JP2022033033A - Plant cultivation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a plant cultivation device comprising an illumination apparatus that suppresses an occurrence of illuminance unevenness.SOLUTION: A plant cultivation device 1 comprises an illumination apparatus 10. The illumination apparatus comprises: LED light sources 13; an LED substrate 12 on which the LED light sources are mounted; and shades 14 covering the LED light sources and the LED substrate. The shade has a curved reflection surface 15 which has the positions of the LED light sources as a focal point and includes a quadratic curve on a vertical cross section passing the LED light sources, and the LED light sources are arranged while directing an irradiation direction toward the reflection surfaces of the shades.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation device used in a plant factory, and more particularly to a plant cultivation device including a lighting device using an LED light source.

In cultivation using facilities such as plant factories, plant cultivation equipment using lighting equipment is used. The plant cultivation device is, for example, a device for growing plants only with artificial light such as a fluorescent tube, or a device for controlling the growth of plants by compensating for the lack of sunshine during the day with artificial light or by intentionally extending the sunshine hours. be. Fluorescent tubes are used in many of the lighting devices attached to conventional plant cultivation devices, and the fluorescent tubes are covered with a cap and attached to the shelves and pillars of the plant cultivation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in recent years, there has been a shift from fluorescent tubes to LED light sources as light sources for lighting equipment.

Since the fluorescent tube emits light in all directions, in the conventional plant cultivation device, a cap is placed above the fluorescent tube and the emitted light is reflected downward to emit light to the plant to be cultivated. I was guessing. On the other hand, when the LED light source is used as lighting, since the LED light source has a directivity to the emitted light, the LED light source 113a is cultivated in the radiation direction as in the plant cultivation device 101a shown in FIG. 7 (a). It is arranged so as to face the plant 133a of the water tank 130.

However, the LED light source 113a has a structure in which light is applied only to a certain range at a predetermined irradiation angle (also referred to as a directivity angle). Therefore, when the irradiation angle Ra of the LED light source 113a is about 60 degrees, the illuminance is uneven near the panel surface of the cultivation water tank 130 as shown in FIG. 7A. That is, there is a portion where the irradiation ranges from the adjacent LED light sources 113a overlap and a portion where the irradiation ranges do not overlap, and a portion where the illuminance is high and a portion where the illuminance is low can be formed. Therefore, in the case of a seedling (plant 133a) having a low height, there is a problem that unevenness occurs in the light struck and a difference in its growth occurs.

In order to solve this problem, when an LED light source 113b having an irradiation angle Rb of about 120 degrees is used as in the plant cultivation device 101b shown in FIG. 7B, uneven illuminance is suppressed in the vicinity of the panel of the cultivation water tank 130. To. However, there is a problem that uneven illuminance occurs in the vicinity of the LED light source 113b, and in the plant 133b in the harvest season, which has a high height, unevenness occurs in the light received in the portion above the LED light source 113b, resulting in a difference in growth.

Two possible countermeasures can be considered to solve such problems. The first countermeasure is to increase the number of LED light sources 113b to eliminate uneven illuminance. The second countermeasure is to raise the position where the LED light source 113 is installed further so that the illuminance unevenness does not occur even at the uppermost part of the plant 133b in the harvest season.

In the first countermeasure, as the number of LED light sources 113b increases, the power consumption increases and the calorific value also increases. Along with this, the air conditioning load for removing the generated heat also increases. In a plant factory where plants are cultivated, the power consumption related to both lighting equipment and air conditioning equipment increases, so that the first countermeasure has a problem that the cost of cultivating plants increases.

The second countermeasure has the advantage that uneven illuminance can be easily leveled by increasing the height at which the number of LED light sources 113b is kept constant. However, by increasing the height at which the LED light source 113b is installed, the illuminance is lowered, so that there is a problem that the growth of plants is slowed down and the quality is lowered.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-182998

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus equipped with a lighting device that suppresses the occurrence of uneven illuminance.

