JP7620332B2 - Plant cultivation device and plant cultivation method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a plant cultivation device. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a plant cultivation device used for hydroponic cultivation.

In typical outdoor hydroponic cultivation, it is not possible to adjust the amount of sunlight the plants receive. In this case, depending on the season, there may be long periods of sunlight, which can cause the vegetables to produce flower buds in a state where they are not yet fully grown, significantly reducing the commercial value of the vegetables. For this reason, the amount of sunlight required is adjusted in outdoor hydroponic cultivation.

In addition, outdoor hydroponic cultivation is more susceptible to pests than greenhouse or indoor hydroponic cultivation. However, from the perspective of the safety of vegetables and other plants that are eaten, it is necessary to avoid the use of pesticides as much as possible.

Cultivation devices that can adjust the hours of sunlight and eliminate pests without using pesticides are disclosed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

Patent Document 1 discloses a cultivation device having a normal cultivation section with a first transport path for transporting a holding member that holds a plant, and an environmental adjustment section with a second transport path for transporting the holding member. In the cultivation device, when the holding member is moved from the normal cultivation section located at the top to the environmental adjustment section located at the bottom, the holding member in the normal cultivation section is first moved horizontally along the first transport path and carried into the lifting gauge, then the lifting gauge is lowered, and then it is carried out horizontally from the lifting gauge and carried into the environmental adjustment section, and moved horizontally along the second transport path to the desired position. When the holding member is moved from the environmental adjustment section to the normal cultivation section, the above procedure is reversed. Also disclosed is a method of exterminating pests by carrying a holding member into a rotating gauge inside a lifting gauge, inverting the holding member inside the rotating gauge so that the leaves and stems of the plant face down, and then lowering the lifting gauge to a storage tank at the bottom to immerse the leaves and stems in the liquid inside the storage tank, thereby detaching pests attached to the leaves and stems from the leaves and stems and causing them to float or sink in the water.

Patent Document 2 discloses a cultivation device in which a plurality of plant cultivation boxes, in which the leaves and stems of plants are planted so that they extend above the boxes, are arranged so as to be freely slidable on left and right guide rails, the plurality of plant cultivation boxes are connected, and a wire rope is connected to the plant cultivation boxes at both ends. In the cultivation device, the plurality of plant cultivation boxes are moved between an upper cultivation zone extending in a straight line and a lower evacuation zone running in a straight line in the opposite direction to the lower zone. The movement from the upper cultivation zone to the lower evacuation zone is performed by moving the wire rope on a pulley at one end of the cultivation device, and the plurality of connected plant cultivation boxes are turned upside down along the wire rope in sequence. The movement of the plant cultivation boxes from the lower evacuation zone to the upper cultivation zone is performed by moving the wire rope on a pulley at the other end of the cultivation device, and the plurality of connected plant cultivation boxes are turned upside down in sequence from a state in which the leaves and stems of plants extend downward. In Patent Document 2, pest control is carried out by injecting liquid onto the downward-facing leaf and stem portions while the plant cultivation box is in the lower evacuation zone, or by immersing the downward-facing leaf and stem portions in liquid.

International Publication No. WO 2012/5121 JP 2011-30547 A

In this way, in the cultivation devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the plants need to be moved horizontally to move between the cultivation section located at the top and the environmental adjustment section located at the bottom. Also, in the cultivation devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the plants need to be turned upside down so that the leaf stems face downwards in order to exterminate pests. For this reason, the cultivation devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2 need to be equipped with parts for moving the plants and parts for turning the plants upside down, which increases the cost of the cultivation device. For example, when the plants are vegetables, the price of the plants is fixed to a certain extent, so considering the purchase cost to consumers, reducing the capital cost of the cultivation device is a very important issue in ensuring a stable supply of plants.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a plant cultivation device that can economically regulate the plant environment and exterminate pests.

The present disclosure relates to a plant cultivation device for cultivating a plant held by a holding member,
The holding member for holding the plant;
A sunlight irradiation area for irradiating the plant with sunlight;
an environmental adjustment area located vertically below the sunlight irradiation area for adjusting the cultivation environment of the plant;
a lifting mechanism capable of moving the holding member by vertically lifting and lowering the holding member between the sunlight irradiation area and the environmental adjustment area while maintaining a state in which the leaf and stem parts of the plant are located at an upper position;
The present invention provides a plant cultivation device, wherein the holding member is submersible in water.

As described above, the plant cultivation device includes a solar irradiation area where the plant is cultivated by irradiating it with sunlight, and an environmental adjustment area located vertically below the solar irradiation area for adjusting the cultivation environment of the plant. The device also includes a lifting mechanism that can move the holding member that holds the plant by lifting it vertically while maintaining the leaf and stem of the plant at the top when moving the holding member between the solar irradiation area and the environmental adjustment area. This eliminates the need to move the holding member horizontally or turn it upside down, eliminating the need for mechanisms and parts for these purposes, and significantly reducing the manufacturing costs of the plant cultivation device.

In addition, in the plant cultivation device, the holding member can be submerged in water. As a result, when the holding member is immersed in water, the holding member is submerged in water. Therefore, the plant can be immersed in water together with the holding member without having to turn the holding member upside down so that the leaf/stem of the plant faces downward, making it easy to immerse the leaf/stem and exterminate pests. Furthermore, there is no need for a mechanism or parts for turning the holding member upside down, which can significantly reduce the manufacturing costs of the plant cultivation device.

The plant cultivation device disclosed herein allows for economical adjustment of the plant's environment and extermination of pests. This makes it possible to steadily provide consumers with pesticide-free plants grown under sunlight at low prices.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing an embodiment in which a plant cultivation device according to the present disclosure is positioned in a sunlight irradiation area. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing an embodiment in which the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure is positioned in an environment adjustment area. FIG. 3 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing an example of a state in which a culture solution is sprayed onto leaf and stem portions in the plant cultivation device shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing an example of a state in which water is poured into an environment adjustment region in the plant cultivation device shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a panel-type retaining member. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (outline view) showing one embodiment of a panel-type holding member having a plurality of through holes. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cover member for a box-shaped holding member. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a bottom member of a box-shaped retaining member. FIG. 2 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing one embodiment of a box-shaped holding member. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (outline view) showing one embodiment of a box-shaped holding member having a plurality of through holes. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing one embodiment of a culture medium supply mechanism when a panel-type holding member is used. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing an aspect in which a plant is immersed in a culture solution in the panel-type holding member shown in FIG. 11 . 12 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing an aspect in which waves are generated on the liquid surface in the panel-type holding member shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing another embodiment of the culture medium supply mechanism when a panel-type holding member is used. FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing yet another embodiment of the culture medium supply mechanism when a panel-type holding member is used. FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing yet another embodiment of the culture medium supply mechanism when a panel-type holding member is used. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing one embodiment of a culture medium supply mechanism when a box-shaped holding member is used. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram (front cross-sectional view) showing one embodiment of a holding member provided with a swing mechanism. FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing another embodiment of a holding member provided with a swing mechanism. FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing still another embodiment of a holding member provided with a swing mechanism. FIG. 13 is a schematic view (front cross-sectional view) showing still another embodiment of a holding member provided with a swing mechanism. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (outer view) showing an embodiment in which a plant cultivation device according to the present disclosure is positioned in a sunlight irradiation area. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram (exterior view) showing another embodiment in which the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure is located in a sunlight irradiation area. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram (exterior view) showing yet another embodiment in which the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure is located in a sunlight irradiation area.

