JP6741302B2 - Cultivation equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to cultivation equipment, and more particularly to cultivation equipment for cultivating plants.

Conventionally, various facilities for cultivating plants have been devised. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cultivation facility that generates an air flow in a cultivation room. In the cultivation room of the cultivation equipment, a multi-stage cultivation shelf is installed. A partition wall that divides the cultivation room into two spaces is provided around the cultivation shelf. That is, the cultivation shelf is arranged so as to penetrate the partition wall and to straddle two spaces in the cultivation room. The partition wall is provided with a plurality of pressure fans. Each pressure fan draws in the air in one space in the cultivation room and supplies it to the other space. As a result, a pressure difference is generated between the two spaces in the cultivation room, and air flows in the cultivation shelf.

Patent Document 2 discloses a cultivation facility for making the humidity in the cultivation environment uniform. The cultivation equipment includes a multi-stage cultivation shelf whose side surface is closed by a reflector, and an air conditioner arranged near the cultivation shelf. Patent Document 2 describes that by mixing the light period and the dark period in the cultivation shelf, the load of the air conditioner is leveled, the dehumidification amount becomes constant, and the humidity is leveled.

JP, 2014-82995, A JP, 2016-140249, A

In the cultivation equipment of each of the above patent documents, the air conditioner is provided in the cultivation space where the cultivation shelves are arranged. Therefore, when performing maintenance of the air conditioner or the like, workers come in and out of the cultivation space. This may disturb the cultivation environment.

The present disclosure aims to provide a cultivation facility capable of strictly controlling a cultivation environment.

The cultivation equipment according to the present disclosure is cultivation equipment for cultivating a plant. The cultivation equipment includes a plurality of cultivation shelves, a cultivation room, an air conditioning room, and an air conditioning device. Each of the cultivation shelves has a plurality of steps for cultivating a plant and a pair of side surfaces that extend in the longitudinal direction and are closed. The cultivation room accommodates cultivation shelves. The air-conditioning room is separated from the cultivation room. The air conditioner is installed in the air conditioning room.

According to the cultivation equipment according to the present disclosure, it is possible to strictly manage the cultivation environment.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cultivation equipment according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a II-II sectional view of the cultivation equipment of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the cultivation equipment of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the cultivation equipment of FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the cultivation equipment according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side view of the cultivation equipment according to the third embodiment.

The cultivation facility according to the embodiment is a cultivation facility for cultivating a plant. The cultivation equipment includes a plurality of cultivation shelves, a cultivation room, an air conditioning room, and an air conditioning device. Each of the cultivation shelves has a plurality of steps for cultivating a plant and a pair of side surfaces that extend in the longitudinal direction and are closed. The cultivation room accommodates cultivation shelves. The air-conditioning room is separated from the cultivation room. The air conditioner is installed in the air conditioning room (first configuration).

According to the first configuration, the air conditioning room in which the air conditioning device is arranged is separated from the cultivation room. Therefore, it is not necessary for an operator to enter and leave the cultivation room during maintenance of the air conditioner. Therefore, the cultivation environment in the cultivation room can be prevented from being disturbed, and the cultivation environment can be strictly managed.

In the above cultivation equipment, the air conditioner may have an air filter. In this case, the cultivation equipment further includes an air discharge means. The air discharge means is connected to the air conditioner. The air discharger discharges the air from the air conditioner that has passed through the air filter to the cultivation room (second configuration).

According to the second configuration, only the air that has passed through the air filter of the air conditioner and is free from contaminants such as dust is discharged to the cultivation room. Therefore, the cultivation environment in the cultivation room can be managed more strictly.

In the above cultivation equipment, the air conditioner may further include a cooling/heating machine, a dehumidifier, and a chamber. The chamber is connected to each of the air conditioner and the dehumidifier. Air from the air conditioner and the dehumidifier is introduced into the chamber. The air discharging means discharges the air from the chamber to the cultivation room (third configuration).

According to the third configuration, since the air whose temperature is adjusted by the air conditioner and the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier are mixed in the chamber, it is possible to generate high-quality air suitable for plant cultivation. You can The good quality air is discharged from the chamber to the cultivation room by the air discharging means and supplied to the plant.

In the above-mentioned cultivation equipment, a plurality of cultivation shelves may be arranged in parallel. The cultivation facility may further include an air discharge means. The air discharge means is connected to the air conditioner. The air discharging means is arranged above the cultivation shelf. The air discharging means discharges the air from the air conditioner between the two adjacent cultivation shelves (fourth configuration).

