembly 400 on and off according to the actual amount of sunlight according to the season, it is possible to provide an environment similar to that of the plants inside the plant cultivation apparatus 1 growing in the external natural environment.

The plants in the bed 300 perform photosynthesis by the light provided by the light assembly 400 , and in this process, carbon dioxide necessary for this process may be supplied through the air introduced into the cultivation space.

On the other hand, when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too low, the heater is driven, and when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too high, the refrigeration cycle is driven and the evaporator 630 performs a cooling action. do.

Air heated or cooled by the heater or evaporator 630 is discharged forward through the blower assembly 500 . At this time, air flows from the rear end of the light assembly 400 to the front, and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 is cooled during the air flow process.

Then, the air moved forward flows downward from the front end of the bed 300 to the rear end of the bed 300 . Stems and leaves of plants grown in the bed 300 are shaken by the flow of air flowing on the upper surface of the bed 300, so that the appearance of the cultivated plants can be remarkably improved.

The air introduced into the rear end of the bed 300 passes through the space in which the evaporator 630 and the heater are disposed again, and may be discharged toward the light assembly 400 by the blower fan 520 .

The air flowing by the operation of the blower fan 520 circulates inside the cultivation space 101 , and continuously air-cools the light assembly 400 during the circulation process and prevents the growth of food in the bed 300 . to facilitate it.

In addition, by continuously and uniformly heating and cooling the inside of the cultivation space 101 through a repeated air circulation process, the entire cultivation space 101 may maintain a set temperature.

The user can check the state inside the cultivation space 101 through the door 130 , and when the plants in the cultivation space 101 reach a harvestable state, the plants are harvested. In addition, if plant management is required before harvest, an appropriate operation is performed, and unnecessary crops may be discarded or the harvested pod 10 may be removed.

This harvesting and management operation may be performed by a user through guidance through the display assembly 800 , or information may be transmitted to a device carried by the user to guide the user's harvesting and management operation.

21a is a photograph showing the appearance of mold (A1, A2) generated in the medium when beneficial bacteria are not added to the medium of the pod according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 21b is isolation and identification of the fungus generated in FIG. 21a It is a photograph showing the cultured state (A1', A2'), and FIG. 22 is the state of the fungus treated with Bacillus subtilis in a nutrient medium for culturing a number of molds (C1, C2), and the state without (C3 ~ C7) This is a picture showing the

First, Figure 21a shows the appearance of a number of molds (A1, A2) in the medium during the germination of seeds in the pod (P). And, 21b shows the appearance (A1', A2') of the fungus (A1, A2) isolate and identified in the culture medium (B).

In the course of the experiment, the number of mold (A1, A2) was identified Aspergillus (Aspergillus), A penny room Solarium (Penicillium) in, in Passage My process (Paecilomyces) in or Fusarium (Fusarium) as in the mold.

Figure 22 is a mold hyphae (C1, C2) and Bacillus subtilis treated in the culture medium (B1) in order to determine whether Bacillus subtilis can inhibit the growth of the plurality of molds (A1, A2). It shows the appearance of a number of fungal hyphae (C3~C7) that have not been used.

In the case of the fungal hyphae (C1, C2) treated with Bacillus subtilis, it can be seen that, unlike other mold hyphae (C3 ~ C7), a clear zone is formed. The formation of the transparent ring indicates that there is antibacterial activity. That is, it was confirmed that when the fungus was treated with Bacillus subtilis, antifungal (抗眞菌) was active.

[Table 1] below shows the experimental results in which the number of molds is changed over time in the case where Bacillus subtilis is not added to the medium 20 and when different amounts of Bacillus subtilis culture are added.

The experimental conditions are as follows.

Weight of medium: 100g, distilled water: 20g, Bacillus subtilis culture 1%, 3%, 10% (w/w)

number of molds hour Bacillus subtilis untreated Bacillus subtilis 1% Bacillus subtilis 3% Bacillus subtilis 10% 0h 4.7*10 ⁵ 4.5*10 ⁵ 5.0*10 ⁵ 3.0*10 ⁵ 24h 4.1*10 ⁵ 5.2*10 ⁵ 2.1*10 ⁵ 1.1*10 ⁵ 48h 5.8*10 ⁵ 2.3*10 ⁵ 1.1*10 ⁵ 6.8*10 ⁴ 7 days 7.6*10 ⁵ 2.0*10 ⁵ 1.6*10 ⁵ 6.0*10 ⁴

As can be seen from the experimental results according to [Table 1], when Bacillus subtilis is not treated, the number of molds increases as time passes, and the number of fungi treated with Bacillus subtilis decreases as time passes.

And, as the amount of Bacillus subtilis increases, over time, it can be seen that the degree of decrease in the number of fungi increases. Therefore, when Bacillus subtilis is added to the medium 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to inhibit the growth of mold in the process of growing crops.

Figure 23 (a) is a photograph showing the growth of a certain crop (oak leaf) is reduced due to the occurrence of mold, (b) is a photograph showing the appearance of vigorous growth by preventing the occurrence of mold through Bacillus subtilis treatment. And, (a) of FIG. 24 is a photograph showing a form of reduced growth due to the occurrence of mold in a specific crop (arugula), and (b) is a photograph showing a vigorous growth by preventing the occurrence of mold through treatment with Bacillus subtilis. .