According to the plant cultivation device of the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is a plant cultivation device provided with a lighting device, wherein the lighting device includes an LED light source, an LED substrate on which the LED light source is mounted, and the LED light source. The cap comprises a cap that covers the LED substrate, and the cap has a curved reflecting surface that includes a quadratic curve with the position of the LED light source as a focal point in a vertical cross section passing through the LED light source. The LED light source is solved by arranging the irradiation direction toward the reflection surface of the cap.

In the plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the light of the LED light source is radiated toward the curved reflecting surface including the quadratic curve of the shade. The LED light source is not directed directly at the plant. Therefore, light is radiated as parallel rays from the reflective surface of the shade toward the plant. The occurrence of uneven illuminance is suppressed in the space where plants are cultivated (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the plant growing space), the growth is even from the time of seedlings to the harvesting period of plants, and efficient lighting is possible. become.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration in the above-mentioned cultivation apparatus, the LED substrate is formed in an elongated shape, a plurality of the LED light sources are arranged in a straight line along the LED substrate, and a plurality of shades are provided. It is preferable that the LED light sources extend along the direction in which the LED light sources are lined up.
By arranging the LED light sources in a straight line, it is possible to irradiate the elongated cultivation water tank with light, and it is possible to perform efficient lighting.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the above-mentioned plant cultivation apparatus, the plurality of LED light sources are arranged in two rows on the LED substrate, and the reflecting surface of the cap has a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the center line of the reflection surface, and the plurality of LED light sources arranged in the first row have irradiation directions. The plurality of LED light sources arranged in the first row and arranged toward the first region may be arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the second region.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the above-mentioned plant cultivation apparatus, the plurality of LED light sources are arranged in three rows on the LED substrate, and the reflecting surface of the cap has a first region, a second region and a second region. It has a third region, and the first region and the second region are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the center line of the reflection surface, and the third region is the first region and the first region. The plurality of LED light sources located between the two regions and arranged in the first row are arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the first region, and the plurality of LED light sources in the second row are arranged. The plurality of LED light sources in the third row may be arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the second region, and the plurality of LED light sources may be arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the third region.

Since the LED light source irradiates at a predetermined irradiation angle, it is preferable to use a plurality of LED light sources in order to irradiate the entire reflective surface of the shade. For example, by arranging LED light sources having an irradiation angle of about 90 degrees on the LED substrate and arranging them so that they face different areas of the reflecting surface, the width is wider than that when the LED light sources are arranged in one row. It is possible to emit a wide parallel light source toward the plant.
Further, for example, when using an LED light source having an irradiation angle of about 60 degrees, the LED light sources are arranged in three rows on the LED substrate, and each of them is arranged so as to face different regions of the reflecting surface, so that the illuminance is higher and parallel. It is possible to emit light rays toward plants.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the plant cultivation apparatus, the plurality of LED light sources are arranged in a row on the LED substrate, and the LED substrate has an irradiation direction of the LED light source in the vertical cross section. It is preferable that the LED is arranged so as to be inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical direction.
When multiple LED light sources are arranged in a row on the LED substrate, when the irradiation direction of the LED light sources is arranged upward, the brightest part of the emitted light is reflected straight by the ceiling surface of the cap. Since it returns to the LED board as it is, a shadow is formed. By arranging the LED substrate so that the irradiation direction is tilted by a predetermined angle from the vertical direction, the reflected light of the brightest portion can reach the plant while avoiding the LED substrate.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the above-mentioned plant cultivation apparatus, the LED substrate on which the LED light source is mounted is rotatably attached about an axis passing through the LED substrate perpendicular to the vertical cross section. good.
Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the above-mentioned plant cultivation apparatus, it is preferable to include the LED substrate and a housing that rotates about the axis along with the LED substrate.
The light reflected by the shade may be blocked by the LED substrate and cast a shadow. Although the light reaches the shadow part due to the scattered light due to the reflected light from the floor surface or the like, the light intensity may be partially different and the illuminance unevenness may remain. By rotating the LED board and the housing surrounding it to adjust the light reflected from the reflective surface of the shade, for example, the uneven illuminance that occurs under the LED board can be alleviated, or the shadowed part can be moved. can do. That is, the position of the light can be adjusted so that the illuminance is appropriate according to the position and height of the plant which differs depending on the degree of growth.