When air is blown down to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf, the air flows along the upper surface of the cultivation shelf, but since air flow is separated at the corners of the cultivation shelf, air enters the uppermost stage of the cultivation shelf. It gets harder. On the other hand, according to the fourth configuration, the air from the air conditioner is not directly applied to the cultivation shelves but is discharged between the adjacent cultivation shelves. In this case, air flow is less likely to separate, and air can be uniformly supplied to each stage of the cultivation shelf.

In the above cultivation equipment, the air discharging means may be a duct extending in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf (fifth configuration).

The cultivation facility may further include a partition wall that separates the cultivation room from the air conditioning room. The air discharging means may be a fan provided on the partition wall (sixth configuration).

In the above-mentioned cultivation facility, one air conditioner may be provided corresponding to two or more cultivation shelves (seventh configuration).

According to the seventh configuration, one air conditioning device is provided for two or more cultivation shelves, and air is supplied to each cultivation shelf from a common air conditioning device. Therefore, it is possible to supply the same quality air to each cultivation shelf.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the same description will not be repeated. For convenience of explanation, in each drawing, the configuration may be illustrated in a simplified or schematic manner, or a part of the configuration may be omitted.

<First Embodiment>
[Structure of cultivation equipment]
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the cultivation equipment 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the cultivation equipment 10 includes a cultivation room 1, a plurality of cultivation shelves 2, an air conditioning room 3, a plurality of air conditioners 4, and a plurality of ducts 5. In FIG. 1, the ceilings of the cultivation room 1 and the air conditioning room 3 are omitted.

(Cultivation area)
The cultivation room 1 is separated from the air conditioning room 3 by a partition wall 6. The cultivation room 1 is a substantially closed space (closed room). The cultivation room 1 accommodates the entire cultivation shelf 2.

The plurality of cultivation shelves 2 are arranged in parallel in the cultivation room 1. Each of the cultivation shelves 2 conveys the plant P under cultivation in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the plant P is put into the cultivation shelf 2 from one end side in the longitudinal direction, grows while moving the cultivation shelf 2 in the longitudinal direction, and is collected from the cultivation shelf 2 at the other end side in the longitudinal direction. To be done. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 2 is also referred to as the transport direction. Of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 2, the side into which the plant P is input is the upstream in the transport direction, and the side from which the plant P is collected is the downstream in the transport direction.

As will be described later in detail, during the cultivation of the plant P, air flows inside the cultivation shelf 2. The cultivation shelf 2 has an air outlet 21 and an air inlet 22. The air outlet 21 is arranged at the end of the cultivation shelf 2 on the upstream side in the transport direction. The air inlet 22 is arranged at the end of the cultivation shelf 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction.

FIG. 2 is a II-II sectional view of the cultivation equipment 10 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the cultivation shelves 2 has a plurality of steps 23. A plurality of plants P are arranged in each stage 23. An illumination device (not shown) that irradiates the plant P with light is provided above each step 23.

Each stage 23 supports a nutrient solution tank 24 containing a nutrient solution. A plurality of cultivation panels (not shown) are floated on the nutrient solution in each nutrient tank 24. A plurality of plants P are planted in each cultivation panel. More specifically, each cultivation panel has a plurality of insertion holes into which the culture medium is inserted. Plant P is planted in each medium. The cultivation panel is put into each stage 23 from the upstream side in the transport direction of the plant P, transported on the nutrient solution, and collected at the downstream side in the transport direction.

The cultivation shelf 2 has an upper surface 25, a lower surface 26, and a pair of side surfaces 27. Each of the upper surface 25, the lower surface 26, and the side surface 27 extends in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 2. The upper surface 25, the lower surface 26, and the side surface 27 are substantially closed surfaces. The upper surface 25, the lower surface 26, and the side surface 27 form a cylindrical space extending in the transport direction in the cultivation shelf 2. As will be described in detail later, of both openings of the cylindrical space, the opening on the upstream side in the carrying direction is the air outlet 21, and the opening on the downstream side in the carrying direction is the air inlet 22 (FIG. 1).

Each of the upper surface 25, the lower surface 26, and the side surface 27 can be composed of a plate-shaped member. The plate-shaped member is, for example, a reflection plate having a reflection surface inside. Each plate-shaped member may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the cultivation shelf 2. The lower surface 26 may be configured to be closed by the nutrient solution tank 24 supported at the bottom of the cultivation shelf 2.

