Patent Description:
Plants such as vegetables cultivated indoors are commonly shipped after undergoing steps of "seeding", "seedling-raising", "planting" and "harvesting". Various types of exclusive racks for cultivating plants through these steps have been provided. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> describes a plant cultivation rack unit comprising a movable type rack and a fixed type rack.

The movable type rack comprises a shelf with multiple stages on which a plurality of cultivation vessels are mounted, a first frame fixing said shelf, and a caster fixed to the lower end of said first frame. The fixed type rack comprises a second frame fixed on a floor. The second frame has a space in which two movable type racks are stored side by side. Regarding said plant cultivation rack unit, the movable type rack is taken out from the space of the fixed type rack when plants grown in the cultivation vessels are shipped or moved to a different place.

The plant cultivation rack unit described in Patent Literature <NUM> needs a space into which the movable type rack is drawn out in front of the fixed type rack because the movable type rack is taken out from the space of the fixed type rack. Further, when a plurality of plant cultivation rack units are installed so as to be arranged in a plurality of rows, an aisle is provided between adjacent plant cultivation rack units. Thus, plants cannot be cultivated in the space into which the movable type rack is drawn out or in the aisle in an indoor place wherein the plant cultivation rack units are installed, which results in a smaller crop acreage. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose alternative plant cultivation systems which are characterized by similar disadvantages.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation system for improving the crop acreage of plants that are cultivated indoors.

In order to solve the above problem, the plant cultivation system of the present invention comprises:.

According to the present invention, a plant cultivation system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

One embodiment of the plant cultivation system, rack, and plant cultivation method disclosed herein is explained with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view depicting one embodiment of the plant cultivation system of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view depicting one embodiment of the rack disclosed herein. <FIG> is a descriptive drawing depicting one embodiment of the plant cultivation system of the present invention. <FIG> is a descriptive drawing depicting one embodiment of the travel line for seeding in the plant cultivation method disclosed herein, in which (a) depicts the first stage, (b) depicts the second stage, (c) depicts the third stage, and (d) depicts the fourth stage. <FIG> is a descriptive drawing depicting one embodiment of the travel line for planting in the plant cultivation method disclosed herein, in which (a) depicts the first stage, (b) depicts the second stage, (c) depicts the third stage, and (d) depicts the fourth stage.

The plant cultivation system comprises a plurality of racks <NUM> for cultivating a plant P as depicted in <FIG>. This plant cultivation system is installed indoors, and has travel lines A, B, and C for each of the steps of seeding, seedling-raising, and planting as depicted in <FIG>. A plurality of racks <NUM> are arranged on each of the travel lines A, B, and C. The plurality of racks <NUM> intermittently and detachably move along the travel lines A, B, and C.

The plant P is cultivated in a cultivation vessel <NUM> set in the rack <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>. The cultivation vessel <NUM> comprises a tray portion <NUM> for storing water such as fresh water or culture liquid, and a seedling bed palette <NUM> placed on the bottom surface of the tray portion <NUM> or a plate-like planting palette <NUM> that covers the top surface of the tray portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The seedling bed palette <NUM> is used in the step of seeding and the step of seedling-raising. The seedling bed palette <NUM> is formed of sponge or urethane foam. The seedling bed palette <NUM> has horizontal and vertical slits (not shown) so that the palette can be readily cut into planting segments (not shown) for growing one plant P. A depression (not given a number) on which a seed is placed or a slit (not shown) into which a seed is put is formed at the center of each region surrounded by the slits on the seedling bed palette <NUM>. The seedling bed palette <NUM> is placed on the bottom surface of the tray portion <NUM>.

The planting palette <NUM> is used in the step of planting. In the step of planting, the plant P grows big enough to be shipped in a planting segment. The planting palette <NUM> is a panel with numerous holes. A cultivation pot (not shown) is fit into each hole. A planting segment is put inside the cultivation pot.

Regarding the planting palette <NUM>, the plant P that grows in the step of planting is bigger than the plant P that grows in the step of seeding or seedling-raising. Thus, the interval of numerous holes on the seedling bed palette <NUM> is larger than the interval of numerous seeds that are sown on the seedling bed palette <NUM>. The number of seedlings cultivated on the planting palette <NUM> is less than the number of seedlings cultivated in the step of seeding and the step of seedling-raising.