23 and 24 show how the growth degree for each crop is different when Bacillus subtilis is not added to the medium and when it is added. Each of the experimental conditions of FIGS. 23 and 24 is different only whether Bacillus subtilis is added, and the remaining conditions are the same.

First, FIG. 23 shows that when oak leaf is planted among crop types, the growth power of the crop varies depending on whether Bacillus subtilis is added when 2 weeks have elapsed. 23 (a) shows the appearance of a pod without Bacillus subtilis added to the medium, and (b) shows the appearance of a pod with Bacillus subtilis added to the medium.

Overall, it can be seen that the leaf size of oak leaf is larger than (a) in (b) where Bacillus subtilis is added, and in particular, the dotted line in (a) shows that the growth of the crop is significantly reduced.

24 shows that when arugula is planted among crop types, when 2 weeks have elapsed, the growth power of crops varies depending on whether Bacillus subtilis is added or not. Figure 24 (a) shows the appearance of the pod in which Bacillus subtilis was not added to the medium, (b) shows the appearance of the pod in which Bacillus subtilis was added to the medium.

Overall, it can be seen that the size of the leaves of arugula is larger in (b) than in (a), in which Bacillus subtilis is added, and in particular, the dotted line in (a) shows that the growth of the crop is significantly reduced.

As such, when Bacillus subtilis is added to the medium, it can be seen that the growth performance of crops is improved by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, since there is a difference only in some configurations of the pods, the differences will be mainly described. Otherwise, the description of the plant cultivation apparatus described in the previous embodiment is used as it is.

25 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.

25 and 26 , the pod 10a according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the seed paper 30 for fixing the seeds S. The seed paper 30 is composed of a sheet in which the seeds (S) are arranged to have a predetermined arrangement, and may be made of a water-soluble material. When supply water is supplied in a state where the seed paper 30 is seated on the upper surface of the medium 20, the seed paper 30 melts to provide nutrients to the medium 20, and the seeds remain in the medium 20. do.

A brick 60 is provided on the upper surface of the seed paper 12 . The brick 60 is configured to control moisture and humidity of the soil and prevent mold formation, and may be made of vermiculite. That is, the brick 60 may have the same configuration as the medium 20 .

According to this configuration, the seeds (S) can be maintained in a fixed state in the receiving space (13) by the seed paper (30). Therefore, it prevents the seed (S) from moving when transporting the pod (10) to the home, and when the user mounts the pod (10) in the plant cultivation device, the seeds (S) grow in a state in which a constant arrangement is maintained. Since it can be started, it is possible to improve the cultivation performance of plants.

1: plant cultivation device 10: pod
11: vessel 20: medium
30: seed paper 40: absorbent member
50: beneficial bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) 70: packing member
90: cover 100: cabinet
200: machine room 300: bed
400: light assembly 500: blower assembly
S: Seeds F: Fertilizer

Claims (15)

cabinets forming a growing space;
a water tank disposed in the cultivation space and storing water; and
a bed provided in the cultivation space and supplied with water from the water tank; and
It is provided in the bed and includes a pod containing crop seeds and nutrients,
The pod is
a container into which the water supplied to the bed flows;
a medium provided in the container, in which the seeds and nutrients are mixed; and
A plant cultivation apparatus comprising beneficial bacteria added to the medium to inhibit the growth of microorganisms during the growth of the crop. The method of claim 1,
The beneficial bacteria is a plant cultivation apparatus comprising Bacillus subtilis (枯草菌). 3. The method of claim 2,
The Bacillus subtilis is mixed with water or alcohol in a state of a mixed solution, a plant cultivation device that is spray-supplied to the medium. 3. The method of claim 2,
The Bacillus subtilis is cultured in a nutrient medium, a plant cultivation device that is mixed with the medium in a cultured state in the nutrient medium. The method of claim 1,
The medium is a plant cultivation device consisting of vermiculite. The method of claim 1,
The seed is located on the upper portion of the medium, and the upper portion of the seed is covered by the medium plant cultivation apparatus. The method of claim 1,
The pod further comprises a seed paper to which the seeds are fixed,
The seed paper is a plant cultivation device that is seated on the upper side of the medium. 8. The method of claim 7,
The pod is covered on the upper side of the seed paper, plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a brick composed of vermiculite. The method of claim 1,
The pod is provided in the lower portion of the container, further comprising an absorbent member for absorbing the water supplied to the bed,
The medium is a plant cultivation device located on the upper side of the absorption member. 10. The method of claim 9,
The bottom surface of the container is provided with a water suction part which protrudes downward and the absorption member is provided,
The water suction unit is a plant cultivation device that is submerged in the water collecting unit formed in the bed. 11. The method of claim 10,
It is provided to be drawn out on the bed, further comprising a bed tray forming a pod seating portion on which the pod is placed,
The bed tray, the plant cultivation apparatus is formed with a seating part opening into which the water suction part of the container is inserted. The method of claim 1,
The nutrients are supplied in a liquid phase, or are dissolved by the water supplied from the water tank and provided in a solid phase so as to be contained in the water. The method of claim 1,
The nutrient is a plant cultivation apparatus comprising at least phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium components. The method of claim 1,
The plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a light assembly provided inside the cabinet and provided above the pod to irradiate light toward the pod. 15. The method of claim 14,
an evaporator provided in the cabinet and generating cold air; and
The plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a blower assembly provided on one side of the evaporator and blowing cold air generated in the evaporator into the cultivation space.

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