Further, to describe a suitable configuration for the above-mentioned plant cultivation apparatus, an air-conditioning device is provided, and the air-conditioning device has an air-conditioning duct arranged below the LED substrate, and the air-conditioning duct is directed toward the reflective surface. It is preferable that the air outlet from which the air is blown out is formed on the reflective surface side of the cap.
By having an outlet formed on the reflective surface side and blowing air toward the reflective surface, cold air blown from a large number of air conditioners, for example, can be agitated by using the reflector. Since the cold air does not directly hit the plant, the inhibition of plant growth is suppressed.

According to the plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to provide a plant cultivation apparatus provided with a lighting device that suppresses the occurrence of uneven illuminance.

It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the plant cultivation apparatus along the line II-II of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the lighting equipment, and is the partial enlarged view which shows the part A of FIG. 2 enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the lighting equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the plant cultivation apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the plant cultivation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the plant cultivation apparatus provided with the conventional lighting equipment using the LED light source, (a) is the case where the irradiation angle of the LED light source is about 60 degrees, (b) is the case where the irradiation angle is about 120 degrees. Is shown.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the following embodiments, the same or similar components are designated by a common reference numeral, and these drawings are appropriately changed in scale for ease of understanding.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in the plant cultivation device 1, the direction in which the lighting device 10 and the cultivation water tank 30 extend (arrow X direction) is the vertical direction of the plant cultivation device 1, with respect to the arrow X direction. The Y direction of the arrow extending in the horizontal direction is the width direction. Further, the direction perpendicular to the arrow X direction and the arrow Y direction is the height direction, the arrow Z direction is the upper side (upper side), and the opposite direction is the lower side (lower side).

<< Plant cultivation equipment >>
The plant cultivation device 1 of the present embodiment is a device for cultivating a plant 33 by hydroponics in a plant factory, and includes a cultivation water tank 30, a lighting device 10 laid in the cultivation water tank 30, and an air conditioning device 20. Has been done. The cultivation panel 32 is floating in the cultivation water tank 30, and the panel is replaced as the plant 33 grows. The lighting device 10 is attached so as to illuminate the cultivation panel 32 and the plant 33 floating in the cultivation water tank 30.

The cultivation water tank 30 is an elongated water tank extending in the vertical direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 1), and the cultivation water tank 30 is filled with the hydroponic nutrient solution 31. The cultivation panel 32 is composed of a plurality of replaceable panels, and is capable of floating movement.
Each cultivation panel 32 is a member in which a plurality of seedlings are planted at regular intervals (inter-strain pitch) and supports the grown plant 33. In the plant factory, cultivation panels 32 formed at various inter-strain pitches according to the type or growth of the plant 33 are prepared. The cultivation panel 32 is made of, for example, an effervescent material so as to float in the hydroponic nutrient solution 31, but may be made of hollow resin, wood, or the like.
The surface of the cultivation panel 32 has a high light reflectance and also functions as a reflector for reflecting the light from the lighting device 10, and irradiates the plant with light from below.