As depicted in <FIG>, the rack <NUM> in which the cultivation vessel <NUM> as described above is set comprises four posts <NUM>, a plurality of pairs of main beams <NUM> and a plurality of pairs of sub beams <NUM> that are bridged between two posts <NUM>, a plurality of bars (not shown) that are bridged between a pair of main beams <NUM>, and a caster <NUM> that is attached to the lower end of each post <NUM>. The four posts <NUM> are arranged so as to be positioned at the corners of a rectangle in planar view due to a pair of posts with a larger interval and a pair of posts with a smaller interval.

The main beam <NUM> is bridged between the posts <NUM> with a larger interval. The sub beam <NUM> is bridged between the posts <NUM> with a smaller interval. The main beam <NUM> and the sub beam <NUM> are fixed to the posts <NUM> with a fixed interval in the height direction as well. One cultivation vessel <NUM> is mounted (set) on the bars bridged between a pair of main beams <NUM>. The illustrated rack <NUM> is provided with the main beams <NUM>, the sub beams <NUM>, and the bars in four stages so that four cultivation vessels <NUM> can be set.

The rack <NUM> comprises a water supply pipe <NUM> in the vertical direction and a water drain pipe <NUM> in the vertical direction. The water supply pipe <NUM> is bridged over the vertically arranged sub beam <NUM> on the side of the one end of the rack <NUM>. The water supply pipe <NUM> is attached on the side of an top surface opening in one end of the tray portion <NUM> so as to supply water such as fresh water or culture liquid into the tray portion <NUM> of each cultivation vessel <NUM>. The water drain pipe <NUM> is bridged over the vertically arranged sub beam <NUM> on the side of the other end of the rack <NUM>. The water drain pipe <NUM> is attached to the bottom side of the other end of the tray portion <NUM>. While water is supplied into the tray portion <NUM>, water that was not absorbed by the plant P is drained from the water drain pipe <NUM>.

A tank <NUM> and a pump (not shown) are placed in the lower portion of the rack <NUM> in order to circulate the water returned to the water drain pipe <NUM> to the water supply pipe <NUM>. When water is decreased by, for example, being absorbed by the plant P, the tank <NUM> is replenished with the decreased amount of water.

The rack <NUM> comprises a light source <NUM>. The light source <NUM> is attached, for example, on the lower side of a bar in order to equally illuminate the plant P in the cultivation vessel <NUM>. For example, a tubular LED lamp, a flat plate-like LED lamp or the like is employed as the light source <NUM>. Without being limited to two light sources as illustrated, the light source <NUM> may be one light source or three or more light sources. An LED lamp can emit light with a wavelength suitable for growth of the plant P. A power source line (not shown) for driving the pump or making the light source <NUM> emit light is wired on the rack <NUM>.

An electric wire <NUM> for driving the pump or making the light source <NUM> emit light is installed above the travel lines A, B, and C (e.g., near the ceiling (not shown)). The electric wire <NUM> has a main wire <NUM> that is installed in a higher position than the rack <NUM> in the same direction as the travel line, and a branch wire <NUM> that branches from the main wire <NUM> and hangs down toward the rack <NUM>. The branch wire <NUM> is connected to the main wire <NUM> so as to be able to follow the movement of the rack <NUM>. The power source line wired on the rack <NUM> comprises an outlet (not shown) connecting with the branch wire <NUM>.

Regarding the rack <NUM> as described above, a plurality of racks (four racks in the drawings) are arranged in such a manner that they can be in contact or separated on each of the travel line for seeding (hereinafter, referred to as the "seeding line") A, the travel line for seedling-raising (hereinafter, referred to as the "seedling-raising line") B, and the travel line for planting (hereinafter, referred to as the "planting line") C. The racks <NUM> are in contact or separated on the longer side. The rack <NUM> intermittently advances on each of the travel lines A, B, and C in accordance with the growth state of the plant P, with the length of the shorter side as one pitch.

The rack <NUM> advances by being pushed by a worker. In this case, each of the travel lines A, B, and C comprises a stopper for stopping the rack <NUM> in a predetermined position. However, the caster <NUM> may be driven by a motor (not shown) and the motor may be controlled by a controlling means. The controlling means drives the motor at a predetermined time for a fixed period of time, and intermittently advances the rack <NUM> at a fixed pitch. The fixed pitch at which the rack <NUM> advances is the width of the rack <NUM>.

Each of the travel lines A, B, and C comprises a pair of parallel guide rails <NUM>. The interval of the pair of guide rails <NUM> is deemed to be almost the same as the length of the longer side of the rack <NUM>. The pair of guide rails <NUM> are fixed to the floor so as to be in contact with a pair of caster <NUM> of the rack <NUM> or the lowest sub beam <NUM> of the rack <NUM>.