Each aspect disclosed in this specification may be combined with any other configuration disclosed in this specification. Furthermore, each embodiment disclosed in this specification is merely an example and is not limited to each embodiment itself, and addition, omission, substitution, and other modifications of the configuration may be made as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of this disclosure. Furthermore, each invention related to this disclosure is not limited by the embodiment, but is limited only by the scope of the claims.

The plant cultivation device of the present disclosure is preferably a device used for hydroponic cultivation (particularly outdoor hydroponic cultivation). In this specification, hydroponic cultivation refers to a method of cultivating plants by contacting the roots with a culture solution and absorbing nutrients into the roots, without planting the plants in soil. In this specification, outdoor cultivation refers to a method of cultivating plants by irradiating the leaves and stems of the plants with sunlight, rather than artificial light such as LEDs.

The plants cultivated in the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure are not particularly limited, but are preferably vegetables, and more preferably leafy vegetables (leafy vegetables). Examples of the leafy vegetables include spinach, komatsuna, lettuce, cabbage, green onions, and bok choy. The plants may also be flowers, vegetables with edible fruits (fruit vegetables) such as cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, strawberries, edamame, and soybeans, roots and stems such as radishes, carrots, garlic, ginger, taro, and scallions, and medicinal plants.

[Plant cultivation device]
The plant cultivation device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to an embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram (cross-sectional view) of one embodiment of the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the plant cultivation device 1 includes a holding member 3 for holding a plant 2, a wire rope 4 for suspending the holding member 3, an environmental adjustment box 5, and covers 6a and 6b for blocking sunlight from entering the environmental adjustment box 5.

The plant cultivation device 1 also includes a sunlight irradiation area R1 for irradiating sunlight onto the leaf stem 21 of the plant 2, and an environment adjustment area R2 located vertically below the sunlight irradiation area R1 for adjusting the cultivation environment of the plant 2. The environment adjustment area R2 is formed by an environment adjustment box 5 buried in the ground and covers 6a and 6b.

The holding member 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in one dimension, and has hooks 31 on both end faces of the rectangular parallelepiped. The wire rope 4 is wound around the cylindrical part of the hook 31, and the hook 31 has a disk part at its end that has a larger diameter than the cylindrical part to prevent the wire rope 4 from coming off the cylindrical part.

The holding member 3 has multiple holes (through holes 32a, 33a, etc., described below) that penetrate vertically, and a plant 2 is held in each hole. From each hole, the leaf stem 21 of the plant 2 extends upward, and the roots of the plant 2 extend downward. The number of plants 2 held by one holding member 3 is not particularly limited, and is set appropriately according to the size of the cultivation area.

The holding member 3 can sink in water. As a result, when the holding member 3 is immersed in a liquid whose main component is water, such as water or an aqueous solution, the holding member 3 sinks in the aqueous solution. For this reason, for example, when an immersion liquid such as water or a culture liquid is poured from below in the environmental adjustment region R2, the plant 2 can be immersed in the immersion liquid together with the holding member 3 without having to turn the holding member 3 up and down so that the leaf stem portion 21 of the plant 2 faces downward, and pest control and foliar fertilization can be easily performed by immersing the leaf stem portion 21. Furthermore, a mechanism or part for turning the holding member 3 up and down is not required, and the manufacturing cost of the plant cultivation device 1 can be significantly reduced. Note that the holding member 3 may be any member that sinks in the immersion liquid, and specific means for this include increasing the specific gravity of the holding member 3 in a state in which the plant 2 is held, attaching a weight to the holding member 3, or otherwise increasing the specific gravity of the plant 2, the holding member 3, and other members (accessory members) attached to the holding member 3 to a total specific gravity higher than that of the immersion liquid such as water. In this case, the specific gravity of the holding member 3 and the accessories as a whole when holding the plant 2 is higher than the immersion liquid, and the specific gravity of each part constituting the holding member 3 is not particularly limited. The specific gravity of the holding member 3 may be set appropriately according to the buoyancy and specific gravity of the plant 2. Examples of the members constituting the holding member 3 include the hook portion 31, the panel-type holding member 32 described below, the box-type holding member 35, the lid member 33 and the bottom member 34 forming the box-type holding member 35, etc. In addition, examples of the materials constituting the holding member 3 include artificial wood, carbonized wood, resin, and metal materials such as stainless steel and aluminum. When using metal materials, it is preferable to insulate the surface of the holding member 3 by applying a heat-insulating paint or attaching a heat-insulating sheet so that the surface does not become too hot.

In addition, pest control and foliar fertilization in the leaf stem portion 21 may be mainly performed by shower spraying the culture solution onto the leaf stem portion 21, and depending on the situation, the leaf stem portion 21 may be immersed in an immersion liquid such as culture solution. The shower spraying or immersion of the leaf stem portion 21 in an immersion liquid may be performed in the solar irradiation region R1, or in the environmental adjustment region R2 as described below. When the leaf stem portion 21 is immersed in the liquid, water pressure is applied to the leaf stem portion 21 every time the leaf stem portion 21 enters and exits the liquid. On the other hand, pests that are relatively strongly attached to the plant, such as caterpillars, are difficult to remove from the plant by liquid spraying alone. For this reason, it is preferable to combine the spraying of liquid onto the leaf stem portion 21 and the immersion of the leaf stem portion 21 in the liquid.

The holding member 3 does not have to be submerged in water. In environments with few pests, pest control can be performed by spraying water onto the leaves and stems 21, such as the shower spray described above, without immersing the leaves and stems in water. In this case, the material of the members constituting the holding member 3 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, polystyrene foam.

The leaf stem 21 of the plant 2 held by the holding member 3 may be covered with a net (mesh bag). The net is a leaf covering member that covers the leaves of the plant 2. By covering the leaf stem 21 of the plant 2 with a leaf covering member such as a net, it is possible to irradiate the leaf stem 21 with sunlight while suppressing pests from flying in and attaching to the leaf stem 21 when the holding member 3 is in the sunlight irradiation region R1 or when it is moved up and down between the sunlight irradiation region R1 and the environmental adjustment region R2. In addition, when the holding member 3 is moved up and down between the sunlight irradiation region R1 and the environmental adjustment region R2, it is possible to prevent the plant 2 held around the end of the holding member 3 from contacting the wall of the environmental adjustment box 5 that forms the environmental adjustment region R2. The leaf stem 21 of multiple plants 2 may be covered with one net, or each of the leaf stems 21 of each plant 2 may be covered with multiple nets. The net can be removed from the solar irradiation area R1 and placed over the plants 2 when moving to the environmental adjustment area R2 to improve ventilation for the plants 2 and to prevent the inside of the net from becoming too hot and steaming. To prevent the inside of the net from becoming too hot and steaming, the net is preferably used in cold environments such as winter. The net preferably has holes so that sunlight can directly irradiate the leaves and stems 21, and may be made of nonwoven fabric. A film may also be used instead of the net.

The plant cultivation device 1 is equipped with a lifting mechanism that moves the holding member 3 between the solar irradiation area R1 and the environmental adjustment area R2 while maintaining the leaf-stalk portion 21 of the plant 2 in an upward position. The lifting mechanism in the plant cultivation device 1 is composed of a wire rope 4 and a power source (not shown).