<< Lighting equipment >>
Next, the lighting device 10 will be described. In a plant factory, plants 33 are cultivated using a lighting device 10 having artificial light in order to suppress variations in the growth of plants 33 due to unseasonable weather. In recent years, an LED light source 13 has come to be used as artificial light instead of a fluorescent tube. The lighting device 10 is composed of a plurality of lighting units 11, and in the lighting device 10 of the present embodiment, the four lighting units 11 are arranged side by side in parallel. The number of lighting units 11 is an example, and may be set to one or five or more according to the width of the cultivation aquarium 30. Further, the four lighting units 11 can be integrally attached and detached by the support member 36. Further, a side wall 34 is provided on the side portion of the lighting device 10 so that the light from the lighting device 10 does not leak to the outside. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a gap 34a of several mm to several cm is formed on the side wall 34 at the boundary portion with the cultivation water tank 30. It is possible to let the cold air of the plant growing space escape from this gap 34a, and thereby it is possible to suppress the temperature unevenness in the plant growing space.

Each lighting unit 11 has a plurality of LED light sources 13 arranged in a straight line, and an elongated LED substrate 12 on which a plurality of LED light sources 13 are mounted. Further, each lighting unit 11 has a cap 14 that covers a plurality of LED light sources 13 and an LED substrate 12 and has a shape extending along a direction (longitudinal direction, arrow X direction) in which the plurality of LED light sources 13 are arranged.

The cap 14 is a curved surface including a quadratic curve in a vertical cross section including the LED light source 13, and more specifically, in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which a plurality of LED light sources 13 are linearly arranged (vertical direction, arrow X direction). It has a reflective surface 15 in the shape of a reflector. The LED light source 13 is arranged so as to be located at the focal point of the quadratic curve of the reflecting surface 15 of the shade 14. Therefore, as shown by the arrow of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, the light emitted from the LED light source 13 is reflected by the reflecting surface 15 and is reflected toward the plant 33 as parallel rays. Since the light is applied to the plant 33 as parallel rays, the range of overlap with the light emitted from the adjacent lighting unit 11 is reduced. Therefore, from the time of seedlings with a low height, uneven illuminance is suppressed even at a position where the height is high, such as the plant 33 at the harvesting stage, and uneven growth of the plant 33 is also suppressed. The shade 14 is made of metal or a resin having a high light reflectance.

As the reflective surface 15 of the cap 14, a highly reflective material may be attached to the inner surface of the cap 14 to reduce light loss. Further, the light loss may be reduced by attaching a highly reflective material to the surface of the LED substrate 12 on which the LED light source 13 is mounted and re-reflecting the light rays reflected by the reflecting surface 15. Highly reflective materials include, for example, aluminum, silver, gold, copper, cobalt and the like. Further, the highly reflective material may be a highly reflective resin laminated plate in which a highly reflective resin is laminated. Examples of the highly reflective resin include resins containing a white pigment such as titanium oxide. Further, a highly reflective material may be attached not only to the shade 14 but also to the inner surface of the side wall 34.

The LED light source 13 arranged linearly in each lighting unit 11 of the lighting device 10 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Normally, the LED light source 13 has a narrower irradiation angle at which light is emitted than a fluorescent lamp, a light bulb, or the like, and the irradiation angle is usually designed in the range of 30 to 90 degrees, and the front surface (center) of the LED light source 13 is usually designed. The part) becomes brighter and becomes darker as it spreads outward. The smaller the irradiation angle, the larger the difference in illuminance between the front and the outside. Further, in the following, the direction passing through the center of the irradiation angle R of the LED light source 13 will be referred to as an irradiation direction.

