JP7706709B2 - Shading system for cultivation facilities - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shading system that provides shading within a cultivation facility.

Conventionally, a shading system has been known that uses shading curtains to block sunlight irradiating crops grown in greenhouses and other cultivation facilities, thereby preventing quality deterioration such as leaf burn.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a shading sheet placed above crops that can be opened and closed by driving a motor.

The light blocking rate of the light blocking curtains used in such shading systems is usually around 20% to 50%, and some curtains can block nearly 100% of the light. In addition, the total amount of light irradiated into the cultivation facility can be adjusted by how tightly (how much) the light blocking curtains are closed.

Patent Publication 2008-263905

However, even if the shade curtains are partially closed, especially in the summer, the crops not covered by the shade curtains are exposed to a large amount of sunlight, which can cause quality problems such as leaf burn and water drought.

In other words, the total amount of light irradiated into the cultivation facility can be adjusted by changing how tightly the light-shielding curtains are closed, but the light-shielding rate of each curtain is constant, making it difficult to adjust the amount of light irradiated to the crops by changing how tightly the curtains are closed.

In addition, when the blackout curtains are opened (closed) above the crops, the heated air is prevented from rising by the curtains, and heat ends up trapped below the curtains, i.e., near the crops.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a shading system for a cultivation facility that can adjust the shading rate and ventilate heated air upward.

The object of the present invention is to
A plurality of shading curtains that cover the top of the crops and are arranged in a vertical direction;
an opening/closing means for opening and closing each of the plurality of light-shielding curtains independently;
A control unit for controlling the opening and closing means,
The plurality of light-shielding curtains are arranged at different heights,
Each of the shading curtains has a shading portion for blocking sunlight,
A light-transmitting portion that does not block sunlight or has a higher light transmittance than the light-shielding portion, and the light-transmitting portion has breathability.
The plurality of light-shielding curtains are arranged at different heights,
This is achieved by a shading system for a cultivation facility, characterized in that the control unit is configured to adjust the shading rate by controlling the opening and closing means to change the relative positions of the multiple shading curtains.

According to the present invention, since the multiple shading curtains at different height positions each have a light-transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion, the light-blocking rate of the multiple shading curtains can be adjusted by changing the relative positions of the multiple shading curtains based on the control of the control unit.

In addition, according to the present invention, the light-transmitting sections of the multiple shading curtains at different heights are breathable, so that while shading crops, the warm air below the multiple shading curtains can be ventilated above the multiple shading curtains through the light-transmitting sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
When the amount of light irradiated to the crop exceeds the light saturation point of the crop, the control unit increases the shading rate.

According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the amount of light irradiated to the crop exceeds the light saturation point of the crop, the shading rate is increased, thereby suppressing the rise in temperature inside the cultivation facility.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
In addition, it is equipped with multiple light meters,
A plurality of the illuminometers are arranged so as to be able to measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section of the cultivation facility;
When the amount of light in any of the cultivation sections exceeds a set value, the control unit increases the shading rate of the light irradiated to that cultivation section.

This preferred embodiment of the present invention can promote crop photosynthesis while minimizing the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section, effectively preventing temperature rises within the cultivation facility.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The setting value is configured so that a different value can be set for each cultivation section.

According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can set a threshold light amount for each cultivation section, which determines whether the shading rate will be increased or not, making it possible to control the amount of light irradiated for each type of crop within the same cultivation facility.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,
At least a part of the light blocking portion is formed of a solar cell module.

In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shading section is formed from a solar cell module, so electricity can be generated while shading the crops below the shading curtain.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The present invention further includes a plurality of illuminometers and a lighting device provided below the plurality of light blocking curtains, the lighting device having an LED tube;
A plurality of the illuminometers are arranged so as to be able to measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section of the cultivation facility;
When the amount of light irradiated to at least one cultivation section is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the cultivation section in which the amount of light is equal to or less than the predetermined value is irradiated with light by the lighting device.

According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, when multiple shading curtains are used to block sunlight and prevent a rise in temperature inside the cultivation facility, even if there is a shortage of light, the lighting device can compensate for the lack of light in the cultivation section. In addition, because the lighting device has LED tubes, a rise in temperature inside the cultivation facility can be suppressed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The lighting device is configured to be movable according to the location of the cultivation section of the cultivation facility.

According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lighting devices can be moved to match the location of the cultivation sections, eliminating the need to provide a lighting device for each cultivation section, and allowing for a significant reduction in the number of lighting devices required.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a shading system for a cultivation facility that allows for adjustable shading rates and allows heated air to be ventilated upwards.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a shading system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility to which the shading system is applied. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shading system shown in FIG. 1 with the shading curtains closed. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the shading system shown in FIG. 1 with the shading curtains open. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system, a detection system, an input system, a drive system, and a display system of the light blocking system shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the movement control of the light blocking curtain by the control unit C. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the light-shielding curtains when the amount of solar radiation is high. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the light-shielding curtains when the amount of solar radiation is low. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which only the crops in the cultivation beds on the east side are shaded by the shading portions of a plurality of shading curtains. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing three light-shielding curtains arranged to block the afternoon sun. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the movement control of the shading curtain by the control unit of the shading system according to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a shading curtain of a shading system according to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention is closed. FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing an entire lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility to which the lighting system is applied. FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism of the lighting system shown in FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism taken along line AA in FIG. 13, seen from the right side. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a control system, a communication system, a detection system, an input system and a drive system of the lighting system shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the movement of the lighting device between stop positions and the emission of light. FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control system, a communication system, a detection system, an input system and a driving system of a lighting system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of the interior of a cultivation facility equipped with the lighting system shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cultivation beds and the order of movement of the lighting devices and the housings.

The following provides a detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a shading system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility 2 to which the shading system 1 is applied.

The cultivation facility 2 is provided with a housing 3 that covers the entire facility and an openable skylight 10 provided at the top of the housing 3, and within the cultivation facility 2, there are cultivation beds 45 that serve as cultivation sections in which crops 4 are housed.

The housing 3 is a typical structure made of light-transmitting sheets, plates, etc., and is capable of taking in sunlight L indoors.

The shading system 1 according to this embodiment includes a sensor unit 17 provided near each cultivation bed 5, three roll-up shading curtains 5 to 7 provided above the crops 4, three opening and closing mechanisms 14 for opening, closing and moving the three shading curtains 5 to 7 in the east-west direction, a cylinder 39 for storing carbon dioxide gas provided near the cultivation facility 2, a carbon dioxide gas supply pipe 31 for supplying a fixed amount of carbon dioxide gas from the cylinder 39 to the vicinity of the crops 4, an electromagnetic valve 46 for opening and closing the carbon dioxide gas supply pipe 31 (see FIG. 4), and a control unit C (see FIG. 2) for controlling the opening, closing and movement of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 and the supply of carbon dioxide gas.

In this embodiment, the light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 are identically configured except that they are positioned at different heights, and can be opened and closed in the east-west direction or simply moved by the opening and closing mechanisms 14 of the same configuration provided on each of them. Note that FIG. 1 shows the state in which the light-shielding curtains 5 and 6 are closed and the light-shielding curtain 7 is open.

Below, we will explain the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 and how they open and close, using the light-shielding curtain 5 and the opening and closing mechanism 14 provided on the light-shielding curtain 5 as examples.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the shading curtain 5 of the shading system 1 shown in Figure 1 in a closed state, and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the shading curtain 5 of the shading system 1 shown in Figure 1 in an open state.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the crops 4 located below the shade curtain 5 and its opening/closing mechanism 14 are shown by dashed lines, but the shade curtains 6 and 7 and their opening/closing mechanisms 14 have been omitted for convenience.

The light-shielding curtain 5 comprises a frame 11 formed into a substantially rectangular frame when spread out horizontally, four light-shielding sections 12 attached to the frame 11 in a line in the east-west direction, and light-transmitting sections 13 which are gaps (slits) formed between the light-shielding sections 12. In other words, the light-transmitting sections 13 are gaps defined by the frame 11 and the multiple light-shielding sections 12. For the light-shielding sections 12, see the areas marked with fine dots in Figure 2.

In this embodiment, each shading section 12 is made of polyethylene, a material that blocks (blocks) 30% of sunlight L. The two shading sections 12 located at both ends in the east-west direction are configured to be significantly longer in the east-west direction than the two shading sections 12 located in the center in the east-west direction (see Figure 9).

On the other hand, all translucent sections 13 are configured to have a width of 0.75 m in the east-west direction, and the spacing between translucent sections 13 is configured to be approximately the same width as the spacing between the cultivation beds 45 in the east-west direction.

The opening and closing mechanism 14 of the light-blocking curtain 5 includes a start-side winding shaft 8 provided at the western end of the cultivation facility 2, a terminal-side winding shaft 9 provided at the eastern end, a start-side motor 15 that drives the start-side winding shaft 8 to rotate, a terminal-side motor 16 that drives the terminal-side winding shaft 9 to rotate, and two wires 18 that are wound by the start-side motor 15 and the terminal-side motor 16.