The wire rope 4 is a hanging mechanism that suspends the holding member 3. By suspending the holding member 3 with a hanging mechanism, the holding member 3 can be easily moved in the vertical direction, and the parts are also economical. In the above-mentioned hanging mechanism, the parts that suspend the holding member 3 include, in addition to the wire rope 4, a chain, a fiber rope, etc.

For example, by using a power source (not shown) capable of unwinding and winding the wire rope 4, the hook portion 31 and the holding member 3 are lowered vertically downward by unwinding the wire rope 4 from above and lowering it, and the hook portion 31 and the holding member 3 are raised vertically upward by winding the wire rope 4 from above and pulling it up. This allows the holding member 3 to be moved between the solar irradiation region R1 and the environmental adjustment region R2 while maintaining the leaf stem portion 21 of the plant 2 in an upward position. The lifting mechanism is not limited to one consisting of the wire rope 4 and a power source (not shown), and any known or conventional lifting device can be used. The lifting mechanism may be either an automatic or manual type.

The solar irradiation area R1 is an area (space) for irradiating the leaf stem 21 of the plant 2 with sunlight. The solar irradiation area R1 may be covered with a light-transmitting film like a vinyl house, but from the viewpoint of irradiating a wider variety of light with wavelengths emitted by sunlight, it is preferable that the area is directly irradiated with sunlight, rather than light transmitted through a light-transmitting film such as a vinyl film constituting a vinyl house. In addition, the solar irradiation area R1 does not need to be an area that is constantly irradiated with sunlight, and may be an area that can be irradiated with sunlight by opening and closing a lid, ceiling, or an open-close vinyl house. The open-close vinyl house may be an automatic winding type equipped with sensors for temperature, rain, wind, humidity, etc. It is preferable that the solar irradiation area R1 is on the ground.

The environmental adjustment area R2 is an area (space) for adjusting the cultivation environment of the plant 2. The environment to be adjusted includes, for example, the amount of sunlight exposure, brightness, temperature, humidity, air conditioning, and wind volume. In the environmental adjustment area R2, such cultivation environments can be adjusted to apply, for example, a night simulation to the plant 2.

The environmental adjustment area R2 is formed of an environmental adjustment box 5 buried in the ground and lids 6a and 6b. The lids 6a and 6b can be opened and closed. E indicates the ground. The environmental adjustment box 5 and the environmental adjustment area R2 are underground. By moving the plant 2 to the environmental adjustment area R2 by the lifting mechanism, the temperature and humidity of the environmental adjustment area R2 can be instantly changed from a daytime environment (e.g., a bright environment) to a nighttime environment (e.g., a dark environment with high humidity), and the growth of the plant 2 can be accelerated. In addition, when the environment of the solar irradiation area R1 deteriorates due to disasters such as typhoons, heavy rain, and storms, bad weather such as heat, severe cold, and snowfall, volcanic ash, yellow sand, and sandstorms, the holding member 3 can be moved to the environmental adjustment area R2 to allow evacuation. Furthermore, in rural areas, damage caused by harmful animals such as deer, wild boars, raccoons, palm civets, and weasels that appear at night, and monkeys that appear during the day, is common. They may break or tear open vinyl greenhouses and other structures to invade, but by moving and storing the holding member 3 in the environmental adjustment area R2, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of harmful animals and prevent damage. In addition, by moving and storing the holding member 3 in the environmental adjustment area R2, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of insects that are active at night, such as slugs and cutworms.

The environmental adjustment region R2 is not limited to being buried underground, but may be above ground, for example, with the environmental adjustment box 5 installed on the ground. For example, the environmental adjustment box 5 made of insulating material can be installed on the roof of a building, and plants can be cultivated on the roof of the building using the plant cultivation device of the present disclosure.

The plant cultivation device 1 is equipped with a sunlight blocking mechanism that blocks sunlight irradiation to the environmental adjustment region R2. The sunlight blocking mechanism includes lids 6a and 6b. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding member 3 in the state shown in FIG. 1 can be moved from the sunlight irradiation region R1 to the environmental adjustment region R2 by lowering it into the environmental adjustment box 5 by the lifting mechanism, and the lids 6a and 6b can be closed to block sunlight irradiation and turn the environmental adjustment region R2 into a darkroom. The lifting mechanism can move only vertically when moving the holding member 3 between the sunlight irradiation region R1 and the environmental adjustment region R2, and cannot move horizontally.

Air conditioning pipes 7a and 7b are connected to the environmental adjustment area R2, and the temperature, humidity, air volume, and other air conditioning conditions within the environmental adjustment area R2 can be adjusted through the air conditioning pipes 7a and 7b. For example, since cucumbers are sensitive to humidity and water, sending dry air through the environmental adjustment area R2 can create an optimal environment for cucumbers.

A plurality of injection ports 51 are installed on the inner wall surface of the environmental adjustment box 5. When the plant 2 is in the environmental adjustment region R2, liquid can be injected from the injection ports 51 to attach the liquid to the leaf-stalk portion 21 (FIG. 3). The plant cultivation device 1 also includes a leaf-stalk immersion mechanism that immerses the leaf-stalk portion 21 of the plant 2 in liquid in the environmental adjustment region R2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid inlet 8 and a liquid drainage port 9 are connected to the environmental adjustment region R2. That is, in the plant cultivation device 1, the leaf-stalk immersion mechanism includes the environmental adjustment box 5, the liquid inlet 8, and the liquid drainage port 9. From the state shown in FIG. 2, liquid such as water or culture solution can be injected through the liquid inlet 8 to fill the environmental adjustment region R2 with the liquid (FIG. 4). At this time, the air conditioning pipes 7a, 7b and the liquid drainage port 9 are closed to prevent the liquid from entering.

By filling the environmental adjustment region R2 with the liquid, the holding member 3 is submerged in the liquid instead of floating, and the leaf-stalk portion 21 is immersed in the liquid. By injecting liquid from the injection port 51 onto the leaf-stalk portion 21 or by immersing the leaf-stalk portion 21 in the liquid, pests such as aphids, green caterpillars, cutworms, and diamondback moths attached to the leaf-stalk portion 21 can be removed from the leaf-stalk portion 21. The liquid is then discharged from the environmental adjustment region R2 through the drainage port 9. The liquid may be water or an aqueous solution such as a culture solution. In addition, by injecting liquid onto the plant 2 and immersing the plant 2 in the liquid, for example, if harmful substances such as radioactive substances and sulfur oxides contained in acid rain are attached to the plant 2, the plant 2 can be washed and the harmful substances can be removed, and if the liquid is a culture solution, foliar fertilization can also be performed. In addition, if the liquid is a sterilizing liquid such as ozone water, the plant 2 can be sterilized and bacteria and mold attached to the plant 2 can be removed. In addition, from the viewpoint of reducing the load on the leaf-stalk portion 21, it is preferable to inject liquid into the empty environmental adjustment box 5 from the liquid inlet 8 while the holding member 3 is stationary, and immerse the leaf-stalk portion 21 in the liquid, rather than lowering the holding member 3 and immersing the leaf-stalk portion 21 in the liquid that has been stored in advance in the environmental adjustment box 5.