When radiating parallel rays using the reflecting surface 15 of the cap 14, it is desirable to use an LED light source 13 having a wide irradiation angle, but the LED light source 13 having a wide irradiation angle is not a general one and is custom-made. Therefore, it leads to cost increase. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the LED light sources 13 are arranged in a plurality of rows on the LED substrate 12, and the reflecting surfaces 15 of the cap 14 are divided by the surfaces radiated by the LED light sources 13 in each row, thereby arranging them in one row. It makes it possible to provide a wider range of parallel rays than in the case.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of LED light sources 13 arranged in two rows are arranged on the LED substrate 12. As the LED light source 13, a light source having an irradiation angle R1 of about 90 degrees is used. The reflection surface 15 is divided into a first region 15a and a second region 15b by the center line C. The first region 15a and the second region 15b of the reflection surface 15 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the center line C. Among the plurality of LED light sources 13 arranged in the two rows, the plurality of LED light sources 13a arranged in the first row are arranged so that the irradiation direction thereof is toward the first region 15a of the reflection surface 15. On the other hand, the plurality of LED light sources 13b arranged in the second row are arranged so that the irradiation direction thereof is toward the second region 15b of the reflecting surface 15. In other words, the LED light source 13a and the LED light source 13b are arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the center line C so that the irradiation ranges do not overlap each other. By arranging the plurality of LED light sources 13 in this way, it is possible to radiate light over a wide range by using the reflecting surface 15 of the cap 14, and to radiate wide parallel rays to the plant 33. Can be done.

In each lighting unit 11 of the lighting device 10, a plurality of LED light sources 13A arranged in three rows may be arranged on the LED substrate 12 as in the lighting unit 11A shown in FIG. In this case, the LED light source 13A used has an irradiation angle R2 of about 60 degrees. The reflection surface 15 is divided into three regions (first region 15Aa, second region 15Ab, third region 15Ac), and the first region 15Aa and the second region 15Ab are lined with each other with respect to the center line C of the reflection surface 15. Place it in a symmetrical position. As shown in FIG. 4, the third region 15Ac is arranged so as to be located between the first region 15Aa and the second region 15Ab.

Among the plurality of LED light sources 13A arranged in the three rows, the plurality of LED light sources 13Aa arranged in the first row are arranged so that the irradiation direction thereof is toward the first region 15Aa of the reflection surface 15. On the other hand, the plurality of LED light sources 13Ab arranged in the second row are arranged so that the irradiation direction thereof is toward the second region 15b of the reflection surface 15. The LED light source 13Ac in the third row between the LED light sources 13Aa and 13Ab in the first row and the second row is arranged so that the irradiation direction thereof is toward the third region 15Ac above the LED light source 13c. There is. The LED light sources 13Aa to 13Ac are arranged so that the irradiation ranges do not overlap each other. By arranging the plurality of LED light sources 13 in this way, even when the LED light source 13A having an irradiation angle R2 of about 60 degrees is used, it is possible to irradiate the entire reflecting surface 15 of the cap 14 with light, and the cap 14 can be irradiated with light. It is possible to irradiate a plant with parallel rays with a width of. Further, by increasing the number of rows of the LED light sources 13 arranged on the LED substrate 12, it becomes possible to irradiate the plants with bright light.

In this embodiment, the reflective surface 15 is used for indirect lighting, and the LED light source 13 is not directly directed at the plant. As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), when the LED light source 113 is directly directed, the illuminance becomes uneven depending on the height from the cultivation panel 132, so that the plant grows depending on the place where the plant is arranged. This is because there may be a difference. In the lighting device 10 of the present embodiment, by irradiating the plant with parallel light rays by the reflecting surface 15 of the shade 14, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the illuminance depending on the height from the cultivation panel 32.

Of the parallel light from the reflecting surface 15, the light directed directly above the LED substrate 12 and the air conditioning duct 21 of the air conditioning equipment 20 described later is reflected straight and returned to the LED substrate 12. Therefore, a shadow may be generated on the lower side of the air conditioning duct 21. The light reflected on the cultivation panel 32 other than directly under the fixture such as the LED substrate 12 is directed to the reflecting surface 15 of the shade 14 again and is reflected again, so that it becomes scattered light. The scattered light also reaches the shadow portion generated under the air conditioning duct 21, but the light intensity may remain as a partially different illuminance unevenness.
In order to eliminate this uneven illuminance, it is preferable that the irradiation direction of the LED light source 13 can be adjusted according to the position and height of the plant that changes depending on the type of plant to be cultivated and the growth stage.