The rack <NUM> intermittently advances on the seeding line A at a defined pitch for every fixed period of time (e.g., two days) until a seed sown on the seedling bed palette <NUM> sprouts (e.g., eight days). The plant P which sprouted on the seedling bed palette <NUM> is much smaller than the plant P which has grown enough to be harvested. Thus, the pitch of the seeds sown on the seedling bed palette <NUM> is smaller than the pitch of the holes of the planting palette <NUM>.

The seedling bed palette <NUM> is placed on the bottom surface of the tray portion <NUM>. The cultivation vessel <NUM> in which the seedling bed palette <NUM> is placed on the bottom surface of the tray portion <NUM> is placed (set) on the bar of the rack <NUM>.

The rack <NUM> intermittently advances on the seedling-raising line B at a defined pitch for every fixed period of time (e.g., two days) until the seedling which sprouted on the seedling bed palette <NUM> grows, namely, until the root grows, the stem becomes thicker, and a leaf develops (e.g., eight days). The seedling bed palette <NUM> and the tray portion <NUM> that are used for the seedling-raising line B are the same as the seedling bed palette <NUM> and the tray portion <NUM> that were used for the seeding line A. Thus, the rack <NUM> that moved on the seeding line A directly moves to the seedling-raising line B. Alternatively, the cultivation vessel <NUM> set in the rack <NUM> on the seeding line A is transferred to (set in) the rack <NUM> of the seedling-raising line B.

The rack <NUM> intermittently advances on the planting line C at a defined pitch for every fixed period of time (e.g., one day) until the plant P which grew on the seedling-raising line B is further grown and harvested (e.g., <NUM> days). The cultivation vessel <NUM> in which the planting palette <NUM> covers the top surface of the tray portion <NUM> is used on the planting line C. A cultivation pot is fit into a hole on the planting palette <NUM> of the cultivation vessel <NUM>. A planting segment produced by cutting the seedling bed palette <NUM> is put inside the cultivation pot. One plant P grows in each planting segment. The cultivation vessel <NUM> in which the cultivation pot is set is set in the rack <NUM> of the planting line C.

In this regard, a plant cultivation method by the plant cultivation system of the present invention is explained with reference to <FIG>.

First, seeds are sown on a seedling bed palette <NUM>. The seeds are sown at a defined pitch on a depression or in a slit of the seedling bed palette <NUM>. Next, a cultivation vessel <NUM> in which the seedling bed palette <NUM> with sown seeds thereon is placed on the bottom surface of a tray portion <NUM> is set in a rack <NUM>. The cultivation vessel <NUM> is set on a plurality of stages (four stages in the drawings) in the rack <NUM>. This rack <NUM> is arranged at the tail end of a plurality of racks <NUM> (three racks in the drawings) arranged on a seeding line A as depicted in <FIG>. Thus, cultivation is performed on the seeding line A in the state wherein four racks <NUM> are arranged as depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>.

A water supply pipe <NUM> and a water drain pipe <NUM> are attached to the tray portion <NUM> in the rack <NUM> which is arranged at the tail end as depicted in <FIG>. Fresh water is stored in a tank <NUM> comprised in the rack <NUM>. Fresh water circulates between the water supply pipe <NUM> and the water drain pipe <NUM>, and the seedling bed palette <NUM> in the cultivation vessel <NUM> soaks in fresh water.

A water supply pipe <NUM> and a water drain pipe <NUM> are also connected to each tray portion <NUM> of the three racks <NUM> that are already arranged. A branch wire <NUM> of an electric wire <NUM> is connected to the rack <NUM> which is arranged at the tail end by an outlet comprised in a power source line. A power source line and a branch wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> are also connected to the three racks <NUM> that are already arranged. Connection of the power source line to the branch line <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> triggers a pump to drive, fresh water to circulate, and a light source <NUM> in the rack <NUM> to illuminate the seedling bed palette <NUM>.

As days elapse, the seeds sown on the seedling bed palette <NUM> sprout. When the racks <NUM> on the seeding line A advance by one pitch for example every two days, the rack <NUM> arranged at the tail end advances to the head on the sixth day as depicted in <FIG>. The racks <NUM> advance straight along a guide rail <NUM>. The four racks <NUM> integrally advance. The racks <NUM> smoothly advance by a caster <NUM>. When the racks <NUM> on the seeding line A advance, the branch lines <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> follow.