The holding member 3 may have a plurality of through holes that penetrate the holding member 3 in the vertical direction. The through holes are different from the through holes 32a for holding the plant 2. In this case, when the holding member 3 is lowered to immerse the leaf-stalk portion 21 in the liquid stored in the environmental adjustment box 5, the liquid passes through the through holes, thereby reducing the resistance applied to the holding member 3 from the liquid. In addition, when the holding member 3 is located in the solar irradiation region R1, the liquid stored in the environmental adjustment box 5 below the holding member 3 evaporates, and the cold air generated passes through the through holes to cool the leaf-stalk portion 21 of the plant 2. The greater the area ratio of the through holes on the upper and lower surfaces of the holding member 3, the easier it is to obtain the above-mentioned effect. The above-mentioned area ratio is, for example, 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more, and even more preferably 80% or more.

The shape, size, and position of the through holes are not particularly limited as long as they allow liquid or gas to pass through. The through holes do not need to be located at the same positions in the vertical direction on the upper and lower surfaces of the holding member 3. The multiple through holes may be arranged in a lattice pattern in the holding member. The holding member may also be made of a woven thread-like material (e.g., iron grid, resin mesh, etc.).

The height of the environmental adjustment area R2 (e.g., the height of the environmental adjustment box 5) is not particularly limited and is set appropriately according to the height of the plant 2, but can be, for example, about 30 cm to 1.5 m.

The positions of the air conditioning pipes 7a and 7b, the liquid inlet 8, and the liquid outlet 9 are not particularly limited. The immersion time is usually 1 to 120 minutes, and preferably 10 to 20 minutes.

Examples of holding members in the plant culture device of the present disclosure include panel-type holding members and box-type holding members. Holding member 3 shown in FIG. 1 is a panel-type holding member. A box-type holding member includes a lid member and a bottom member, and the bottom has a culture solution passage that can transfer culture solution between the roots of multiple plants. In addition, the roots are stored within the holding member and are not exposed to the outside of the holding member. On the other hand, a panel-type holding member does not include a bottom member that stores the roots of the plants and has a culture solution passage, and the roots are exposed.

The panel-type holding member preferably has a through hole for holding the plant and a raised portion provided on the periphery of the through hole. One embodiment of the panel-type holding member is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 (a) shows a top view of a panel-type holding member 32, which is one embodiment of the panel-type holding member, Figure 5 (b) shows an I-I' cross-sectional view of the panel-type holding member 32, and Figure 5 (c) shows a II-II' cross-sectional view of the panel-type holding member 32. As shown in Figure 5, the panel-type holding member 32 has a sheet shape and a through hole 32a that penetrates the panel in the thickness direction of the sheet shape. The upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32 has a raised portion 32b provided around the edge of the through hole 32a, an upper surface bottom portion 32g that is provided adjacent to the periphery of the raised portion 32b and is located lower than the raised portion 32b, and inclined portions 32c to 32f that are inclined so as to become lower from the upper surface bottom portion 32g toward the periphery of the upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32. The upper surface bottom portion 32g is a horizontal plane, but may be inclined.

The inclined portions 32c to 32f are inclined so as to become lower from the upper surface bottom portion 32g toward the periphery of the panel-type holding member 32. As a result, liquid such as culture fluid that flows into the upper surface bottom portion 32g or the inclined portions 32c to 32f flows toward the periphery of the panel-type holding member 32 and flows down from the upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32. For example, when culture fluid is sprayed on the upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32, liquid such as culture fluid does not accumulate on the upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32, so the growth of algae can be suppressed. In addition, if a large amount of culture fluid flows into the through hole 32a, it will impact the stem of the plant 2 and weaken it, but by having the raised portion 32b, it is possible to prevent a large amount of liquid from flowing into the through hole 32a, and the stem can be protected.

The inclined portions 32c to 32f are formed in this order on the four sides of the rectangular panel-type holding member 32 in top view, and are inclined toward the periphery of the panel-type holding member 32. The inclined portions 32c and 32e, and the inclined portions 32d and 32f are located on opposing sides. The arrangement and shape of the inclined portions are not particularly limited, and may be such that liquid supplied to the inclined portions flows toward the periphery of the panel-type holding member 32, which is located lower than the raised portion 32b. The number and arrangement of the through holes 32a are not particularly limited, and can be adjusted as appropriate. The planar shape of the through holes 32a is a circle, but may be other shapes, and is not particularly limited. The through holes 32a are cylindrical. A sheet-shaped water-absorbing member can be installed on the inner wall surface of the through holes 32a.

The panel-type holding member may have the plurality of through holes. One embodiment of a panel-type holding member having a plurality of through holes is shown in FIG. 6. The panel-type holding member 32 shown in FIG. 6 is formed into a lattice-shaped mesh using resin wire, and as a result has a plurality of through holes 32h. The through hole 32b does not have a through hole 32h, but like the other parts, it may be formed into a lattice-shaped mesh using resin wire.

The box-type holding member includes a lid member and a bottom member. The box-type holding member preferably has a culture medium supply port for supplying culture medium into the box. The culture medium supply port may be formed in either the lid member or the bottom member. When the culture medium supply port is formed in the lid member, it may penetrate the lid member in the thickness direction of the sheet shape or may penetrate the side surface. When the culture medium supply port is formed in the bottom member, it may penetrate the bottom member in the thickness direction of the sheet shape or may penetrate the side surface. The culture medium supply port may be one or more. When the through holes are arranged in a row, it is preferable that the culture medium supply port is provided on one end side of the multiple through holes arranged in a row. The lower surface of the lid member and the upper surface of the bottom member preferably have shapes (e.g., concave and convex shapes) for fitting with each other. The shape for fitting (fitting shape) is preferably formed in a frame shape. The lid member may be used as the panel-type holding member.

The lid member has a through hole for holding a plant. The upper surface of the lid member preferably has a raised portion provided on the periphery of the through hole. The upper surface of the lid member preferably has an inclined portion that slopes downward from the periphery of the raised portion toward the periphery of the upper surface of the lid member. In particular, it is preferable that the upper surface of the lid member does not have a portion in which liquid can accumulate.

The bottom member has a drainage port for draining the culture medium supplied into the box to the outside of the box. The drainage port preferably penetrates the bottom member so that its outlet faces vertically downward. The upper surface of the bottom member preferably has a recess for the supplied culture medium to flow. The recess is preferably provided at least below each through-hole in the vertical direction. The drainage port is preferably provided in the recess. All the recesses are preferably connected so that the culture medium can flow. The drainage port may be one or more. When the through-holes are arranged in a row, the drainage port is preferably provided on the through-hole side on the other end side with respect to the culture medium supply port provided on one end side of the multiple through-holes arranged in a row. The shape of the lower surface of the bottom member is not particularly limited. The upper surface of the bottom member may be flat without the recess.

The recess forms a cavity in the box when the cover member and the bottom member are combined to form a box-shaped holding member. The height of the cavity (i.e., the height of the recess) is set appropriately depending on the type of plant, but may be about 1 to 2 cm. The recess provided below the through-hole is preferably shaped to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the through-hole (particularly the diameter of the through-hole on the underside of the cover member). In addition, a water-absorbing member may be placed in the recess provided below the through-hole. By placing the water-absorbing member, the culture solution flowing through the recess can be retained in the water-absorbing member, and the roots can be dispersed and grown while preventing the roots from drying out, and the culture solution can be continuously supplied to the roots in contact with the water-absorbing member.

One embodiment of a lid member in a box-type retaining member is shown in FIG. 7, and one embodiment of a bottom member in the box-type retaining member is shown in FIG. 8. The bottom surface of the lid member 33 shown in FIG. 7 and the top surface of the bottom member 34 shown in FIG. 8 can be fitted together to form the box-type retaining member shown in FIG. 9.