The light-shielding curtain 5 is attached to two wires 18 of the opening and closing mechanism 14 by multiple strings 19 (see Figure 2).

The two wires 18 are attached to the outer periphery of the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9, respectively, and the start-side motor 15 and the end-side motor 16 are driven synchronously, so that the two wires 18 are wound onto the start-side winding shaft 8 or the end-side winding shaft 9.

In other words, when the shading curtain 5 is open, it is wound around the start-side winding shaft 8 together with the two wires 18, and when each shading curtain 5, 6 is closed (spread out above the crop 4), the start-side motor 15 and the end-side motor 16 are driven synchronously based on the output signal of the control unit C.

As a result, the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the two wires 18 are released from the start-side winding shaft 8 and wound onto the end-side winding shaft 9. At the same time, the light-blocking curtain 5 that was wound around the start-side winding shaft 8 is pulled out to the east together with the two wires 18, and is spread out between the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9 in top view as shown in FIG. 2 (the light-blocking curtain 5 is closed).

On the other hand, when the shade curtain 5 is opened (moved away from above the crop 4), the start end motor 15 and the end end motor 16 are driven synchronously based on the output signal of the control unit C.

As a result, the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, and the two wires 18 are released from the end-side winding shaft 9 and wound up on the start-side winding shaft 8. At the same time, the light-blocking curtain 5 that was spread between the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9 is wound up on the start-side winding shaft 8 together with the two wires 18. In this embodiment, the light-blocking curtain 5 is attached to the wire 18 by the string 19, and even when the light-blocking curtain 5 is wound up on the start-side winding shaft 8, the wire 18 and the light-blocking curtain 5 are separated in the north-south direction by the string 19, so that the wire 18 can be prevented from becoming entangled with the light-blocking curtain 5.

In reality, when one of the two wide shading sections 12 located on the outer side in the east-west direction among the four shading sections 12 of the shading curtain 5 is released from the start side winding shaft 8 or the end side winding shaft 9 (is not wound around the shaft), the other wide shading section 12 is wound around the end side winding shaft 9 or the start side winding shaft 8, as shown in FIG. 9, since the total width of the shading curtain 5 in the east-west direction is wider than the distance between the two winding shafts 8, 9. However, in FIG. 2, in order to clarify the shape of the frame section 11 and all the shading sections 12, the two wide shading sections 12 located on the outer side in the east-west direction are both shown released from the start side winding shaft 8 or the end side winding shaft 9.

The above explains how to open and close the blackout curtain 5, but the other blackout curtains 6 and 7 can also be opened and closed in the east-west direction in the same way as the blackout curtain 5.

The control unit C is configured not only to spread the three shading curtains 5 to 7 over the crops 4 (closed state, see FIG. 2) or to move them away from above the crops 4 (open state, see FIG. 3), but also to shift (move) each shading curtain 5, 6 slightly (by a very short distance) in the east-west direction by driving the start-end motor 15 and the end-end motor 16, thereby adjusting the shading rate of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 as a whole.

In other words, in the shading system 1 of this embodiment, each shading portion 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is made of a material with a shading rate of 30%, so even when all three shading curtains 5 to 7 are closed, by changing the relative positions (east-west direction) of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 to each other, it is possible to partially create each of the following four shading rate level states (locations):
(1) 0%
When the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 are positioned (moved) so that the light-transmitting portions 13 of the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 overlap when viewed from the sun SN side, an area where 100% of the sunlight L is irradiated is formed below the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7.
(2) 30%
When the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged such that the shading portion 12 of one of the shading curtains overlaps with the light transmitting portions 13 of the other two shading curtains when viewed from the sun SN side, an area where approximately 70% of the sunlight L is irradiated is formed below the three shading curtains 5 to 7.
(3) 51%
When viewed from the sun SN side, the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged so that the shading portions 12 of two of the shading curtains overlap with the translucent portion 13 of the other shading curtain.
In this case, 100% of the sunlight L is shaded (blocked) by 30% by the shading portion 12 of one of the shading curtains, and the sunlight L with an intensity of 70% is further shaded by 30% by the shading portion 12 of the other shading curtain (a further state in which 21% of the original intensity of sunlight L is blocked), and thus the crops 4 are irradiated with an area below the three shading curtains 5 to 7 where approximately 49% of the original intensity of sunlight L is irradiated.
(4) 65.7%
When viewed from the sun SN side, each of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is positioned (moved) so that the shading portions 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 overlap.
In this case, 100% of the sunlight L is shaded (blocked) by 51% by the shading portions 12 of the two shading curtains, and 49% of the original sunlight L is further shaded by 30% by the shading portion 12 of the other shading curtain (a further state in which 14.7% of the original amount of sunlight L is blocked) before being irradiated to the crops 4, so that an area is formed below the three shading curtains 5 to 7 where approximately 34.3% of the original amount of sunlight L is irradiated.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the control system, detection system, input system, drive system, and display system of the shading system 1 shown in Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the shading system 1 includes a processing unit 23 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory unit 24 having a main memory unit and an auxiliary memory unit, and a clock unit 20 that acquires time information indicating the current time.

The memory unit 24 stores various programs that control the shading system 1, location information including the latitude and longitude of the cultivation facility 1, date and time information including sunrise and sunset times, astronomical information including information on the direction and altitude of the sun SN (hereinafter referred to as the "position of the sun SN"), information on the height position of each of the shading curtains 5 to 7, the width of the shading section 12 and the light-transmitting section 13, information on the position of the part of the wire 18 where the shading curtains 5 to 7 are attached (see Figure 2), and illuminance information (light saturation point, etc.) for the crops to be cultivated.

This information is used to calculate the control amount of each start end motor 15 and end end motor 16 when moving (sliding) each shading curtain 5 to 7 in the east-west direction to adjust the shading rate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the detection system of the shading system 1 includes opening/closing sensors 28 to 30 that detect the east-west position (opening/closing amount) of each shading curtain 5 to 7 based on the rotational position of the start-end motor 15 of each opening/closing mechanism 14, multiple carbon dioxide concentration sensors 25 that detect the carbon dioxide concentration of each cultivation bed 45 as a cultivation section, multiple illuminometers 26 that measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 as a cultivation section, and multiple temperature sensors 27 that detect the temperature of each cultivation bed 45.

The carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25, the illuminometer 26, and the temperature sensor 27 constitute a sensor unit 17 (see FIG. 1) provided in each cultivation bed 45 for the crop 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the input and display systems of the shading system 1 include a control start switch 38 provided on a control panel incorporating the control unit C, open switches 32 to 34 and close switches 35 to 37, an input switch 21, and a liquid crystal display 40.

Each of the open switches 32 to 34 moves each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 independently to the west side (towards the winding shaft 8 at the start end) only while it is being pressed (by the worker). Also, each of the close switches 35 to 37 slides each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 independently to the east side (towards the winding shaft 9 at the end end) only while it is being pressed (by the worker).

Using the input switch 21, the operator can store in the memory unit 24 information about the illuminance of the crop to be cultivated and information about the placement position of the crop 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drive system of the shading system 1 includes a start motor 15 and a end motor 16 of the opening/closing mechanism 14 provided on each shading curtain 5, 6, and an electromagnetic valve 46 that opens and closes the carbon dioxide gas supply pipe 31.

In the shading system 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above, when the control start switch 38 is pressed in the morning and the control unit C starts controlling the movement of each shading curtain 5 to 7, the shading curtains 5 to 7 are each moved finely in the east-west direction independently based on the position of the sun SN and the position of the crop 4 stored in the memory unit 24, the accumulated light amount measured by the illuminometer 26 near each cultivation bed 45, and the carbon dioxide concentration detected by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25, as follows, to adjust the amount of sunlight L irradiated to the crops 4 and the cultivation facility 2.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the movement control of the light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 by the control unit C.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 when the amount of sunlight is high, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 when the amount of sunlight is low.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing how only the crops 4 in the cultivation bed 45 on the east side are shaded by the shading sections 12 of multiple shading curtains, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing three shading curtains 5 to 7 arranged to block the western sun.

In addition, in Figures 1, 6, and 7, the amount of sunlight L irradiated is indicated by the size of the arrow (thickness of the line), and the amount of irradiation (amount of transmission through the light-shielding curtain) is greater in locations where the arrow size is larger.

When the control start switch 38 is pressed, the control unit C first determines whether the illuminance inside the cultivation facility 2 detected by the illuminometer 26 (see Figure 4) installed in each cultivation bed 45 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value with the three shading curtains 5 to 7 open (step s1).