After a plant P in the rack <NUM> arranged at the head is cultivated for a fixed period of time, for example, two days, the plant moves away from the seeding line A to a seedling-raising line B as depicted in <FIG>. When this rack <NUM> moves away from the seeding line A, the branch wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> is pulled out from the outlet of the power source line. The position at the head of the seeding line A will have an empty space. The plant P sown on the seedling bed palette <NUM> in the first rack <NUM> has started to develop a leaf and has grown to be a small seedling.

Next, the three arranged racks <NUM> integrally advance by one pitch to make the tail end to have an empty space as depicted in <FIG>. A new rack <NUM> is arranged in this space at the tail end as depicted in <FIG>.

The rack <NUM> which moved away from the seeding line A is arranged at the tail end of the seedling-raising line B as depicted in <FIG>. The power source line of this rack <NUM> and the branch wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> of the seedling-raising line B are connected. Culture liquid is stored in the tank <NUM> of this rack <NUM>. The culture liquid circulates in the tray portion <NUM> by the water supply pipe <NUM> and the water drain pipe <NUM>. The rack <NUM> also intermittently advances for every fixed period of time, for example, every two days, in the seedling-raising line B in the same manner as the seeding line A depicted in <FIG>.

The racks <NUM> arranged on the seedling-raising line B intermittently advance while being restricted by the guide rail <NUM>. The racks <NUM> smoothly advance by the caster <NUM>. The plant P in the cultivation vessel <NUM> grows by the culture liquid and the light source <NUM>. For example, when the racks <NUM> advance by one pitch every two days, the rack <NUM> arranged at the end advances to the head in six days. After the plant P in the cultivation vessel <NUM> stored in the first rack <NUM> grows for two days, the plant moves away from the following rack(s) <NUM> and moves from the seedling-raising line B to a planting line C. Upon doing so, the branch wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> is removed from the outlet of the rack <NUM>.

Upon movement of the plant P to the planting line C, the seedling bed palette <NUM> is cut along a slit and separated into a planting segment. The planting segment is put inside a cultivation pot. This cultivation pot is fit into a hole made on a planting palette <NUM>. This planting palette <NUM> covers the top surface of the tray portion <NUM>, thereby setting the cultivation vessel <NUM>. This cultivation vessel <NUM> is configured in such a manner the number of holes on the planting palette <NUM> is less than the number of depressions on the seedling bed palette <NUM> so that the plants P which have grown bigger will not be located densely.

This cultivation vessel <NUM> is stored in the rack <NUM> on the planting line C as depicted in <FIG>. Four racks <NUM> are arranged on the planting line C as well. Namely, three racks <NUM> are arranged and a new rack <NUM> is arranged in the space at the tail end as depicted in <FIG>. As depicted in <FIG>, the plant P on this travel line for planting grows enough to be cultivated in a fixed period of time (e.g., <NUM> days). Thus, one pitch of advancement is made every four days. The racks <NUM> intermittently advance along the guide rail <NUM>. The racks <NUM> smoothly advance by the caster <NUM>.

The water supply pipe <NUM> and the water drain pipe <NUM> comprised in the rack <NUM> on the planting line C are attached to the tray portion <NUM> of the cultivation vessel <NUM> stored in this rack <NUM>. Nutrient liquid for planting is supplied from the water supply pipe <NUM> into the tray portion <NUM>, and drained from the water drain pipe <NUM>. The lower portion of the cultivation pot soaks in the nutrient liquid inside the tray portion <NUM>.

The last rack <NUM> advances to the head on the 12th day. In four days, the plant P of the first rack <NUM> grows enough to be harvested. As depicted in <FIG>, the first rack <NUM> in which the plant P is ready to be harvested advances away from the following rack(s) <NUM>. Upon doing so, the branch wire <NUM> of the electric wire <NUM> is removed from the power source line of the rack <NUM>, and the water supply pipe <NUM> and the water drain pipe <NUM> are removed from the tray portion <NUM>. The cultivation vessel <NUM> stored in the first rack <NUM> is taken out from the rack <NUM>. The cultivation pot of this cultivation vessel <NUM> is pulled out from the hole of the plate and shipped.