7(a) shows a top view of the lid member 33, FIG. 7(b) shows a III-III' cross-sectional view of the lid member 33, and FIG. 7(c) shows a IV-IV' cross-sectional view of the lid member 33. As shown in FIG. 7, the lid member 33 has a sheet shape and has a through hole 33a that penetrates the lid member 33 in the thickness direction of the sheet shape. The upper surface of the lid member 33 has a raised portion 33b provided around the edge of the through hole 33a, an upper surface bottom portion 33g that is installed adjacent to the periphery of the through hole 33a and is located lower than the raised portion 33b, inclined portions 33c to 33f that are inclined so as to become lower from the upper surface bottom portion 33g toward the periphery of the upper surface of the lid member 33, and a culture medium supply port 33h that penetrates the lid member 33 in the thickness direction of the sheet shape and supplies culture medium to the inside of the box (toward the bottom of the lid member 33). The upper surface bottom portion 33g is a horizontal plane, but may be inclined. The underside of the lid member 33 has a frame-shaped convex shape 33i that fits into the concave shape 34e of the bottom member 34.

The inclined portions 33c to 33f are inclined so as to become lower from the upper bottom portion 33g toward the periphery of the lid member 33. As a result, even if the culture liquid remains on the upper surface due to, for example, the supply of culture liquid by shower spray or immersion in immersion liquid, the culture liquid on the upper bottom portion 33g and the inclined portions 33c to 33f flows toward the periphery of the lid member 33 and flows down from the upper surface of the lid member 33, and it is possible to prevent excess culture liquid from entering the inside of the box. In addition, since liquid such as culture liquid does not accumulate on the upper surface of the lid member 33, it is possible to suppress the growth of algae. In addition, if a large amount of culture liquid flows into the through hole 33a, it will impact the stem of the plant 2 and weaken it, but by having the raised portion 33b, it is possible to prevent a large amount of liquid from flowing into the through hole 33a, and the stem can be protected.

The culture medium supply port 33h is a tube for supplying culture medium to the inside (below the lid member 33) of the box-shaped holding member composed of the lid member 33 and the bottom member 34.

As shown in FIG. 7(c), the through hole 33a is cylindrical. A sheet-shaped water-absorbing member can be placed on the inner wall surface of the through hole 33a.

Figure 8(a) shows a top view of bottom member 34, Figure 8(b) shows a V-V' cross-sectional view of bottom member 34, and Figure 8(c) shows a VI-VI' cross-sectional view of bottom member 34. As shown in Figure 8, bottom member 34 has a sheet shape and has a drainage port 34a for draining the culture medium supplied into the box to the outside of the box. Drainage port 34a penetrates bottom member 34 so as to face vertically downward. A frame-shaped concave shape 34e is formed on the upper surface of bottom member 34 to fit into convex shape 33i of lid member 33.

The upper surface of the bottom member 34 has a recess for circulating the culture medium supplied to the box (upper surface of the bottom member 34) through the culture medium supply port 33h of the cover member 33. The recess is formed so as to be at a lower position than the other bottom member upper surface inclined parts 34d, and has a passage recess 34c that allows the culture medium to flow between the through hole lower recess 34b and the through hole lower recess 34b provided at a position below the through hole 33a in the vertical direction. As a result, all the through hole lower recesses 34b are connected via the passage recess 34c. The drainage port 34a is provided in the recess, and is provided on the through hole 33a side on the other end side with respect to the culture medium supply port 33h provided on one end side of the multiple through holes 33a arranged in a row. As a result, the culture medium supplied from the culture medium supply port 33h passes through all the through hole lower recesses 34b and is sent to the drainage port 34a. The above recess may be a horizontal surface, or may be inclined so as to be lower from the culture medium supply port 33h side toward the drainage port 34a side. If the recess is a horizontal surface, the box-shaped holding member can be tilted to provide an inclination by, for example, adjusting the height at which it is lifted by the wire hook 4. Note that the through-hole lower recess 34b does not have to be cylindrical as shown in FIG. 8, and may be, for example, inclined toward the center (such as an inverted cone).

8(b) and (c), the bottom member upper surface inclined portion 34d is inclined downward from the top of the wall surface of the concave shape 34e toward the top of the wall surface of the recess formed by the through-hole lower recess 34b and the passage recess 34c. The bottom of the recess is provided at a position lower than the lowest edge of the bottom member upper surface inclined portion 34d. As shown in FIG. 8(c), a water-absorbing member 34f may be installed in the through-hole lower recess 34b. As the water-absorbing member 34f, the water-absorbing member 38 described below or one exemplified as a water-retaining material that can replace it can be used. When the water-absorbing member 34f is present, the root portion 22 extending from the lower side of the through-hole 33a will entwine with the water-absorbing member 34f and grow thickly.

The box-shaped holding member 35 shown in FIG. 9 can be formed by fitting the convex shape 33i of the cover member 33 shown in FIG. 7 with the concave shape 34e of the bottom member 34 shown in FIG. 8. In the box-shaped holding member 35, the concave portion in the bottom member 34 becomes a cavity 35a.

The lid member and/or bottom member constituting the box-shaped holding member may have the above-mentioned multiple through holes. One embodiment of a box-shaped holding member having multiple through holes is shown in FIG. 10. The box-shaped holding member 35 shown in FIG. 10 is composed of a lid member 33 and a bottom member 34. Both the lid member 33 and the bottom member 34 are formed into a lattice-shaped mesh using resin wire, and as a result, have multiple through holes 32h. Therefore, the box-shaped holding member 35 has holes that penetrate the holding member from top to bottom. The through hole 32b does not have a through hole 32h, but may be formed into a lattice-shaped mesh using resin wire like the other parts.

The plant culture device 1 is equipped with a culture solution supply mechanism for supplying culture solution 10 to the roots 22 of the plant 2. The culture solution supply mechanism when a panel-type holding member is used as the holding member will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 16.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 11 uses the panel-type holding member shown in FIG. 5 as the holding member 3. The holding member 3 shown in FIG. 11 includes a hook portion 31, a panel-type holding member 32, and an outer frame 36. The hook portion 31 is for hooking the wire rope 4. The outer frame 36 is attached so as to cover the side surfaces of the multiple panel-type holding members 32 collectively so that the multiple panel-type holding members 32 can be raised and lowered simultaneously. The panel-type holding member 32 has multiple through holes 32a, and the plant 2 is held in the through holes 32a so that the leaf-stem portion 21 is exposed on the upper surface of the panel-type holding member 32 and the root portion 22 is exposed on the lower surface of the panel-type holding member 32. A water absorption member 38 and a pipe 37 that is a member for supporting the water absorption member 38 are installed on the lower side of the panel-type holding member 32. A plurality of pipes 37 are installed in parallel across the opposing surfaces (front-rear direction in FIG. 11) on the inner wall of the outer frame 36. The absorbent sheet serving as the absorbent member 38 is wrapped around the pipe 37 so that both ends hang down, and the roots 22 are placed on the pipe 37. Instead of the pipe 37, any known or conventional member capable of supporting the absorbent member 38 while keeping the roots 22 in contact with air may be used.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 11 employs a culture solution pool as a culture solution supply mechanism. In the culture solution supply mechanism shown in FIG. 11, the lifting device lowers the holding member 3 into the culture solution 10 pool in the vertically lower environmental adjustment box 5, or the lifting device lowers the holding member 3 into the vertically lower environmental adjustment box 5, and then the culture solution is supplied into the environmental adjustment box 5 to raise the liquid level of the culture solution, and at least a part of the roots 22 and/or the water-absorbing member 38 are immersed in the culture solution 10, thereby supplying the culture solution to the roots 22. It is preferable to immerse the roots 22 in the culture solution 10 once every 30 to 60 minutes from the viewpoint of sufficient oxygen supply to the roots 22. In addition, the number of immersions can be reduced by using a water-absorbing member 38 with a high water-absorption retention capacity. According to the culture solution supply mechanism shown in FIG. 11, since the injection nozzle 40 and the pump are not necessary, the culture solution can be supplied to the roots 22 simply by operating the lifting mechanism, which is a simpler cultivation method and reduces the cost of the manufacturing equipment. In addition, by further lowering the holding member 3 shown in FIG. 11, the leaf and stem parts 21 of the plant 2 can be immersed in the culture solution 10 as shown in FIG. 12.