If the result of the determination is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit C moves each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the sunlight L irradiated to the crops 4 is shaded only by one shading curtain 6, and the sunlight L irradiated to areas other than the crops 4 in the cultivation facility 2 is shaded by each of the shading parts 12 of the two or three shading curtains 5 to 7, and maintains that state (step s2). Note that "maintaining the state" here does not mean "maintaining each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 in place," but rather means moving each of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 periodically or continuously in accordance with the change in the position of the sun, and "maintaining a state in which the sunlight L irradiated to the crops 4 is shaded only by one shading curtain 6, and the sunlight L irradiated to areas other than the crops 4 in the cultivation facility 2 is shaded by the shading parts 12 of the two or three shading curtains 5 to 7."

In this way, when the sunlight is strong (high illuminance), the light L (approximately 70% of the sunlight L) that passes through one shading curtain 6 is irradiated onto the crops 4 in each cultivation bed 45, preventing the crops 4 from drying out or losing their leaves, especially in the summer.

In addition, sunlight L that is irradiated to areas other than the crops 4 in the cultivation facility 2 is blocked (intercepted) by approximately 51% or 65.7% by the two or three shading curtains 5 to 7 before reaching the floor, etc., of the cultivation facility 2, effectively preventing a rise in temperature within the cultivation facility 2.

Furthermore, the three shading curtains 5 to 7, which are arranged at different heights, each have a light-transmitting section 13 formed by a gap (slit), so that the warm air present below the shading curtain 7 can escape upward through the light-transmitting sections 13 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 and be discharged outside the cultivation facility 2 through the skylight 10 shown in FIG. 1. This allows the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 to be lowered, eliminating the need for air conditioning equipment such as a heat pump.

On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the illuminance within the cultivation facility 2 is less than the predetermined value, the control unit C moves (positions) the three shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the sunlight L irradiated onto the crops 4 passes through the light-transmitting sections 13 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 and is 100% irradiated onto the crops 4, as shown in FIG. 7, and the sunlight L irradiated onto places other than the crops 4 within the cultivation facility 2 is shaded (blocked) by the shading sections 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7, and maintains that state (step s3).

As mentioned above, "maintaining the state" here means maintaining a state in which "sunlight L irradiated onto the crops 4 passes through the light-transmitting sections 13 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 and is 100% irradiated onto the crops 4, and sunlight L irradiated onto locations other than the crops 4 within the cultivation facility 2 is shaded (blocked) by the shading sections 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7."

In this way, when the sunlight is weak (illuminance is low) due to cloudiness, etc., sunlight L is irradiated directly onto the crops 4, so photosynthesis of the crops 4 is not hindered even when the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are spread out upward.

As shown in FIG. 7, sunlight L irradiated to areas other than the crops 4 in the cultivation facility 2 is blocked three times by the shading sections 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7, and approximately 65.7% of the sunlight reaches the floor, etc., of the cultivation facility 2, effectively suppressing the rise in temperature inside the cultivation facility 2.

Once the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are positioned (moved) in this way, the control unit C determines whether the crops 4 in each cultivation bed 45 have reached the light saturation point based on the accumulated light intensity or carbon dioxide concentration of each cultivation bed 45 (step s4).

Specifically, it is determined whether the integrated light amount, which is the integrated value of the illuminance of each cultivation bed 45 detected by the illuminometer 26 provided near each cultivation bed 45, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value that is the light saturation point of the crop 4, and it is determined that the crop 4 in the cultivation bed 45 where the integrated light amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined value has reached the light saturation point.

For example, if strawberries are cultivated as crop 4, the light saturation point of strawberries is about 30,000 to 40,000 lux, so the system can be configured to determine whether the integrated light intensity is 35,000 lux or greater.

For a cultivation bed 45 in which the accumulated light amount is less than a predetermined value, the control unit C further judges whether the carbon dioxide concentration of the cultivation bed 45 detected by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25 provided in the cultivation bed 45 has increased compared to the concentration a predetermined time ago. The crop 4 in the cultivation bed 45 in which the carbon dioxide concentration has increased is deemed to have absorbed less carbon dioxide and has already reached the light saturation point, and is therefore judged as such.

For the cultivation bed 45 (crop 4) that is determined to have reached the light saturation point based on the accumulated light amount or carbon dioxide concentration, this fact is stored in the memory unit 24.

In this way, if it is determined based on the cumulative light amount or carbon dioxide gas concentration of the cultivation bed 45 whether the light saturation point has been reached, and there is a crop 4 in the cultivation bed 45 that is determined to have reached the light saturation point, the control unit C moves the three shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the sunlight L irradiated to the crop 4 in the (corresponding) cultivation bed 45 is blocked by each of the shading parts 12 of the multiple shading curtains, and maintains that state according to the change in the position of the sun SN (step s5). In other words, the control unit C changes the relative positions of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the sunlight L irradiated to the crop 4 in the corresponding cultivation bed 45 is blocked by each of the shading parts 12 of the multiple shading curtains, and adjusts in a direction to reduce the amount of light irradiated to the crop 4 in the corresponding cultivation bed 45.

For example, when the sunlight is strong and the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged as shown in FIG. 6, if the result of the judgment is that only the crop 4 in the cultivation bed 45 located on the easternmost side (right side of the drawing) has reached the light saturation point, the shading curtain 7 is slid (moved) to the west, and the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged so that the crop 4 in the easternmost cultivation bed 45 is shaded by the shading parts 12 of the two shading curtains 6 and 7, and the crops 4 in the other cultivation beds 45 are shaded by the shading part 12 of one shading curtain 6, as shown in FIG. 8, and this state is maintained according to the change in the position of the sun. In this case, the crop 4 in the easternmost cultivation bed 45 is shaded by the shading parts 12 of the two shading curtains 6 and 7, so that light that is 51% of the original amount of sunlight L is irradiated.

In this way, when the crops 4 in the cultivation beds 45 that are deemed to have reached the light saturation point based on the cumulative light amount or carbon dioxide concentration of the cultivation beds 45 are shaded by the shading sections 12 of the multiple shading curtains (see Figure 8), the control unit C reads out information stored in the memory unit 24 about the cultivation beds 45 (and the crops 4) that have already reached the light saturation point, and determines whether the crops 4 in all cultivation beds 45 have reached the light saturation point (step s6).

If the result of the determination is that there are still cultivation beds 45 in which the crops 4 have not reached the light saturation point, the determination of whether the crops 4 in each cultivation bed 45 have reached the light saturation point (based on the accumulated light amount or carbon dioxide concentration), the shading of the crops 4 in the cultivation beds 45 that have reached the light saturation point by the shading sections 12 of the multiple shading curtains, and the determination of whether the crops 4 in all cultivation beds 45 have reached the light saturation point are repeated until the crops 4 in all cultivation beds 45 have reached the light saturation point.

In contrast, if the crops 4 in all cultivation beds 45 have reached the light saturation point, the control unit C positions the three shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the area covered above the crops 4 by the shading portion 12 of each shading curtain 5 to 7 (the area extending between the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9) is maximized (step s7).

Specifically, the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are positioned so that the wide shading section 12 located on the outer side in the east-west direction out of the four shading sections 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is completely released from the winding shaft 8 or 9 of each opening/closing mechanism 14.

In this embodiment, if the time when the light saturation point is reached is in the afternoon, sunlight L shines from the west, so as shown in FIG. 9, the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are positioned (moved) so that the wide shading portion 12 (see FIG. 2) located at the western end of two of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is released from the start-side winding shaft 8, and the wide shading portion 12 located at the eastern end of the remaining shading curtain is released from the end-side winding shaft 9.

On the other hand, if the light saturation point is reached in the morning, sunlight L is shining from the east, so the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged (moved) so that the wide shading section 12 (see FIG. 2) located at the eastern end of two of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is released from the terminal winding shaft 9, and the wide shading section 12 located at the western end of the remaining shading curtain is released from the starting winding shaft 8. Furthermore, later, in the afternoon, the arrangement is changed to that shown in FIG. 9.

In this embodiment, the width of each of the wide shading sections 12 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is designed so that even when one of the two wide shading sections 12 located on the outer east-west side of the four shading sections 12 of each shading curtain 5 to 7 is completely released from the winding shaft 8 or 9, at least one part of the light-transmitting section 13 located in the north-south direction of each wire 18 is released from the winding shaft 8 or 9 (in other words, not all of the light-transmitting section 13 is wound around the winding shaft 8 or 9, and some of the light-transmitting section 13 is located above the crop 4).

Therefore, even when the wide shading portion 12 on either the east or west side is completely released from the winding shaft 8 or 9, the warm air below the three shading curtains 5 to 7 can escape upward through the light-transmitting portion 13 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 and be discharged outside the cultivation facility 2 through the skylight 10 shown in FIG. 1. This allows the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 to be lowered, eliminating the need for air conditioning equipment such as a heat pump.

In the shading system 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above, the control unit C is further configured to position the three shading curtains 5 to 7 so that the area covered by the shading portion 12 of each shading curtain 5 to 7 (the area that the shading portion 12 extends between the start-side winding shaft 8 and the end-side winding shaft 9) is maximized, as shown in FIG. 9, even when the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature based on the temperature sensor 27.