Each side surface 27 may have a minute gap that allows the inside and outside of the cultivation shelf 2 to communicate with each other. The gap may be, for example, a gap that occurs between the plate-shaped members when one side surface 27 is configured by a plurality of plate-shaped members, or may be one or more through-holes provided in the columns of the cultivation shelf 2. It may be. When the side surface 27 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped members, each plate-shaped member may be fitted between the columns of the cultivation shelf 2.

Seen from the downstream side in the transport direction, between the two adjacent cultivation shelves 2, between the cultivation shelves 2 and the inner wall surface of the cultivation room 1, and below the lower surface 26 of each cultivation shelf 2, the cultivation room 1 is provided. A partition wall 6 for partitioning the air-conditioning room 3 is provided. However, the partition wall 6 is not provided above the upper surface 25 of the cultivation shelf 2. That is, the partition wall 6 does not surround the circumference of each cultivation shelf 2.

(Air conditioning area)
Referring again to FIG. 1, the air conditioning room 3 is a space separated from the cultivation room 1 by a partition wall 6. The partition wall 6 is arranged near the air outlet 21 of the cultivation shelf 2. However, the cultivation shelf 2 in the cultivation room 1 does not project from the partition wall 6 toward the air conditioning room 3 side. The partition 6 may be provided with a doorway.

A plurality of air conditioners 4 are installed in the air conditioning room 3. At least a part of the air conditioner 4 is arranged in the air conditioning room 3. The air conditioner 4 is housed in a space including the air conditioning room 3 and isolated from the cultivation room 1.

Each of the air conditioners 4 includes a plurality of air conditioners 41, a plurality of dehumidifiers 42, and one chamber 43. The air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 are housed in the air conditioning room 3. The chamber 43 is arranged on the ceiling of the air conditioning room 3. In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 4 includes a plurality of air conditioners 41 and dehumidifiers 42, but the number of air conditioners 41 and/or dehumidifiers 42 may be one.

Each of the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 has, for example, a fan and sucks ambient air. The air conditioner 41 mainly adjusts the temperature of the sucked air. The air conditioner 41 is generally called an air conditioner. The dehumidifier 42 mainly dehumidifies the sucked air.

The air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 are connected to the chamber 43. The air conditioner 41 is connected to the chamber 43 via a pipe 44. The dehumidifier 42 is connected to the chamber 43 via a pipe 45. Air from the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 is sent to the chamber 43.

A plurality of ducts 5 are connected to each of the air conditioners 4. Each of the ducts 5 extends in the transport direction. The end of the duct 5 on the upstream side in the transport direction is connected to the chamber 43. The duct 5 extends from the chamber 43 to the vicinity of the end of the cultivation shelf 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction. The end of the duct 5 on the downstream side in the transport direction is closed.

The duct 5 is arranged directly above the passage formed between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. The duct 5 is provided for each pair 20 of the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. The duct 5 is one air conditioner 4
A plurality of them are provided. That is, a plurality of cultivation shelf pairs 20 correspond to one air conditioner 4. In other words, the air conditioner 4 is provided for each of the plurality of cultivation shelves 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cultivation equipment 10. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the ducts 5 is arranged above the ceiling 7 of the cultivation room 1 and the air conditioning room 3. The ceiling 7 separates the space in which the duct 5 is located from the cultivation room 1.

The duct 5 is an air discharging unit that discharges the air from the air conditioner 4 to the cultivation room 1. The duct 5 has at least one air discharge part 51. The air discharge part 51 is formed on the lower surface of the duct 5. In the present embodiment, on the lower surface of the duct 5, a plurality of air discharge parts 51 are arranged in the transport direction. The air discharge part 51 may be any structure that can discharge air from the duct 5. The air discharge portion 51 may be, for example, a hole formed in the duct 5, or may be a portion having a higher air permeability than the other portions of the duct 5.

An opening 71 is formed in a portion of the ceiling 7 corresponding to the air discharge portion 51 of the duct 5. In the present embodiment, since the duct 5 has the plurality of air discharge parts 51, the plurality of openings 71 are formed in the ceiling 7. Each of the air discharge parts 51 of the duct 5 is connected to the corresponding opening 71 of the ceiling 7.

[Operation of cultivation equipment]
Next, the operation of the cultivation equipment 10 will be described. In particular, the flow of air during operation of the cultivation equipment 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the flow of air is indicated by arrows.