In the lighting device 10A of the plant cultivation apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 5, the LED substrate 12A is centered on an axis 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the LED substrate 12A, in other words, an axis 16 perpendicular to the vertical cross section and passing through the LED substrate 12A. It is rotatably provided. The LED substrate 12A can be rotated in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction.

The irradiation direction of the LED light source 13 can be changed by rotating the LED substrate 12A around the axis 16 at an arbitrary rotation angle θ. By changing the irradiation direction of the LED light source 13 according to the position and height of the plant, for example, the light of the LED light source 13 can be reflected from the side wall 34 and the like, and the uneven illuminance on the cultivation surface can be alleviated. You can move the shadowed part.

When there are a plurality of lighting units 11A like the lighting device 10A of the plant cultivation device 1A, it is not necessary to make the rotation angle θ of each LED substrate 12A the same, and as shown in FIG. 5, for example, an appropriate illuminance. Therefore, the rotation angle θ may be changed for each lighting unit 11A. In FIG. 5, the lighting unit 11A located on the left side rotates the LED substrate 12A counterclockwise, and the lighting unit 11A located on the right side rotates the LED substrate 12A clockwise.

By rotating the LED substrate 12 and adjusting the light reflected from the reflective surface 15 of the cap 14 in this way, even if the position or height of the plant changes depending on the type and growth of the plant to be cultivated, it is appropriate. It is possible to shine light with suppressed uneven illuminance on plants.
In the lighting device 10A of the plant cultivation device 1A shown in FIG. 5, only the LED substrate 12A is provided to rotate in each lighting unit 11A, but this is an example, and the LED substrate 12A is the air conditioning duct 21. May rotate with. The air conditioning duct 21 is also a housing that surrounds the LED substrate 12A. The air conditioning duct 21 has an air passage 22 provided below the LED substrate 12, and is provided on the side of the LED substrate 12A so that air is ejected from the outlet 23 toward the reflective surface 15 of the shade 14. It is configured (see also FIGS. 3 and 4).
By rotating the air conditioning duct 21 together with the LED substrate 12A, the blowing direction of the air ejected from the outlet 23 can be changed.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the LED light sources 13 arranged in a plurality of rows are used, but as the number of the LED light sources 13 increases, the power consumption and the installation cost increase, and the heat generation amount also increases. Therefore, the lighting unit 11 may be constructed by arranging the LED light sources 13C having a large irradiation angle R in a row in the vertical direction. However, when the LED light sources 13C are arranged in a row and the irradiation direction is directed directly upward, the light in the irradiation direction is reflected straight by the ceiling surface of the reflection surface 15 of the shade 14. The reflected light returns to the LED substrate 12 and is blocked by the LED substrate 12 and the air conditioning duct 21 of the air conditioning equipment 20 described later to become a shadow. Although scattered light hits the shadowed area, the illuminance becomes uneven. Therefore, it is desirable that the light emitted in the irradiation direction avoids the LED substrate 12.

Another example of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the plant cultivation apparatus 1B shown in FIG. 6, an LED substrate 12B in which LED light sources 13B are arranged in a row is used. The LED light source 13B has an irradiation angle R3 of about 140 degrees.

In the plant cultivation apparatus 1B, the LED substrate 12B is installed so that the irradiation direction (indicated by the arrow E) of the LED light source 13B is tilted by a predetermined tilt angle β (predetermined angle) from the vertical direction (center line C) in the vertical cross section. Has been done. As a result, the brightest portion of the light emitted from the LED light source 13B is reflected downward by the reflecting surface 15 as shown by the arrow F, and the LED substrate 12B is avoided. When the irradiation angle R3 of the LED light source 13B is about 140 degrees, the inclination angle β is preferably around 20 degrees. The inclination angle β may be adjusted to 10 to 30 degrees so that the illuminance on the cultivated surface becomes uniform according to the plant to be cultivated and the degree of growth.