By configuring it in this way, it is possible to cover the upper part of the crops 4 to the maximum extent possible regardless of the amount of solar radiation or the amount of photosynthesis of the crops 4, making it possible to lower the temperature inside the cultivation facility on hot days.

In this embodiment, the three shading curtains 5 to 7, which are at different height positions, each have a light-transmitting section 13 and a light-shielding section 12, so that the shading rate of sunlight L irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 can be adjusted by changing the relative positions of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 in the east-west direction (the direction in which the light-shielding sections 12 and the light-transmitting sections 13 are arranged) based on the control of the control unit C.

In addition, in conventional shading curtains, including those called shading nets and shading sheets, even if slits are formed, the slits are only a few millimeters in size and made of materials with poor breathability, which causes the problem of warm air stagnating near the crops in the cultivation facility. However, according to this embodiment, the light-transmitting sections 13 of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 at different heights each have a gap of 0.75 m in the east-west direction and have good breathability, so while shading the crops 4, the warm air below the three shading curtains 5 to 7 can be ventilated above the three shading curtains 5 to 7 through the light-transmitting sections 13.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light-transmitting portion 13 of each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 is formed by a gap, so the weight of each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 can be significantly reduced and they can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, when each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 is opened (wound up on the starting end winding shaft 8), the presence of the light-transmitting portion 13 made of a gap makes it possible to keep the volume of each of the wound up light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 small, so that the formation of shadows by each of the wound up light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 can be significantly suppressed.

Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the movement control of the shading curtains 5 to 7 by the control unit C of the shading system 1 according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the three shading curtains 5 to 7 are positioned according to the intensity of sunlight (step s2 or s3), the control unit C determines whether the amount of light irradiated to the crops 4 in each cultivation bed 45 exceeds a set value (the light saturation point of the crops 4) (step s4).

Specifically, the control unit C determines whether the amount of light (not the accumulated amount of light) irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 measured by the illuminometer 26 exceeds a value preset for each cultivation bed 45 (step s4).

In this embodiment, before the control start switch 38 is pressed to start controlling the movement of each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 by the control unit C, the input switch 21 is operated so that a different value (the value of the light saturation point, illuminance information) can be set for each cultivation bed 45.

Specifically, the operator can set the type of crop 4 to be cultivated for each cultivation bed 45 by operating the input switch 21. When the type of crop 4 is specified, the value of the light saturation point of the crop 4 corresponding to the carbon dioxide concentration of each cultivation bed 45 at that time is set as a threshold value, and the control unit C determines in step s4 whether the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 measured by the illuminometer 26 exceeds the value (set value) of the light saturation point of the crop 4 corresponding to the carbon dioxide concentration of each cultivation bed 45 at that time. That is, in this embodiment, the value set by specifying the type of crop for each cultivation bed 45 is automatically changed depending on the carbon dioxide concentration at that time. The light saturation point value of each crop corresponding to the carbon dioxide concentration is stored in the memory unit 24, and can also be newly stored in the memory unit 24 using the input switch 21.

However, the light saturation point value (fixed value) may be directly set by the operator operating the input switch 21. That is, for example (although in another embodiment) in FIG. 6, if strawberries are grown as crop 4 in the easternmost cultivation bed 45 and tomatoes are grown as crop 4 in the two western cultivation beds 45, a fixed value of 35,000 (lux), which is the light saturation point for strawberries, can be set in the easternmost cultivation bed 45, and a fixed value of 70,000 (lux), which is the light saturation point for tomatoes, can be set in each of the two western cultivation beds 45.

If the result of the determination is that the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 exceeds the value set for each cultivation bed 45, it is determined that the crop 4 in that (corresponding) cultivation bed 45 has reached the light saturation point, and the control unit C positions the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 to reduce the amount of light irradiated to that (corresponding) cultivation bed 45, and maintains that state in accordance with changes in the position of the sun SN (step s5).

For example, if strawberries are grown as crops 4 in the easternmost cultivation bed 45 and tomatoes are grown in the two western cultivation beds 45 (see FIG. 6), and only the easternmost cultivation bed 45 is irradiated with an amount of light exceeding a preset value, the control unit C moves the three light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 so as to reduce the amount of light irradiated to the easternmost cultivation bed 45 (see FIG. 6).

On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that there is no cultivation bed 45 for which the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation bed 45 exceeds the value set for each cultivation bed 45, the determination based on the output signal of the illuminometer 26 is repeated.

In this embodiment, as described above, when the amount of light irradiated to the crop 4 of each cultivation bed 45 measured by the illuminometer 26 reaches the set light saturation point value, the crop 4 of that cultivation bed 45 is deemed to have (actually) reached the light saturation point (more sunlight L than necessary is irradiated) and the amount of light irradiated to that cultivation bed 45 is reduced. However, based on the amount of carbon dioxide absorption of the crop 4 of each cultivation bed 45 detected by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25, it may be determined whether the amount of light irradiated to the crop 4 of each cultivation bed 45 exceeds the light saturation point of the crop 4 (whether the crop 4 of each cultivation bed 45 has reached the light saturation point), and the amount of light irradiated to the cultivation bed 45 that is irradiated with the amount of light that is higher than the light saturation point may be reduced. Whether the crop 4 has reached the light saturation point can be determined by the output signal of either the illuminometer 26 or the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25. The reason for lowering the light intensity of the cultivation bed 45, where the amount of light irradiated exceeds the light saturation point, is that even if the crops 4 are irradiated with light in an amount that exceeds the light saturation point, the photosynthetic rate, i.e., the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the crops 4, does not increase.

According to this embodiment, when the amount of light irradiated to any of the cultivation sections (cultivation beds 45) exceeds the predetermined light saturation point of the crop 4, the control unit increases the shading rate of the light irradiated to that cultivation section.In addition, according to this embodiment, the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section (cultivation bed 45) is measured by the illuminometer 26, and when the amount of light in any of the cultivation sections (cultivation beds 45) exceeds a set value, the control unit C is configured to move each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 to increase the shading rate of the light irradiated to that cultivation section (cultivation bed 45).Therefore, the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section (cultivation bed 45) can be kept to a minimum (lowest limit), and the temperature rise within the cultivation facility 2 can be effectively suppressed.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control unit C can set a threshold light amount for whether or not the shading rate is increased for each cultivation section (cultivation bed 45), so that when multiple types of crops 4 are cultivated in the same cultivation facility 2, the amount of light irradiated can be controlled for each type of crop 4.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light-transmitting portion 13 of each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 is formed by an air gap, so the weight of each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 can be reduced, and the warm air below each of the light-blocking curtains 5 to 7 can escape upward through the light-transmitting portion 13 (see FIG. 1, although this is the above embodiment).

Figure 11 is a schematic plan view showing the state in which the shading curtain 5 of the shading system 1 according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is closed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is configured similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, except as described below.

The light-shielding curtain 5 in this embodiment includes a plurality of light-shielding sections 12, a frame body 42 formed in a substantially rectangular shape, a plurality of light-transmitting sections 13 which are gaps defined by the plurality of light-shielding sections 12 or by the plurality of light-shielding sections and the frame body 42, a connecting member 44 which connects the frame body 42 to the two wires 18, and six support members 43. The frame body 42, the connecting member 44, and the support members 43 are each made of wire.

In this embodiment, each shading section 12 of the shading curtain 5 is formed from a plurality of solar cell modules 41, and each shading section 12 is attached to a frame body 42 formed in a substantially rectangular shape. A total of six support members 43 extend from the frame body 42 so as to connect two sides extending in the north-south direction, and each shading section 12 is supported from below by the six support members 43.

The solar cell modules 41 are connected to each other at their boundaries so that they can be folded, and even if the light-shielding portion 12 is formed from a solar cell module capable of generating electricity, it can be wound around the start-end winding shaft 8 or the end-end winding shaft 9, as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9.

In the other two shading curtains 6 and 7, the arrangement of the shading parts 12 of the shading curtain 5 is the same, but instead of the solar cell module 41, each shading part 12 is made of a polyethylene fabric sheet that is capable of blocking 30% of light.

In this embodiment, similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 10, each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 can be moved in the east-west direction to open and close, and the relative positions of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 in the east-west direction can be changed based on the control of the control unit C to form light shades with different shading rates (light amounts) below, thereby adjusting the amount of sunlight L irradiated to the crops 4.