While cultivating the plant on the cultivation shelf 2 in the cultivation room 1, each air conditioner 4 operates. When the air conditioner 4 is operating, the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 suck the ambient air. Due to the suction of air by the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42, the air conditioning room 3 becomes a negative pressure with respect to the cultivation room 1. Therefore, the air in the cultivation room 1 moves to the air conditioning room 3 via the air outlet 21 of the cultivation shelf 2.

The air conditioner 41 adjusts the temperature of the sucked air and sends it to the chamber 43 via the pipe 44. The humidity of the air may change due to the temperature adjustment by the air conditioner 41. The dehumidifier 42 dehumidifies the sucked air and sends it to the chamber 43 via a pipe 45. The air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 have air filters 411 and 421 provided on the air suction side, respectively. The air filters 411 and 421 remove contaminants such as dust from the air sucked by the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42.

In the chamber 43, the air from the air conditioner 41 and the air from the dehumidifier 42 are mixed. The air mixed in the chamber 43 is supplied to the plurality of ducts 5. The air flows in each duct 5 in the transport direction. The air flowing in each duct 5 is discharged between the cultivation shelf pair 20 through the air discharge portion 51 and the opening 71 of the ceiling 7. That is, the air from the air conditioner 4 is blown down from the duct 5 to the cultivation shelf 2.

The air blown down between the cultivation shelves 2 mainly flows through the passages between the cultivation shelves 2 toward the air inlet 22 and flows into the cultivation shelf 2 from the air inlet 22. Since the cultivation room 1 has a negative pressure as compared with the air conditioning room 3 as described above, the air entering the cultivation shelf 2 flows toward the air outlet 21. In the cultivation shelf 2, air flows in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

When there is a gap on the side surface 27 of the cultivation shelf 2, the air blown down from the duct 5 to the cultivation shelf 2 also flows into the cultivation shelf 2 through the gap on the side surface 27. The air merges with the air flowing in the cultivation shelf 2 toward the air outlet 21.

The air flowing in the cultivation shelf 2 flows out from the air outlet 21 into the air conditioning room 3. The air flowing out to the air conditioning room 3 is sucked by the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42, and is supplied to the cultivation room 1 via the chamber 43 and the duct 5. In this way, the air circulates in the cultivation equipment 10.

[Effect of Embodiment]
In the cultivation facility 10 according to the present embodiment, the air conditioning room 3 in which the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 are arranged is separated from the cultivation room 1. Therefore, for example, when the worker performs maintenance on the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42, the worker does not need to enter and leave the cultivation room 1. Therefore, the disturbance of the cultivation environment in the cultivation room 1 can be prevented, and the cultivation environment can be strictly managed.

For example, when the air from the air conditioner 4 is blown down onto the upper surface 25 of the cultivation shelf 2, the air flows along the upper surface 25 toward the air inlet 22 side, but the end of the cultivation shelf 2 on the air inlet 22 side. The air flow peels off. In this case, it becomes difficult for air to enter the uppermost stage of the cultivation shelf 2. However, the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the air from the air conditioner 4 is not directly applied to the cultivation shelves 2 but is blown down between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. For this reason, the separation of the airflow is unlikely to occur, and the air can be uniformly provided to each stage 23 of the cultivation shelf 2.

In the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment, one air conditioner 4 is provided for each of the plurality of cultivation shelves 2. More specifically, a plurality of ducts 5 are provided for the plurality of cultivation shelf pairs 20, and these ducts 5 are connected to one air conditioner 4. With this configuration, air of the same quality can be supplied from one air conditioner 4 to the plurality of cultivation shelves 2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the growth of plants cultivated on each cultivation shelf 2.

As described above, in the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment, each cultivation shelf 2 may have a gap on the side surface 27. The air blown down from the duct 5 to the cultivation shelf 2 mainly flows through the passage between the cultivation shelves 2 and flows into the cultivation shelf 2 from the air inlet 22. However, when a gap exists on the side surface 27 of the cultivation shelf 2, air also flows into the cultivation shelf 2 through the gap. The air that has entered the cultivation shelf 2 through the gap of the side surface 27 joins the air flowing toward the air outlet 21 in the cultivation shelf 2. Thereby, in the cultivation shelf 2, the flow of air toward the air outlet 21 can be strengthened. Further, the effect of adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air in the cultivation shelf 2 can be expected by causing the air from the air conditioner 4 to directly flow into the cultivation shelf 2 through the gap of the side surface 27.

In the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment, each air inlet 22 of the cultivation shelf 2 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the plant P. That is, in each of the cultivation shelves 2, the plant P whose growth has progressed and whose transpiration amount has increased is arranged on the air inlet 22 side. With this configuration, moist air can flow from the air inflow port 22 to the air outflow port 21 in each cultivation shelf 2, and the moist air is supplied to the small plants P at the initial stage of cultivation. be able to.