When the plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 11 is moved vertically upward to float the roots 22 from the pool of culture solution 10, the water-absorbing member 38 holds the absorbed culture solution 10 for a certain period of time, thereby preventing the roots 22 from drying out and continuously supplying the culture solution 10 to the roots 22. The excess culture solution 10 that the water-absorbing member 38 cannot hold drips downward from the panel-type holding member 32. When the culture solution 10 is drained from the pool of culture solution 10, the environmental adjustment box 5 located vertically below the panel-type holding member 32 has a bottom, which can also serve as a drainage channel, so that the dripping culture solution 10 can be dropped into the environmental adjustment box 5 and collected. When the culture solution 10 is dropped into the environmental adjustment box 5, the dropped culture solution 10 evaporates in the environmental adjustment region R2, and the surface of the environmental adjustment box 5 is cooled by the heat of vaporization, and the temperature is kept low and stable in summer.

The water-absorbing member 38 or a water-retaining material that can be substituted therefor is not particularly limited, but examples include polystyrene foam chips, polyurethane foam chips, sponge chips, balls of thread, pieces of paper, fiber mats, stainless steel mesh, etc.

In the state shown in FIG. 11, waves may be generated on the surface of the culture solution 10 as shown in FIG. 13. This allows the culture solution 10 to be stirred, mixing air into the culture solution and maintaining a high oxygen concentration in the culture solution 10, so that oxygen can be supplied to the roots 22 even while they are immersed in the culture solution 10. Furthermore, the generation of waves generates droplets, which can maintain a high humidity in the environmental adjustment area R2, increase the air flow in the environmental adjustment area R2, and cool the environmental adjustment box 5 by the heat of vaporization. In addition, by generating waves in a state in which the roots 22 are stopped above the liquid level of the culture solution 10 pool and the roots 22 are not immersed in the culture solution 10 as shown in FIG. 14, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the waves act as a culture solution supply mechanism, generating droplets to supply the culture solution 10 to the roots 22. In addition, when using waves as a culture medium supply mechanism, the water-absorbing member 38 will prevent droplets from reaching the roots 22, so it is preferable not to use the water-absorbing member 38 or to use a mesh-like water-absorbing member 38 with large mesh that allows droplets to pass through.

When waves are generated on the liquid surface of the culture solution 10 pool, in an environment where the outside air temperature is low, such as in winter (for example, from November to February), it is preferable to reduce the wave width while the roots 22 are immersed in the culture solution 10. If the roots 22 come into contact with cold air, the absorption of the culture solution 10 is hindered. However, the above method can suppress the generation of droplets and evaporation, and prevent a decrease in temperature due to the heat of vaporization in the environmental adjustment region R2. It can also promote the growth of the plant 2. In the method of immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution 10, it is preferable to provide equipment for heating and circulating the culture solution 10 and supplying oxygen. On the other hand, in an environment where the outside air temperature is high, such as in summer (for example, from March to October), in order to lower the temperature in the environmental adjustment region R2, it is preferable to stop the holding member 3 so that the roots 22 are above the liquid surface of the culture solution 10 pool, as shown in FIG. 14, and generate waves without immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution 10. This allows the roots 22 to be supplied with sufficient oxygen while the culture solution 10 is supplied to the roots 22 by droplets, and the temperature in the environmental adjustment region R2 can be lowered by the heat of vaporization of the droplets.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 15 uses the panel-type holding member shown in FIG. 5 as the holding member 3, and is similar to the plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 11 except for the different method of installing the water-absorbing member 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, a sheet-like water-absorbing member 38 is installed on the lower side of the panel-type holding member 32, on the inner wall surface of the through-hole 32a shown in FIG. 5, so as to hang down below the through-hole 32a. The sheet-like water-absorbing member 38 is installed in a cylindrical shape or so that multiple sheets hang down at intervals.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 16 employs mist spraying (particularly, direct mist spraying to the roots) as a culture solution supply mechanism. The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 16 uses the panel-type holding member 32 shown in FIG. 5 as the holding member 3. In the plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 16, an injection port 40 is installed near the roots 22 when the leaf-stalk portion 21 is located in the solar irradiation region R1. By spraying the culture solution 10 from the injection port 40 installed near the roots 22, the culture solution 10 can be supplied to the roots 22.

The plant culture device 1 shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 16 also includes an air atmosphere region R3 that allows the roots 22 to come into contact with air while the culture solution 10 is being supplied to the roots 22. For example, in Fig. 16, the culture solution 10 can be supplied to the roots 22 in small amounts by spraying the culture solution 10 rather than immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution 10, so that the roots 22 can come into contact with the culture solution 10 while coming into contact with the air. The oxygen concentration in water is 5 to 6% by volume, whereas the oxygen concentration in the air atmosphere region R3 is about 21% by volume. By having the air atmosphere region R3, sufficient oxygen can be absorbed by the roots 22, which is more effective in preventing root rot and promoting plant growth. In addition, nutrients can be supplied to the roots 22 by supplying the culture solution 10 in small amounts, which is more economical than immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution. The roots 22 that extend from the underside of the panel-type holding member 32 grow well thanks to the abundance of oxygen and nutrients.

The culture solution 10 sprayed from the spray nozzle 40 and the culture solution 10 dripping from the roots 22 drip downward. The environmental adjustment box 5 located vertically below the panel-type holding member 32 has a bottom that can also serve as a drainage channel, allowing the dripping culture solution 10 to fall into the environmental adjustment box 5 and be collected. When the culture solution 10 falls into the environmental adjustment box 5, the culture solution 10 vaporizes within the environmental adjustment region R2, and the surface of the environmental adjustment box 5 is cooled by the heat of vaporization, keeping the temperature low and stable in summer.

The injection port 51 provided on the inner wall of the environmental adjustment box 5 may also serve as the injection port 40. In this case, the injection port 51 is installed near the roots 22 when the leaf-stem portion 21 is located in the sunlight irradiation region R1. In other words, the injection port 51 can serve as a culture solution supply mechanism. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, by adjusting the elevation position of the holding member 3, the injection port 51 provided on the inner wall of the environmental adjustment box 5 can inject culture solution to the roots 22 when the leaf-stem portion 21 is located in the sunlight irradiation region R1, and can inject culture solution to the leaf-stem portion 21 for both foliar fertilization and pest control when the leaf-stem portion 21 is located in the environmental adjustment region R2.