Three racks advance to form a space at the tail end as depicted in <FIG>. A new rack <NUM> transferred from the seedling-raising line B is arranged in this space as depicted in <FIG>.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rack <NUM> was advanced to cultivate the plant P in all of the steps of seeding, seedling-raising, and planting of the plant P. However, the rack <NUM> may be used only in any of the steps to cultivate the plant P. Further, the number of racks <NUM> arranged in each step and the number of cultivation vessels <NUM> stored in each rack <NUM> can be optionally changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the travel lines A, B, and C are described to comprise a pair of guide rails <NUM>. However, the travel lines may comprise one guide rail <NUM>, and protrusions that sandwich this one guide rail <NUM> from both sides may be provided to the bottom surface of the rack <NUM>. Furthermore, a guide rail <NUM> can be omitted by the caster <NUM> having the function of only enabling a straight advancement of the rack <NUM>. In contrast, a caster <NUM> can be omitted by the guide rail <NUM> comprising a groove and the rack <NUM> comprising a foot portion which fits in this groove in point contact.

In the above-described embodiment, the electric wire <NUM> comprises a main wire <NUM> installed near a ceiling and a branch wire <NUM> that branches from the main wire <NUM>. However, although not shown, the electric wire <NUM> may comprise one main wire and a sub wire connected between adjacent racks <NUM>, and the sub wire at the head may be connected to the main wire. Furthermore, the rack <NUM> may comprise a battery so as not to install the electric wire <NUM>.

Further, although not shown, the plant cultivation system may comprise a feeding apparatus instead of the electric wire <NUM>. The feeding apparatus comprises a duct, a mobile body or the like. The duct is a duct hanger which is disposed near the ceiling, and has a groove portion which opens downwardly as in a lip channel steel (C-steel) and a pair of lips which are formed on both sides of this groove portion. The mobile body comprises a roller which rolls over the pair of lips, and a hanging portion which hangs down from the rotational axis of this roller and moves while protruding from the groove portion. The hanging portion is connected to the power source line of the rack <NUM>. The feeding apparatus is connected to the power source, and keeps energizing the light source <NUM> or a pump in the rack <NUM> even if the rack <NUM> moves. Alternatively, the feeding apparatus may use the guide rail <NUM> as a feeding means.

In the above-described embodiment, water was circulated by the water supply pipe <NUM> and the water drain pipe <NUM>. However, for example, when water gets muddy, water that flowed in the tray portion <NUM> may be drained out of the rack <NUM> without circulating the water.

In the above-described embodiment, the plant P was transplanted to enlarge an interval from an adjacent plant P in the steps of seeding and seedling-raising and the step of planting. However, the interval between adjacent plants P may be always constant without being changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the posts <NUM> of adjacent racks <NUM> were configured to be detachable, namely, the full length of a post <NUM> is in contact with or separated from the full length of an adjacent post <NUM>. However, the rack <NUM> may be provided with protrusions (not shown) on the side on which a post <NUM> and a post <NUM> face each other to configure these protrusions to be in contact or separated.

Claim 1:
A plant cultivation system comprising:
a plurality of racks (<NUM>), each of the plurality of racks (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of cultivation vessels (<NUM>) for cultivating a plant;
a travel line (A, B, C) comprising a guide rail on which the plurality of racks (<NUM>) are arranged in such a manner that the plurality of racks (<NUM>) can be in contact or separated, the guide rail (<NUM>) guiding the plurality of racks (<NUM>) to integrally advance; and
a first electric wire (<NUM>) installed above and along the travel line; and a plurality of second electric wires (<NUM>), which branch from the first electric wire (<NUM>), and which is to be connected to each of the plurality of racks (<NUM>) ;
wherein each of the plurality of racks (<NUM>) comprises: a water supply pipe (<NUM>) for supplying water to a respective cultivation vessel of the plurality of cultivation vessels (<NUM>) ; a water drain pipe (<NUM>) for draining water from each of the plurality of cultivation vessels (<NUM>); a pump and
a tank (<NUM>), provided at a lower portion of the racks (<NUM>), for circulating water between the water supply pipe (<NUM>) and the water drain pipe (<NUM>); an illumination means (<NUM>) for illuminating a plant cultivated in the plurality of cultivation vessels (<NUM>); and one of the plurality of second electric wires (<NUM>) which branches from the first electric wire, and
wherein the pump is configured so that water supplied from the water supply pipe (<NUM>) to the cultivation vessels flows back to the water supply pipe (<NUM>) after returning to the tank (<NUM>) via the water drain pipe (<NUM>) to enable water to circulate in each of the racks (<NUM>), and
wherein the first electric wire (<NUM>) and the plurality of second electric wires (<NUM>) are electric wires for driving the pump and the illumination means(<NUM>),
wherein the first rack of the plurality of racks can advance away from the following rack (s) of the plurality of racks in accordance with a growth state of a plant cultivated in the plurality of cultivation vessels.