In the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment, the air conditioner 4 has air filters 411 and 421. More specifically, each of the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42 includes air filters 411 and 421. According to this configuration, the air filters 411 and 421 can remove contaminants such as dust from the air sucked by the air conditioner 41 and the dehumidifier 42. Therefore, even when a worker enters and leaves the air conditioning room 3 for the purpose of maintenance, for example, only clean air can be supplied to the cultivation room 1.

In the cultivation equipment 10 according to the present embodiment, the air whose temperature is adjusted by the air conditioner 41 and the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier 42 are mixed in the chamber 43. As a result, high-quality air suitable for plant cultivation is generated in the chamber 43. The good quality air is
It is discharged into the cultivation room 1 through the duct 5 and supplied to the plants P on the cultivation shelf 2.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5: is a side view which shows schematic structure of the cultivation equipment 10A which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the cultivation equipment 10</b>A, each duct 5 is arranged directly above the passage formed between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2 as in the first embodiment. However, the duct 5 is arranged below the ceiling 7A of the cultivation room 1 and the air conditioning room 3. That is, the duct 5 is arranged in the same space as the cultivation shelf 2. The ceiling 7A does not have an opening corresponding to the air discharge part 51. By arranging the duct 5 below the ceiling 7A, it is possible to perform stricter temperature management because it is not affected by the temperature of the ceiling above the outside air.

In this way, the cultivation equipment 10A differs from the cultivation equipment 10 according to the first embodiment in that the ceiling 7A is arranged above the duct 5. Regarding other configurations, the cultivation equipment 10A is the same as the cultivation equipment 10 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the cultivation equipment 10B according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cultivation equipment 10B includes a fan 8 as an air discharging means. The fan 8 is attached to the partition wall 6. The fan 8 sucks the air in the chamber 43 of the air conditioner 4 and discharges it to the cultivation room 1.

The fan 8 is provided at a position corresponding to each passage formed between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. The fan 8 discharges air from the chamber 43 between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. The fan 8 is arranged above the upper surface 25 of the cultivation shelf 2.

In the cultivation room 1, a ceiling fan 9 is provided right above each passage formed between the adjacent cultivation shelves 2. In this embodiment, a plurality of ceiling fans 9 are provided for each passage between the cultivation shelves 2. The ceiling fans 9 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 2. The ceiling fan 9 blows down the air discharged into the cultivation room 1 by the fan 8 between the cultivation shelves 2.

As described above, the cultivation equipment 10B differs from the cultivation equipment 10 according to the first embodiment in that the fan 8 is provided instead of the duct 5. The fan 8 and the ceiling fan 9 are arranged in the same space as the cultivation shelf 2. Regarding other configurations, the cultivation equipment 10B is the same as the cultivation equipment 10 according to the first embodiment.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

10: Cultivation equipment 1: Cultivation room 2: Cultivation shelf 23: Steps 27: Side surface 3: Air conditioning room 4: Air conditioner 41: Air conditioner 42: Dehumidifier 43: Chamber 411, 421: Air filter 5: Duct 6: Partition wall 8 :fan

Claims (4)

A stage for cultivating plants while conveying them in the longitudinal direction,
An upper surface forming a cylindrical space extending in the transport direction of the plant, a lower surface, and a pair of side surfaces,
The cylindrical space is
Opened on the upstream side in the transport direction, a plant to be transported is input, and an air outlet from which air flows out,
A cultivation shelf, which is opened on the downstream side in the transportation direction and includes an air inlet for collecting the transported plants and inflowing air. The cultivation shelf according to claim 1,
An air conditioner that sucks air from the air outlet and/or discharges air to the air inlet. The cultivation equipment according to claim 2,
The tier comprises a plurality of tiers,
The cultivation equipment further includes
A nutrient solution tank supported in each stage of the plurality of stages and containing a nutrient solution,
An illuminating device that is provided above each of the steps and irradiates a plant with light,
Cultivation equipment comprising a cultivation panel in which a plant is planted, introduced from the air outlet, transported on the nutrient solution, and then recovered from the air inlet. A cultivation shelf having a step for cultivating the plant while conveying it in the longitudinal direction,
Cultivation equipment comprising: an air conditioner that operates so that air flows in a direction opposite to the direction in which the plants are conveyed in the stage of the cultivation shelf.

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