Using Figure 17, we will explain the culture medium supply mechanism when a box-type holding member is used as the holding member.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 17 uses the box-type holding member 35 shown in FIG. 9 as the holding member 3. The holding member 3 shown in FIG. 17 includes a hook portion 31, a box-type holding member 35, and an outer frame 36. The outer frame 36 is attached to cover the side of the multiple box-type holding members 35 collectively so that the multiple box-type holding members 35 can be raised and lowered simultaneously. The cover member 33 of the box-type holding member 35 has multiple through holes 33a, and the plant 2 is held in the through holes 33a so that the leaf-stalk portion 21 is exposed on the upper surface of the box-type holding member 35 and the root portion 22 is exposed inside the box-type holding member 35 (below the cover member 33). A water-absorbing member 38 is installed in the through hole lower recess 34b provided on the upper surface of the bottom member 34. The water-absorbing member 38 may be installed in the passage recess 34c. As a result, the water-absorbing member 38 absorbs the culture solution 10 sent to it and retains the culture solution 10 for a certain period of time, preventing the roots 22 from drying out and allowing the culture solution 10 to be continuously supplied to the roots 22. In addition, any excess culture solution 10 that the water-absorbing member 38 cannot retain flows through the passage recess 43c to the adjacent through-hole lower recess 34b, and the culture solution 10 is absorbed by the other water-absorbing members 38. After all water-absorbing members 38 are saturated with the culture solution 10, the culture solution can be supplied to the roots little by little by supplying small amounts of culture solution, which is economical.

The culture solution 10 distilled from the drainage port 34a drips downward from the box-type holding member 35. The environmental adjustment box 5 located vertically below the box-type holding member 35 has a bottom that can also serve as a drainage channel, so that the dripping culture solution 10 can be dropped into the environmental adjustment box 5 and collected. When the culture solution 10 is dropped into the environmental adjustment box 5, the dropped culture solution 10 vaporizes in the environmental adjustment region R2, and the surface of the environmental adjustment box 5 is cooled by the heat of vaporization, so that the temperature is kept low and stable in summer.

The plant culture device 1 shown in FIG. 17 also has an air atmosphere region R3 in which the roots 22 can come into contact with air while the culture solution 10 is being supplied to the roots 22. Instead of immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution 10, the culture solution 10 can be supplied to the roots 22 little by little by continuously supplying a small amount of the culture solution 10 to the recess, so that the roots 22 can come into contact with the culture solution 10 while coming into contact with the air. By having the air atmosphere region R3, oxygen can be sufficiently absorbed from the roots 22, which is more effective in preventing root rot and promoting plant growth. In addition, nutrients can be supplied to the roots 22 by supplying a small amount of the culture solution 10, so this is more economical than immersing the roots 22 in the culture solution. The extended roots 22 grow sufficiently because they are rich in oxygen and nutrients. The grown roots 22 wrap around the water-absorbing member 38 and flourish.

When harvesting, a plant cultivation device that uses a box-shaped holding member as the holding member, as shown in Figure 17, can be transported or shipped by placing the box-shaped holding member on a belt conveyor or transport roll.

The plant culture device 1 may be provided with a rocking mechanism capable of rocking the box-shaped holding member to a horizontal state and an inclined state. One embodiment of the plant culture device 1 provided with a rocking mechanism is shown in FIG. 18. In the horizontal state shown in FIG. 18(a), when liquid is supplied into the holding member 3, which is a box-shaped holding member, the roots 22 of the plant 2 are in contact with the liquid. Then, by rocking the holding member 3 holding the plant 2 from the horizontal state to the inclined state, it transitions to the inclined state shown in FIG. 18(b). As a result, the liquid moves within the holding member 3, oxygen is taken in by the liquid within the holding member 3, and the roots 22 of the plant 2 within the holding member 3 are exposed to air, promoting respiration of the roots. In addition, the movement of the liquid within the holding member 3 allows carbon dioxide generated by respiration of the roots 22 to escape from the liquid, thereby suppressing a decrease in the pH of the liquid. Furthermore, the movement of the liquid can equalize the concentration of each component in the liquid, and can stimulate the roots 22 of the plant 2 and activate microorganisms. As a result, the growth of the plants held in the holding member 3 can be promoted. In addition, by providing the above-mentioned rocking mechanism, the air atmosphere region R3 can be created by rocking. The inclination angle θ of the holding member 3 depends on the dimensions of the holding member 3 and the amount of liquid in the holding member 3, but it is preferable to set it to, for example, 10° to 30°.

The plant cultivation device shown in FIG. 18 realizes a rocking mechanism by setting a difference in the amount of winding of the wire 4 on the left and right sides, but the rocking mechanism is not limited to this embodiment. Examples of plant cultivation devices equipped with other rocking mechanisms include the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 to 22.

In the plant culture device shown in FIG. 19, the rocking mechanism B is a protruding member B1 that protrudes upward from the mounting surface A1 of the support part A on which the holding member 3 is placed. The holding member 3 is normally maintained horizontally on the mounting surface A1 because the protruding member B1 is housed in the support part A (FIG. 19(a)). However, when the protruding member B1 protrudes from the mounting surface A1, the right end in FIG. 19 is lifted and tilted (FIG. 19(b)). Note that the protruding member B1 may extend in the depth direction over the entire length of the right end so as to support the right end of the holding member 3 in FIG. 19, or may be configured to support only a part of the right end as long as the holding member 3 can be stably lifted.

The plant culture device shown in FIG. 20 is similar to the plant culture device shown in FIG. 19, except that it has an eccentric cam B2 as a rocking means B. The eccentric cam B2 is usually entirely housed within the support part A (FIG. 20(a)), but when it is turned over around the rotation axis, a part of it protrudes from the placement surface A1, lifting the right end of the holding member 3 in FIG. 20 and tilting the holding member 3 (FIG. 20(b)). The eccentric cam B2 may extend in the depth direction over the entire length of the right end so as to support the right end of the holding member 3 in FIG. 20, or may be configured to support only a part of the right end as long as it can stably lift the holding member 3.

21 is the same as the plant culture device shown in FIG. 19, except that the holding member 3 is installed in the center of the mounting surface A1, and the rotating body B3 extending in the depth direction of FIG. 20 is used as the rocking means B, and the holding member 3 is mounted on the mounting surface A1 via the rotating body B3. In the plant culture device shown in FIG. 21, the rotating body B3 is formed, for example, in a semi-cylindrical shape, and the holding member 3 is configured so that its lower surface is fixed to the flat upper surface of the semi-cylindrical rotating body B3 installed so that the arc surface faces downward. Note that the rotating body B3 preferably extends over the entire length of the holding member 3 in the depth direction of FIG. 21, but is not particularly limited to this as long as it can support the holding member 3. In addition, the shape of the rotating body B3 is not limited to a semi-cylindrical shape as long as it can rockably support the holding member 3 so that it is in a horizontal state and an inclined state.

The plant culture device shown in Figures 18 to 21 can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in Figures 18 to 21, only the right end of the holding member 3 in each figure is raised, but as long as the holding member 3 can be tilted so that the liquid inside the holding member 3 moves and the roots 22 of the plant 2 are exposed to the air, for example, the left end in each figure may be raised, or the right end and the left end in each figure may be raised alternately.