In addition, in this embodiment, a light-transmitting portion 13, which is a gap several tens of centimeters wide, is formed, so that the warm air below the shading curtains 5 to 7 can escape above each of the shading curtains 5 to 7, preventing the temperature inside the cultivation facility from rising.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, the shading system 1 includes three shading curtains 5 to 7, but the number of shading curtains may be two or four or more. Also, in each embodiment, the size of the light-transmitting portion 13 and the light-blocking portion 12 of each shading curtain 5 to 7 is fixed, but the width of the light-transmitting portion and the light-blocking portion may be adjustable by a motor. By configuring in this way, the illuminance, temperature, and humidity near the crops can be adjusted according to the season.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 has a frame portion 11, and each shading portion 12 is attached to this frame portion 11, but it is not necessarily required that each shading curtain has a frame portion. Therefore, for example, by attaching multiple shading portions 12 to two wires 18 with strings 19 while leaving a gap between them (in the east-west direction), a shading curtain having shading portions 12 and light-transmitting portions 13 can be easily formed. In this case, the portions (gaps, slits) between the multiple shading portions 12 become the light-transmitting portions. In other words, it is not necessarily required that the shading portions 12 are connected to each other.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 11, the light-transmitting portion 13 is formed by a gap, but it is not necessary to form the light-transmitting portion by a complete gap. The light-transmitting portion may be made of a material that has a higher light transmittance (light transmittance) than the light-shielding portion 12 and has air permeability. Therefore, for example, the light-shielding curtain may be made of a nonwoven fabric that has air permeability, and the fabric of the light-transmitting portion may be designed to be thinner than the light-shielding portion. When the light-transmitting portion is formed by a gap, it is desirable that the size of the light-transmitting portion is at least 10 cm or more. In addition, the light-shielding portion 12 may be made of various materials and members such as various types of fabrics such as polyethylene, wood, plastic sheets, thin-film solar panels, and the like, and may be made of what is called a light-shielding sheet or a light-shielding net. When a solar panel is used, a see-through type solar panel may be adopted.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 10, each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 is configured in a linked pattern with the shading sections 12 and the light-transmitting sections 13 connected in the east-west direction, but it is not necessary to configure each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 in a linked pattern. For example, it is also possible to move a grid in which the light-transmitting sections and shading sections are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

In addition, in each of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 11, the shading curtains 5 to 7 are each configured to extend substantially horizontally above the crops 4, but each shading curtain may be arranged to extend diagonally upward rather than substantially horizontally.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, the three shading curtains 5 to 7 can be moved independently to adjust the shading rate and adjust the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2, but for example, as shown in Figure 9, the cultivation facility 2 can be kept warm in winter by covering it to the maximum extent with each shading curtain. Furthermore, the shading system may be configured to adjust humidity as follows.

Specifically, a hygrometer is added to the sensor unit 17 to detect the humidity in the vicinity of the cultivation bed 5, and if the humidity falls below a predetermined value, the area covered by the three shading curtains 5 to 7 is increased (see FIG. 9) to adjust the humidity in the vicinity of the cultivation bed 5 in an upward direction. In addition, the arrangement of the three shading curtains 5 to 7 allows the temperature to be lowered while maintaining the humidity, thereby maintaining a saturation deficit balance suitable for the crops.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 10, the memory unit 24 stores various information such as location information including the latitude and longitude of the cultivation facility 1, date and time information including sunrise and sunset times, astronomical information including information on the direction and altitude of the sun SN, the height position of each shading curtain 5 to 7, the width of the shading section 12 and the light-transmitting section 13, information on the position of the part of the wire 18 to which the shading curtains 5 to 7 are attached (see FIG. 2), and illuminance information (light saturation point, etc.) related to the crops to be cultivated. For example, the control unit may be further configured to acquire weather forecast information, and if cloudy or rainy weather is forecast in the afternoon, each shading curtain may be positioned so that more sunlight L can be irradiated on the crops 4 in the morning.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, when the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 detected by the temperature sensor 27 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the shading curtains 5 to 7 are arranged as shown in Figure 9 (maximum coverage by the shading section 12) to lower the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2. However, it is also possible to detect the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 using a thermographic camera, and when the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, to arrange the shading curtains 5 to 7 as shown in Figure 9 to lower the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2.

When the carbon dioxide concentration near each cultivation bed 45 detected by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 25 starts to rise (despite the carbon dioxide being supplied in a quantitative manner in accordance with the amount of photosynthesis), it is recognized that the efficiency of photosynthesis is beginning to decline, so the control unit C may be configured to move the shading curtains 5 to 7 to lower the temperature at least in the vicinity of the cultivation bed 5 where the carbon dioxide concentration has begun to rise (or the entire area within the bed). By configuring in this way, the temperature of the leaves of the crops 4 can be lowered and translocation to the fruit can be promoted. In addition, when a thermographic camera is installed, the temperature difference between the leaves and the fruit can be detected by the thermographic camera, and the shading curtains 5 to 7 can be arranged to achieve a temperature difference suitable for translocation, thereby adjusting the temperature inside the cultivation facility, thereby effectively promoting translocation to the fruit.

Furthermore, in each embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 11, the light-shielding curtains 5 to 7 are configured to be opened, closed, or moved by being wound up by two winding shafts 8 and 9, but the opening/closing mechanism and moving mechanism of each light-shielding curtain are not limited to this. Therefore, for example, the opening/closing mechanism described in JP 2008-263905 A may be used. In addition, it is not necessary for all light-shielding curtains to be opened, closed, and moved automatically under the control of the control unit C, and some light-shielding curtains may be configured to be opened, closed, and moved (slid) manually.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 10, the shading rate of the shading parts 12 of all the shading curtains 5 to 7 is configured to be 30%, but it is not necessarily necessary to configure all the shading rates of all the shading parts 12 to be the same, and the shading rates of the shading parts of the curtains may be configured to be different (for example, the shading rate of the shading part of the shading curtain 5 is 50%, the shading rate of the shading part of the shading curtain 6 is 30%, and the shading rate of the shading part of the shading curtain 7 is 10%). In this case, it becomes possible to adjust the shading rate (in other words, the amount of sunlight irradiated to the crops 4) even more finely (precisely).

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, each of the shading curtains 5 to 7 is configured to be movable only in the east-west direction (horizontal direction in the plan views of FIG. 2 and FIG. 11), but each of the shading curtains may also be configured to be movable in the north-south direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2 and FIG. 11, depth direction in FIG. 1). By making each of the shading curtains, in which the shading parts 12 and the light-transmitting parts 13 are arranged in a checkered pattern, movable in the north-south direction by only a few tens of centimeters, which is the width in the north-south direction of each of the shading parts 12 and the light-transmitting parts 13 that make up the checkered pattern, it is possible to control the amount of sunlight reaching the crops located below the shading curtains more precisely. If it is desired to move each of the shading curtains in the north-south direction, for example, the start-side winding shaft and the end-side winding shaft are moved integrally (at the same speed) in the north-south direction by a motor, so that each of the shading curtains can be moved in the north-south direction in addition to the east-west direction.

In addition, in each of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 11, the cultivation facility 2 to which the shading system 1 is applied has a roof, but the shading system of the present invention may also be applied to a cultivation facility without a roof. In this case, the control unit may be configured to acquire weather information for the location where the cultivation facility is located, and each shading curtain 5 to 7 may be configured in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, and when it rains, the shading curtains 6, 7 without solar panels may be configured to cover the top of the crops 4.

In addition, in each embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, the illuminometer 26 is arranged so as to be able to measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation bed, which is an example of a "cultivation section" according to the present invention, but the illuminometer may be provided for each ridge, area, or row of crops, in addition to the cultivation bed. In other words, each of the ridges, areas, and rows of crops is a "cultivation section" according to the present invention.

Furthermore, in each embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 11, the three shading curtains 5 to 7 shade each cultivation section (cultivation bed 45) to prevent the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 from rising. However, if the amount of sunlight in each cultivation section measured by the illuminometer 26 is insufficient as a result of the shading by the three shading curtains 5 to 7 (for example, if the amount of light irradiated to at least one cultivation section is below a predetermined value), a lighting device having an LED tube may be provided below the three shading curtains 5 to 7 to compensate for the amount of light irradiated to the crops in the cultivation section where the amount of sunlight is insufficient. In this case, for example, the lighting system 1 described below may be provided below the three shading curtains 5 to 7, and the control device 40 described below may move the lighting device of the lighting system 1, eliminating the need to provide lighting devices above all the cultivation sections, and reducing the number of lighting devices (number of equipment). Furthermore, if the amount of light provided by the lighting system 1 described below is insufficient, the following day the shading curtains of the shading system can be opened (moved away from above the crops) to allow sunlight to irradiate the crops. Note that the symbols used in the lighting system 1 described below and the shading system described above do not correspond.

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a lighting system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility 2 to which the lighting system 1 is applied.

In this embodiment, the cultivation facility 2 is composed of a vinyl greenhouse, and inside it are six rows of cultivation beds 4 aligned in the left-right direction. Strawberries 5 are cultivated in the cultivation beds 4 in an elevated position. Each cultivation bed 4 corresponds to a cultivation section according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, solar panels 54 are attached to the top of the cultivation facility 2. In addition, shading curtains 55 are also provided to prevent sunlight from entering through the gaps in the solar panels 54, preventing the temperature inside the cultivation facility 2 from rising.