The shape of the shade 14B in this case will be described. Since the irradiation angle R3 of the LED light source 13B is about 140 degrees, a portion (part G in FIG. 6) in which light is not emitted from one LED light source 13B is generated. When the non-irradiated portion G is formed on a parabolic surface like the shade 14 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, less light is reflected, so that there is a possibility that the illuminance may be uneven on the lower cultivation surface. Therefore, the portion G is provided with a wall surface extending in the height direction (Z direction). The light from the LED light source 13B may be reflected by attaching a highly reflective material to the inside of the wall surface extending in the height direction. Then, the adjacent lighting unit 11B is used to irradiate downward. As described above, since the light in the bright portion irradiated from the LED light source 13B is not blocked by the LED substrate 12B and the air conditioning duct 21, the light can be efficiently irradiated and the uneven illuminance can be eliminated.

<< Air conditioning equipment >>
Next, the air-conditioning device 20 included in the plant cultivation device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the plant factory, the internal temperature and humidity are controlled, and an air conditioner 20 for adjusting the temperature and humidity is provided. If the temperature of the entire factory is adjusted, the air conditioning cost will be high, so it is desirable to air-condition only in the plant growing environment.

In the air-conditioning device 20 of the plant cultivation device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the air-conditioning duct 21 extends from a blower (not shown) and is arranged so as to extend along the LED substrate 12 of the lighting device 10. The air conditioning duct 21 is arranged below the LED substrate 12 and does not directly block the light emitted from the LED light source 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air conditioning duct 21 is provided so as to cover the lower portion and the side portion of the LED substrate 12 with a gap, and the gap serves as an air passage 22. The air outlet 23 is located on the reflective surface 15 side of the shade 14, and is formed so that the air sent from the blower blows out toward the reflective surface 15. Then, the blown air is agitated by hitting the reflective surface 15 of the shade 14 as shown by the arrow D of the alternate long and short dash line shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and moves to the plant growing space below.

When the air outlet 23 is formed below the air conditioning duct 21, cold air may directly hit the grown plant. If cold air is applied to the same leaf surface or stem for a long time, the discharge temperature is low and the part directly exposed to cold air may be damaged. In addition, in plants where the plant height is sufficiently large just before harvesting, the distance between adjacent plants becomes close, so if cold air is discharged directly toward the plant, turbulence will occur in the vicinity of the plant and the cold air will be generated. There are places where you can't hit. As a result, temperature unevenness may occur, and the growth of plants may vary. Therefore, it is not desirable to provide an air outlet below the air conditioning duct 21 and directly apply cold air to the plant.
In the air-conditioning device 20 of the present embodiment, since the air outlet is not directly directed to the plant, it is suppressed that the cold air directly hits the plant. Further, since the air blown out from the outlet 23 hits the reflective surface 15 and is agitated and moved to the plant growing space below, turbulence does not occur in the vicinity of the plant body. Further, the air in the plant growing space can be released from the gap 34a between the cultivation water tank 30 and the side wall 34. Therefore, the air spreads evenly and the temperature unevenness is suppressed.

Further, since the air passing through the air conditioning duct 21 passes around the LED substrate 12, it can also be used for cooling the LED substrate 12. That is, by arranging the LED substrate 12 inside the air conditioning duct 21, the cooling effect on the LED substrate 12 is enhanced, and the life of the LED light source 13 and the LED substrate 12 is extended.
The air conditioner 20 can be applied to the plant cultivation devices 1A and 1B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as they are.

As a measure to alleviate the uneven illuminance, a highly reflective material may be attached to the outer surface of the air conditioning duct 21. By attaching a highly reflective material to the surface of the air conditioning duct 21, the light reflection efficiency can be improved by combining with the light reflection from the surface of the cultivation panel 32.