The plant culture device 1 may not have an air atmosphere region R3, and may be configured such that the roots 22 are immersed in the culture solution 10 in the holding member 3 and do not come into contact with air while the culture solution 10 is being supplied. In this case, oxygen can be supplied to the roots 22 by a known method such as aeration.

The shape of the holding member 3, such as the panel-type holding member 32 or the box-type holding member 35, is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may be a triangular prism, a hexagonal prism, or another prismatic shape. In particular, when the box-type holding member is a triangular prism in which the horizontal direction is the height direction, by forming a groove at the bottom, the culture fluid is more likely to collect in the groove and flow through the groove, making it possible to reduce the amount of culture fluid 10. The shape of the holding member 3 is not limited to a prismatic shape, and may be a pyramidal shape such as a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, or a pyramidal shape.

22 shows an external view of one embodiment of the plant cultivation device 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 22, the holding member 3 is a panel-type holding member 32 shown in FIG. 5, in which five through holes 32a are arranged in a one-dimensional direction, arranged in a horizontal direction in a plurality of rows (five rows) so that their sides face each other, and an outer frame 36 is attached to cover the sides of the plurality of panel-type holding members 32 collectively. Hooks 31 are installed on the outer sides of the two parallel side faces of the outer frame 36, and the holding member 3 is suspended by hooking a wire rope 4 on the hooks 31. The holding member 3 is installed in the solar irradiation region R1. By moving the holding member 3 from the solar irradiation region R1 to the environmental adjustment region R2, the plurality of panel-type holding members 32 are simultaneously lowered vertically into one environmental adjustment box 5 and stored. It is preferable that the bottom surface of the outer frame 36 is not provided or is made of a mesh so that the roots 22 are exposed or the culture solution 10 can drip into the environmental adjustment box 5.

Figure 22 shows an example in which multiple panel-type holding members 32 are fixed with an outer frame 36 to form a single holding member 3, but as shown in Figure 23, multiple box-type holding members 35 may also be used. In this case, since the roots 22 are not exposed, the bottom surface of the outer frame 36 is not particularly limited, but the bottom surface of the outer frame 36 may be absent or may be mesh-like so that the culture solution 10 discharged from the drainage port 34a can drip into the environmental adjustment box 5.

In addition, in FIG. 22, a plant cultivation device having a lifting mechanism that allows the holding members 3 consisting of multiple panel-type holding members 32 to be raised and lowered collectively has been described, but as shown in FIG. 24, a lifting mechanism that allows each of multiple holding members 3, such as multiple panel-type holding members 32 (or multiple box-type holding members 34), to be raised and lowered individually may be provided. In this case, the environmental adjustment box 5 may be divided by partitions so that each holding member 3 can be stored individually. In this case, the partitions may have holes so that air for air conditioning and liquid for immersion can pass through. In addition, the holding members are not limited to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, and may be, for example, one or more holding members that extend two-dimensionally in the horizontal direction, or multiple holding members each capable of storing only one plant may be arranged side by side.

The plant cultivation device disclosed herein can economically adjust the plant environment and exterminate pests. Therefore, by using the plant cultivation device disclosed herein for outdoor hydroponic cultivation, it is possible to steadily provide consumers with pesticide-free plants grown under sunlight at low prices. Furthermore, the plant cultivation device disclosed herein has the following advantages: it can be fully automated; when installed inside a greenhouse, the greenhouse can be made extremely small by lowering its height; cultivation can be carried out regardless of the season; and it can be installed in most locations (such as subtropical Okinawa, snowy Hokkaido, the rooftops of buildings, in the mountains, on cruise ships, at sea, and in home gardens).

Variations of the invention according to the present disclosure are described below.
[Appendix 1] A plant cultivation device for cultivating a plant held by a holding member,
The holding member for holding the plant;
A sunlight irradiation area for irradiating the plant with sunlight;
An environment adjustment area for adjusting the cultivation environment of the plant, the environment adjustment area being located vertically below the sunlight irradiation area;
a lifting mechanism capable of moving the holding member by vertically lifting and lowering the holding member between the sunlight irradiation area and the environmental adjustment area while maintaining a state in which the leaf and stem parts of the plant are located at an upper position;
The plant cultivation device, wherein the holding member is submersible in water.
[Appendix 2] The plant cultivation device according to Appendix 1, further comprising a leaf-stem immersion mechanism for immersing the leaf-stem of the plant in liquid in the environmental adjustment area.
[Appendix 3] The plant cultivation device according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the environmental adjustment area is located underground.
[Appendix 4] The plant cultivation device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, further comprising a sunlight blocking mechanism for blocking sunlight irradiation to the environmental adjustment area.
[Appendix 5] A culture solution supplying mechanism for supplying a culture solution to the roots of the plant;
The plant cultivation device according to any one of appendix 1 to 4, further comprising an air atmosphere region in which the root portion can come into contact with air while the culture solution is being supplied to the root portion.
[Appendix 6] The plant cultivation device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, further comprising a leaf covering member for covering the leaves of the plant.
[Appendix 7] The plant cultivation device described in any one of 1 to 6, further comprising a hanging mechanism for hanging the holding member.
[Appendix 8] A holding member for holding and cultivating a plant,
The holding member has a through hole for holding the plant and a plurality of through holes different from the through holes.
[Appendix 9] The holding member according to Appendix 8, wherein the plurality of through holes are arranged in a lattice pattern in the holding member.
[Appendix 10] The retaining member according to appendix 8 or 9, wherein the retaining member is made of a woven thread-like material.
[Appendix 11] A panel-type retaining member or a box-type retaining member having the plurality of through holes, the box-type retaining member having a cover member having the plurality of through holes and a bottom member having the plurality of through holes. A retaining member described in any one of Appendices 8 to 10.

Reference Signs List 1 Plant cultivation device 2 Plant 21 Leaf and stem portion 3 Holding member 31 Hook portion 4 Wire rope 5 Environmental adjustment box 51 Injection nozzle 6a, 6b Lid 7a, 7b Air conditioning pipe 8 Liquid injection port 9 Drain port E Ground R1 Sunlight irradiation area R2 Environmental adjustment area

Claims (3)

A plant cultivation device for cultivating a plant held by a holding member,
The holding member for holding the plant;
An environmental adjustment box that forms an environmental adjustment area located vertically below a sunlight irradiation area for irradiating the plant with sunlight, the environmental adjustment box containing an immersion liquid in which the leaves and stems of the plant are immersed;
a lifting mechanism capable of moving the holding member by vertically lifting and lowering the holding member between the sunlight irradiation area and the environmental adjustment area while maintaining a state in which the leaf and stem parts of the plant are located at an upper position;
the lifting mechanism includes a hanging mechanism that suspends the holding member,
The plant cultivation device, wherein the holding member is submersible in an immersion liquid. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, further comprising a leaf covering member for covering the leaves of the plant. A plant cultivation method for cultivating a plant, comprising:
a step of vertically raising and lowering a holding member for holding the plant, the holding member being capable of being submerged in the immersion liquid, between a sunlight irradiation area for irradiating the plant with sunlight and an environmental adjustment area located vertically below the sunlight irradiation area and formed by an environmental adjustment box containing an immersion liquid in which the leaves and stems of the plant are immersed, while maintaining the leaves and stems of the plant in an upward position;
and opening and closing a lid that blocks sunlight from being irradiated to the environmental adjustment area.
In the step of opening and closing the lid, the lid is closed when the holding member is positioned within the environment control box.

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