As shown in FIG. 12, the lighting system 1 installed inside the cultivation facility 2 includes a frame 3, a lighting device 9 having LED tubes 10, and a movement mechanism 8 for the lighting device 9. The lighting device 9 is moved by the movement mechanism 8 to stop positions 11 to 16 above each cultivation bed 4 in turn, thereby irradiating light onto the strawberries 5 in each cultivation bed 4 in turn. The stop positions 11 to 16 are lined up in the left-right direction. Note that FIG. 12 shows the lighting device 9 stopped at stop position 13.

The frame 3 comprises vertical frames 6 provided on the left and right and a horizontal frame 7 suspended between the vertical frames 6 on the left and right, and the moving mechanism 8 is attached to the underside of the horizontal frame 7. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the front side of the drawing in Figure 12 will be referred to as the "front" and the back side of the drawing will be referred to as the "rear."

Figure 13 is a schematic front view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism 8 of the lighting system 1 shown in Figure 12, and Figure 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the moving mechanism 8 along line A-A shown in Figure 13, viewed from the right side.

As shown in FIG. 13 or 14, the movement mechanism 8 includes a pair of left and right drive housings 23, an endless belt 24 connecting the pair of left and right drive housings 23, a guide rail 20 having the left-right central portion of the endless belt 24 inside and attached to the horizontal frame 7, a power supply rail 21 attached to the front of the guide rail 20 and supplying power to the lighting device 9, and a housing 22 that mediates the supply of power from the power supply rail 21 to the lighting device 9. The lighting device 9 is attached to the housing 22.

As shown in FIG. 13, a large pulley 25 and a small pulley 26 are provided inside each of the pair of left and right drive housings 23, and the endless belt 24 is wound around the large pulley 25. The small pulley 26 is used to tension the endless belt 24 tightly.

The right-side large pulley 25 is rotatable by a motor 27, and when the right-side large pulley 25 is rotated, the endless belt 24 runs.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, a mounting portion 28 is provided on the upper part of the housing 22 to vertically sandwich the lower part of the endless belt 24, and when the endless belt 24 runs, the housing 22 attached to the endless belt 24 and the lighting device 9 move approximately horizontally in the left-right direction. Here, a pair of front and rear wheels 29 that can rotate within the guide rail 20 are attached to the upper part of the housing 22, so that the housing 22 can move smoothly in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 14, the housing 22 is provided with a brake mechanism 50 that stops the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9, and is configured to operate when the drive of the motor 27 is stopped.

Specifically, the brake mechanism 50 includes a movable brake member 51 and a solenoid 52. When the movable brake member 51 is slid upward by the solenoid 52, the upper end of the movable brake member 51 comes into contact with the lower surface of the guide rail 20, and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are immediately stopped.

As shown in FIG. 14, a ground electrode 30 and a voltage electrode 31 are provided inside the power supply rail 21, extending in the left-right direction (toward the front and back of the drawing in FIG. 14).

On the other hand, the hook member 32 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction within the power supply rail 21, and the ground side electrode 33 and the voltage side electrode 34 extending forward or backward from the hook member 32 attached to the front upper part of the housing 22 are configured to always be in contact with the ground side electrode 30 or the voltage side electrode 31 extending in the left-right direction (the far side and the near side of the paper surface in FIG. 14). Also, in this embodiment, the left-right length of the ground side electrode 30 and the voltage side electrode 31 is configured to be approximately the same as the left-right length of the power supply rail 21.

Therefore, while the endless belt 24 is running and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moving left and right, and when the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are located at any of the stop positions 11 to 16, power can be supplied to the housing 22 from the power supply rail 21 via the ground side electrode 30 and the voltage side electrode 31, as well as the ground side electrode 33 and the voltage side electrode 34, and the hook member 32.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, a ground side electrode 35 and a voltage side electrode 36 are provided inside the housing 22, and a ground side electrode 38 and a voltage side electrode 39 that contact the ground side electrode 35 or the voltage side electrode 36 are attached to a connection member 37 that extends from inside the housing 22 to the lighting device 9.

In addition, the voltage side electrode 34 and the voltage side electrode 36 are connected via wiring (not shown).

Therefore, even while the endless belt 24 is running and the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moving left and right, power can be supplied to the lighting device 9 via the ground side electrode 35, the voltage side electrode 36, the ground side electrode 37, the voltage side electrode 38, and the connection member 37.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, a control unit 45 that controls the light emission of the LED tube 10 of the lighting device 9 is provided at the front and inside of the housing 22, and the control unit 45 is operated by power supplied from the power supply rail 21 via the voltage side electrode 34.

Figure 15 is a block diagram of the control system, communication system, detection system, input system, and drive system of the lighting system 1 shown in Figure 12.

As shown in FIG. 15, the control system of the lighting system 1 includes a control device 40 that controls the operation of the lighting system 1, and a control unit 45 (see FIG. 14) that outputs a control signal to a driver circuit 47 that drives the light-emitting element 46 of the LED tube 10.

In this embodiment, the LED tube 10 is equipped with a red light-emitting element 46 and a white light-emitting element 46 as the light-emitting element 46.

The control device 40 includes a processing unit 41 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory unit 42 having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory unit 42 stores various programs and data for controlling the lighting system 1.

As shown in FIG. 15, the communication system of the lighting system 1 includes a communication unit 48 on the control device 40 side and a communication unit 45 on the control unit 45 side.

As shown in FIG. 15, the detection system of the lighting system 1 includes an illuminance sensor 43 provided in each cultivation bed 4 and a potentiometer 44 that detects the left-right positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9.

As shown in FIG. 15, the input system of the lighting system 1 includes an operation panel 53 that includes a power switch (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 15, the drive system of the lighting system 1 includes a motor 27 that drives the large pulley 25 on the right side and a solenoid 52 of the brake mechanism 50 (see FIG. 14).

The motor 27 is configured as a bidirectional drive type and can rotate the large pulley 25 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions when viewed from the front (see Figure 13).

In the lighting system 9 of the cultivation facility 2 configured as described above, the lighting device 9 irradiates light onto each cultivation bed 4 while being moved between the stop positions 11 to 16 based on the control of the control device 40 as follows.

Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the movement of the lighting device 9 between the stop positions 11 to 16 and the illumination of the light.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the power switch of the operation panel 53 is operated and the control device 40 starts to control the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9, the control device 40 first detects the left-right positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 using the potentiometer 44 (step S1).

Next, the control device 40 determines whether the detected positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 11 shown in FIG. 12 (step S2).

If the determination result indicates that the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are in the stop position 11, the control device 40 starts turning on the LED tube 10 of the lighting device 9 (step S3).

On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are not at the stop position 11, the control device 40 starts driving the motor 27, moves the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stop position 11 (step S4), and then starts turning on the LED tube 10.

At this time, based on the output signal of the potentiometer 44, the control device 40 stops driving the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50 when the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to the stop position 11.

When the LED tubes 10 start to light up, the control device 40 judges whether the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) from when the control device 40 started to control the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 exceeds 35,000 lux based on the detection signal of the illuminance sensor 43 (the leftmost illuminance sensor 43) provided in the cultivation bed 4 (the leftmost cultivation bed 4) located below the stop position 11 (step S5). The value of 35,000 lux was set because the light saturation point of strawberries is between 30,000 and 40,000 lux.

If the result of the determination is that the accumulated light amount does not exceed 35,000 lux, the determination continues until the accumulated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the accumulated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux, the control device 40 determines whether the current position of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 is the stop position 16 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44 (step S6).

If the determination result indicates that the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16, the control device 40 stops the illumination of the LED tubes 10 (step S7) and ends control of the movement and illumination of the lighting device 9.

On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are not at the stop position 16, the control device 40 drives the motor 27 to move the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stop position 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 to the right adjacent to the current stop position of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 (step S8).

After moving the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 to the stop position 12, 13, 14 or 15, the control device 40 determines whether the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) from the start of the movement and lighting control of the lighting device 9 has exceeded 35,000 lux based on the output signal from the illuminance sensor 43 provided on the cultivation bed 4 below the stop position 12, 13, 14 or 15.

If the result of the determination is that the accumulated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux, the control device 40 determines whether the current position of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 is the stop position 16 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44.

After that, the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9, the determination of the integrated light amount, and the determination of whether or not they are at the stop position 16 are repeated until the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16 when the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux. If the current positions of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are at the stop position 16 when the integrated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux, the control device 40 ends the lighting of the LED tube 10 as described above, and the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 by the control device 40 ends.

As described above, when the accumulated light intensity of each cultivation bed 4 exceeds 35,000 lux, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 can be automatically moved to a stop position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 on the right side, so that the lighting device 9 can be moved efficiently and heat dissipation and power consumption can be effectively suppressed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved to any of the stop positions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 using the operation panel 53.

Specifically, when the stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 is selected on the operation panel 53, the control device 40 first determines the current positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the potentiometer 44.