In the cross section of the lighting device 10 in the width direction (Y direction), the light radiated from the LED light source 13 becomes parallel rays, but in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the lighting device 10, it is radiated from the LED light source 13. The emitted light becomes scattered light. Therefore, the light reflected by the top surface is diffusely reflected from the surface of the cultivation panel 32 except for the light absorbed by the plant when it reaches the surface of the planar cultivation panel 32. As a result, in the plant growing space surrounded by the reflecting surface 15 of the shade 14, the side wall 34, and the cultivation panel 32, the reflected light is made uniform to some extent, so that the illuminance generated in the shadowed portion by the air conditioning duct 21 Unevenness can be alleviated.

The plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the above embodiment is merely an example for easily understanding the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. For example, the plant cultivation device 1 has been described as an example of a device that irradiates a plant cultivated by hydroponics with light, but the plant cultivation device 1 is used for a plant cultivated by soil on the ground. May be good.

1,1A, 1B, 101a, 101b Plant cultivation equipment
10, 10A Lighting equipment 11, 11A, 11B Lighting unit 12, 12B LED board 13, 13A, 113a, 113b LED light source 13a, 13Aa LED light source in the first row 13b, 13Ab LED light source in the second row 13Ac Third row LED light source 14 cap 15 reflective surface 15a, 15Aa 1st area 15b, 15Ab 2nd area 15Ac 3rd area 16 Axis line 20 Air conditioning equipment 21 Air conditioning duct (housing)
22 Air passage 23 Outlet 30, 130 Cultivation aquarium 31 Hydroponic nutrient solution 32 Cultivation panel 33, 133a, 133b Plant 34 Side wall 34a Gap 36 Support member C Center line R1, R2, R3, Ra, Rb Irradiation angle

Claims (8)

It is a plant cultivation device equipped with lighting equipment.
The lighting equipment is
With LED light source
The LED board on which the LED light source is mounted and
A shade that covers the LED light source and the LED substrate is provided.
The cap has a curved reflective surface that includes a quadratic curve with the position of the LED light source as the focal point in a vertical cross section passing through the LED light source.
The LED light source is a plant cultivation apparatus characterized in that the irradiation direction is directed toward the reflection surface of the shade. The LED substrate is elongated and elongated.
A plurality of the LED light sources are arranged side by side in a straight line along the LED substrate.
The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shade extends along a direction in which the plurality of LED light sources are arranged. The plurality of LED light sources are arranged in two rows on the LED substrate.
The reflective surface of the shade has a first region and a second region, and the first region and the second region are arranged at positions that are line-symmetrical with respect to the center line of the reflective surface.
The plurality of LED light sources arranged in the first row are arranged so that the irradiation direction is directed toward the first region, and the plurality of LED light sources arranged in the second row are arranged so that the irradiation direction is directed toward the second region. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plant cultivation apparatus is arranged. The plurality of LED light sources are arranged in three rows on the LED substrate.
The reflective surface of the shade has a first region, a second region, and a third region, and the first region and the second region are positioned so as to be line-symmetrical with respect to the center line of the reflective surface. Arranged, the third region is located between the first region and the second region.
The plurality of LED light sources arranged in the first row are arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the first region, and the plurality of LED light sources arranged in the second row are arranged with the irradiation direction directed toward the second region. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of LED light sources in the third row are arranged so that the irradiation direction is directed toward the third region. The plurality of LED light sources are arranged in a row on the LED substrate.
The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the LED substrate is arranged so that the irradiation direction of the LED light source is inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical direction in the vertical cross section. One of claims 1 to 5, wherein the LED substrate on which the LED light source is mounted is rotatably attached about an axis passing through the LED substrate perpendicular to the vertical cross section. The plant cultivation equipment described in the section. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a housing that surrounds the LED substrate and rotates about the axis along with the LED substrate. Equipped with air conditioning equipment
The air conditioning device has an air conditioning duct arranged below the LED substrate.
The plant according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the air conditioning duct, an outlet for blowing air toward the reflective surface is formed on the reflective surface side of the shade. Cultivation equipment.

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