After determining the positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in this way, the control device 40 rotates the right large pulley 25 clockwise or counterclockwise using the motor 27 so that the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 approach the selected stop position until they are located at the selected stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16. When the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are located at the selected stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, the control device 40 stops driving the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50 to start emitting light from the LED tube 10.

Therefore, for example, at night, a worker in the cultivation facility 2 can promote the growth of the strawberries 5 by moving the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 to a stop position (any of 11 to 16) above the cultivation bed 4 where the growth of the strawberries 5 is poor, thereby making it possible to uniform the quality and size of the strawberries in the cultivation facility 2.

In this embodiment, the lighting devices 9 having LED tubes 10 are moved left and right by the moving mechanism 8 having the endless belt 24, so there is no need to provide lighting devices above each cultivation bed 4, and therefore the number of lighting devices 9 provided within the cultivation facility 2 can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved by the operator to a stop position (any of 11 to 16) selected on the operation panel 53, which promotes the growth of strawberries 5 in cultivation beds 4 where the growth condition is poor, and makes the quality and size of the strawberries 5 in the cultivation facility 2 uniform.

In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, the number of lighting devices 9 installed in the cultivation facility 2 can be significantly reduced, thereby reducing the amount of heat dissipated from the lighting system and effectively suppressing the temperature rise in the cultivation facility 2.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the accumulated light amount (accumulated illuminance) in the vicinity of each cultivation bed 4 exceeds a predetermined light amount (in this embodiment, 35,000 lux), the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 can be automatically moved to an adjacent stopping position (any of 12 to 16, and a position above the cultivation bed 4 to the right of the cultivation bed 4 located below the current stopping position), so that the lighting device 9 can be moved efficiently and heat dissipation and power consumption can be effectively suppressed.

Figure 17 is a block diagram of the control system, communication system, detection system, input system, and drive system of a lighting system 1 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 17, in this embodiment, the control system of the lighting system 1 includes a control device 40 that controls the operation of the lighting system 1, a control unit 45 (see FIG. 14) that outputs a control signal to a driver circuit 47 that drives the light-emitting element 57 of the ultraviolet LED tube 17, and a timer 18 that measures time.

As shown in FIG. 17, the detection system of the lighting system 1 includes an illuminance sensor 43 that detects the illuminance of each cultivation bed 4, a potentiometer 44 that detects the left-right position of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22, and a potentiometer 56 that detects the front-rear position of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22.

As shown in FIG. 17, the drive system of the lighting system 1 includes a motor 27 that rotates the large pulley 25 on the right side to move the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in the left-right direction, a solenoid 52 for the brake mechanism 50 (see FIG. 14), and a motor 77 for moving the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 in the forward-backward direction.

On the other hand, the communication system and input system are the same as those shown in Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of the lighting system 1 shown in Figure 17, and Figure 19 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cultivation beds 4 and the movement sequence of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22.

Figure 18 shows a lighting system 1 installed inside a cultivation facility 2. As shown in Figure 18, the lighting system 1 according to this embodiment includes a frame 74 installed in the cultivation facility 2, a lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 that irradiates ultraviolet light, and a forward/backward movement mechanism 70 and a left/right movement mechanism 60 for the lighting device 9. Also, as shown in Figure 19, in this embodiment, a total of 18 cultivation beds 4 are installed in the cultivation facility 2, and are arranged in three rows in the forward/backward direction and six columns in the left/right direction.

In this embodiment, the lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 that irradiates ultraviolet light is moved left and right or forward and backward using a forward and backward movement mechanism 70 or a left and right movement mechanism 60, and is stopped in sequence at the stop positions above each cultivation bed 4 shown in FIG. 19, so that ultraviolet light can be irradiated.

The forward/rearward movement mechanism 70 is an application of a known light-shielding sheet opening/closing mechanism (for example, the foldable and extendable movable ceiling frame described in JP 2008-263905 A).

That is, a number of pipes 79 and 82 are arranged in the front-to-rear direction, and each of the pipes 79 and 82 is fitted with a bearing 84 that is configured to be movable on a pair of left and right guide rails 83. A wire 68 connects the pipes 79 and 82 to a drive shaft 78 that is rotated by a motor 77. When the motor 77 is driven and the wire 68 is wound around the drive shaft 78, the pipe 82 located at the forefront is moved backward, and when the motor 77 is driven and the wire is unwound from the drive shaft 78, the pipe 82 located at the forefront is moved forward.

Here, a left-right movement mechanism 60 is attached below the pipe 82 located at the very front, and when the pipe 82 is moved in the front-back direction by the operation of the front-back movement mechanism 70, the left-right movement mechanism 60 and the lighting device 9 are moved together approximately horizontally in the front-back direction.

The left-right movement mechanism 60 of the lighting system 1 is configured in the same way as the movement mechanism 8 of the above embodiment, except that the guide rail 20 is attached to the pipe 82 located at the very front, and in the same way, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved left-right.

In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved in the order shown by the dashed line with arrows in FIG. 19, and are stopped at a position above each cultivation bed 4 for a predetermined time (the duration of irradiation, based on the timer 18), and ultraviolet light continues to be irradiated onto the strawberries 5 (not shown in FIG. 19) in each cultivation bed 4, thereby preventing the occurrence of diseases in the strawberries 5.

Specifically, first, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to a position above the cultivation bed 4 (the cultivation bed 4 at the upper left of the drawing) whose left-right position is 61 and whose front-rear position is 73, and the ultraviolet LED tube 17 is turned on.

Next, when a predetermined time has elapsed while the UV LED tube 17 is turned on, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved by the drive of the motor 27 to a position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 (the cultivation bed 4 whose position in the left-right direction is 62 and whose position in the front-back direction is 73), and UV rays are irradiated onto that cultivation bed 4 again until the predetermined time has elapsed.

In this way, irradiation of ultraviolet light for a predetermined time and movement to the right are repeated in sequence, and when irradiation of ultraviolet light is completed up to a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-right position of 66 and a front-back position of 73, the motor 77 is driven, and based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 56, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved to a position above the cultivation bed 4 at a left-right position of 66 and a front-back position of 72, where ultraviolet light is again irradiated for a predetermined time.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the row with the front-rear position 72, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are configured to be moved to the left, and irradiation of ultraviolet light for a predetermined time at a position above each cultivation bed 4 in the row 72 and movement to the adjacent cultivation bed 4 to the left by driving the motor 27 are repeated. When irradiation of ultraviolet light for a predetermined time at a position above the cultivation bed 4 with the left-right position 61 and the front-rear position 72 is completed, the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 are moved by driving the motor 77 (front-rear movement mechanism 70) to a position above the cultivation bed 4 with the left-right position 61 and the front-rear position 71, and ultraviolet light is again irradiated at this position for a predetermined time.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the row with the front-rear position of 71, the housing 22 and lighting device 9 are configured to move to the right, and irradiation of ultraviolet light for a predetermined time at a position above each cultivation bed 4 in row 71 and movement to the adjacent cultivation bed 4 to the right by driving the motor 27 are repeated. When the housing 22 and lighting device 9 move to the cultivation bed 4 at the bottom right of the drawing in FIG. 19 (the cultivation bed 4 with the left-right position of 66 and the front-rear position of 71), ultraviolet light has been irradiated for a predetermined time, and then the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 by the control device 40 ends.

In this manner, in this embodiment, the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LEDs 17 can be moved left and right and forward and backward within the cultivation facility 2 to irradiate each cultivation bed 4 with ultraviolet light, thereby sterilizing pathogens on the strawberries 5 in each cultivation bed 4 and preventing or treating the occurrence of diseases in the strawberries 5. Also, the number of lighting devices 9 can be significantly reduced compared to when a lighting device 9 is provided above each cultivation bed 4.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, after a predetermined time has elapsed since being moved to a position above each cultivation bed 4, the cultivation bed 4 is configured to be moved to a position above the adjacent cultivation bed 4 in the left-right or front-back direction. This allows ultraviolet rays to be efficiently irradiated onto each cultivation bed 4, while preventing ultraviolet rays from being irradiated onto a single strawberry 5 for a long period of time, thereby preventing damage to the leaves of the strawberry 5, etc.

In this embodiment, on the other hand, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 can be moved to a position above any cultivation bed 4 using the operation panel 53.

Specifically, when an operator of the cultivation facility 2 specifies a left-right position (any of 61 to 66) and a front-back position (any of 71 to 73) on the operation panel 53, the control device 40 first determines the current left-right positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44.

Next, the control device 40 rotates the right large pulley 25 clockwise or counterclockwise using the motor 27 of the left-right movement mechanism 60 so that the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 approach the selected left-right stop position until the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are located at the selected left-right position (any of 61 to 66), and stops driving the motor 27 and activates the brake mechanism 50 when the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are located at the selected left-right position 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66.

After the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 have been moved to the selected left-right position, the control device 40 determines the current forward-backward positions of the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 56.

Next, the control device 40 drives the motor 77 and rotates the drive shaft 78 until the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are positioned in the selected forward/rearward position (any of positions 71 to 73), and then irradiates ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED tube 17.

Therefore, workers at the cultivation facility 2 can sterilize the pathogens by moving the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 to a position above the cultivation bed 4 where the disease has occurred in the strawberries 5.

The present invention (invention of a lighting system) is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the lighting device 9 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction using a moving mechanism 8 that rotates the large right pulley 25 (see Fig. 13) and runs the endless belt 24. On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 17 to 19, the lighting device 9 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction and the front-back direction using a left-right moving mechanism 60 configured in a similar manner to the moving mechanism 8 and a front-back moving mechanism 70 that applies a known mechanism that moves multiple pipes 79 and 82 to open and close a light-shielding sheet. However, the moving mechanism (moving means) of the lighting device is not limited to these as long as the lighting device can be moved to match the location of each cultivation section (cultivation bed 4). Therefore, the lighting device may be configured to be movable using other mechanisms that open and close light-shielding curtains or heat-retaining curtains used in vinyl greenhouses, for example.

In addition, in each of the embodiments shown in Figures 12 to 19, the cultivation facility 2 is configured as a vinyl greenhouse, but it is not necessarily required that the cultivation facility be configured as a vinyl greenhouse, and the cultivation facility in which the lighting system 1 of the present invention is installed may be a plant factory, etc.

In addition, in each of the embodiments shown in Figures 12 to 19, a cultivation bed 4 is given as an example of a cultivation section, but it is not necessarily necessary to use a cultivation bed as a cultivation section within a cultivation facility. For example, the lighting device 9 may be configured to be moved according to the position of the ridges within the cultivation facility, or may be configured to be moved for each area within the cultivation facility.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 16, one LED tube 10 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction, but multiple LED tubes 10 and a frame 3 and a moving mechanism 8 for moving the multiple LED tubes 10 in the left-right direction may be provided separately at the back (rear) of the drawing, allowing light to be irradiated to more cultivation beds 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 16, the housing 22 and lighting device 9 are configured to be moved to a desired position in the left-right direction based on the detection signal of the potentiometer 44, but it is not necessary to provide the potentiometer 44. The left-right positions of the housing 22 and lighting device 9 may be calculated from the drive amount (drive time) and drive direction (amount of rotation and direction of the large pulley 25 on the right side) of the motor 27.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the lighting device 9 is configured to irradiate light until the accumulated light amount of each cultivation bed 4 reaches 35,000 lux with the light-shielding curtains 55 closed. However, for example, a plurality of light-shielding curtains 55 arranged horizontally may be provided and left open, and the light-shielding curtain 55 located above the cultivation bed 4 whose accumulated light amount reaches 35,000 lux may be automatically closed.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 are moved from the stop position 11 at the left end to the stop position 16 at the right end to irradiate light, but the lighting device 9 and the housing 22 may be stopped and irradiated only at a position above the cultivation beds 4 where light does not reach due to the presence of the solar panels 54 within the cultivation facility 2. Furthermore, it is not necessarily necessary to stop the lighting device 9 for each cultivation section (cultivation bed 4) one by one, and the lighting device 9 may be configured to move continuously at a low speed to a position above or near multiple cultivation sections.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 is configured to move left and right based on the accumulated light amount in each cultivation bed 4, and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 17 to 19, the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LED tube 17 is configured to move left and right and forward and backward based on the duration of irradiation at a position above each cultivation bed 4. However, the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 may be moved when a predetermined time (irradiation duration) has elapsed at each stop position (any of 11 to 16), or the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be configured to move when the accumulated light amount in each cultivation bed 4 exceeds a predetermined amount (in this case, an integrating light meter may be used as the illuminance detection means), or the ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be configured to move only left and right, and the LED tube 10 may be configured to move left and right and forward and backward.

Furthermore, when the lighting device 9 having the LED tubes 10 is configured to move when a predetermined time (duration of irradiation) has elapsed at each stop position (any of 11 to 16), it is not necessarily necessary to configure the duration of irradiation (irradiation time) for all cultivation beds 4 to be the same. The irradiation time may be configured to be short (e.g., 2 hours) at the stop position above the cultivation bed 4 where sunlight is shining, and long (e.g., 8 hours) at the stop position above the cultivation bed 4 where sunlight is not shining.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 16, the calculation of the integrated light amount is configured to start when the power switch of the operation panel 53 is operated and the control of the movement and lighting of the lighting device 9 is started, but the timing of the calculation of the integrated light amount may be configured to start from when the lighting device 9 stops at each stop position 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, or the integrated light amount may be calculated from a specific time or any time in a day.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 16, the movement of the housing 22 and the lighting device 9 is determined based on whether the accumulated light amount exceeds 35,000 lux (see step S5 in Figure 16), but the threshold accumulated light amount is not particularly limited to this and may be 30,000 lux or 40,000 lux, which is the light saturation point of strawberries 5, and furthermore, the crop cultivated is not limited to strawberries 5.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 16, a lighting device 9 having an LED tube 10 equipped with white and red light-emitting elements 46 is used, and in the embodiment shown in Figures 17 to 19, a lighting device 9 having an ultraviolet LED tube 17 is used, but it is not necessary to provide only one of the lighting devices 9 and a moving means in the cultivation facility 2. Both the lighting device 9 having the LED tube 10 equipped with white and red light-emitting elements 46 and the lighting device 9 having the ultraviolet LED tube 17 may be provided in a single cultivation facility 2 so that they can be moved.

The following is an explanation of the symbols used in the "shading system" of the present invention.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Shading system 2 Cultivation facility 3 Housing 4 Crop 5 Shading curtain 6 Shading curtain 7 Shading curtain 8 Start end side winding shaft 9 End end side winding shaft 10 Skylight 11 Frame 12 Shading section 13 Translucent section 14 Opening/closing mechanism 15 Start end side motor 16 End end side motor 17 Sensor unit 18 Wire 19 String 20 Timer 21 Input switch 22 Display 23 Processing section 24 Memory section 25 Carbon dioxide concentration sensor 26 Illuminometer 27 Temperature sensor 28 Opening/closing sensor 29 Opening/closing sensor 30 Opening/closing sensor 31 Carbon dioxide gas supply pipe 32 Open switch 33 Open switch 34 Open switch 35 Close switch 36 Close switch 37 Close switch 38 Control start switch 39 Cylinder 40 Liquid crystal display 41 Solar cell module 42 Frame 43 Support member 44 Connecting member 45 Cultivation bed 46 Solenoid valve

Claims (7)

A plurality of shading curtains , at least three or more , covering the top of the crops, the shading curtains being arranged in a vertical direction;
an opening/closing means for opening and closing each of the plurality of light-shielding curtains independently;
A control unit for controlling the opening and closing means,
The plurality of light-shielding curtains are arranged at different heights,
Each of the shading curtains has a shading portion that blocks a predetermined proportion of sunlight;
A light-transmitting portion that does not block sunlight or has a higher light transmittance than the light-shielding portion and is configured by alternately arranging a plurality of light-transmitting portions having ventilation,
the plurality of shading curtains are arranged at different heights, and the shading sections located at both ends in the opening and closing direction are wider than the light-transmitting sections, and the distance between the light-transmitting sections is set to be substantially the same as the width of each cultivation section in the cultivation facility;
A shading system for a cultivation facility, characterized in that the control unit is configured to adjust the shading rate by controlling the opening and closing means and changing the relative positions of the multiple shading curtains. Obtain information on the cumulative light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration in each cultivation section of the cultivation facility;
The shading system for a cultivation facility as described in claim 1, characterized in that for each cultivation section, if the accumulated light amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or if the accumulated light amount is less than the predetermined value but the carbon dioxide concentration has increased compared to the concentration a predetermined time ago, it is determined that the light amount for the crops in that cultivation section exceeds the light saturation point, and the control unit increases the shading rate based on this determination . In addition, it is equipped with multiple light meters,
A plurality of the illuminometers are arranged so as to be able to measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section of the cultivation facility;
The shading system of a cultivation facility as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the amount of light in any cultivation section exceeds a set value, the control unit increases the shading rate of light irradiated to that cultivation section. The shading system for a cultivation facility according to claim 3, characterized in that the set value is configured to be able to be set to a different value for each cultivation section. The shading system for a cultivation facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least a portion of the shading section is composed of a solar cell module. The present invention further includes a plurality of illuminometers and a lighting device provided below the plurality of light blocking curtains, the lighting device having an LED tube;
A plurality of the illuminometers are arranged so as to be able to measure the amount of light irradiated to each cultivation section of the cultivation facility;
A shading system for a cultivation facility as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the amount of light irradiated to at least one cultivation section is below a predetermined value, the lighting device irradiates light to the cultivation section where the amount of light is below the predetermined value. The shading system for a cultivation facility according to claim 6, characterized in that the lighting device is configured to be movable according to the location of the cultivation section of the cultivation facility.