JPH11262332A - Plant growing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a plant growing apparatus which has a simple structure and can easily realize artificial light as close to natural light as possible without incurring high cost. An artificial light source (31) capable of artificially controlling a light environment.
Is Dy-Tl-, both of which are metal halide lamps 34.
An In-based lamp 34A and an Sn-based lamp 34B;
The two lamps 34A and 34B are arranged in a matrix arranged alternately so that the irradiation light is irradiated onto the plant in a state where the irradiation lights are mixed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant growing apparatus provided with an artificial light source for irradiating plants with light, and capable of artificially controlling the light environment by the artificial light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, one of the purposes of a plant cultivation apparatus is to reproduce an environment similar to the natural world. Particularly, when an ecological experiment such as breeding or pathology is performed with an artificial light source, it is as close to natural light as possible. Artificial light was required. However, in practice, if there is a certain effect on the growth and development of plants, it is a reality to determine an artificial light source in consideration of equipment costs and the like. In general, specific metal halide lamps such as Sn-based lamps are selected and used. Was.

[0003]

However, in the plant growing apparatus described above, an artificial light source is usually formed by selecting only one kind of lamp. For example, when an Sn-based lamp is selected, blue light ( There is a problem that the wavelength region of 400 to 500 nm) is clearly poorer than natural light, and it is difficult to reproduce natural light.

An apparatus of this type having an artificial light source is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-79531. This is an apparatus that creates a light environment suitable for plants by controlling the light emission amounts of a plurality of artificial light sources having different energy distributions with a control device.

However, even with such a device, the provision of a control device for adjusting the amount of light emission leads to a significant increase in cost, and after all, what kind of energy distribution and in what proportion I didn't know if the combination could reproduce natural light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has a simple configuration and easily realizes artificial light as close to natural light as possible without incurring high costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant cultivation device capable of performing the following.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object lies in the following inventions. [1] A plant growing apparatus (10) including an artificial light source (31) for irradiating a plant with light, the light environment of which can be artificially controlled by the artificial light source (31).
Is Dy-T, both of which are metal halide lamps (34).
An l-In lamp (34A) and a Sn lamp (34
B), so that the Dy-Tl-In-based lamp (34A) and the Sn-based lamp (34B) are irradiated onto the plant in a state where the respective irradiation lights are mixed at substantially the same rate. A plant cultivation device (10), wherein the device is disposed in a plant.

[2] The Dy-Tl-In lamp (3)
4A), wherein the number and the wattage of each of the Sn-based lamps (34B) are substantially the same, and both lamps are arranged in a matrix alternately arranged along a substantially plane. Plant growing device (10).

[3] The Dy-Tl-In lamp (3)
4A) and the Sn-based lamps (34B) are changed in the number of lightings so that the light intensities can be controlled stepwise while maintaining the state where the irradiation lights of both lamps are mixed at substantially the same ratio. The plant growing apparatus (10) according to [1] or [2].

Next, the operation based on the above-mentioned solution will be described. According to the plant growing apparatus (10) of [1], Dy-T
With the l-In lamp (34A), light that is close to the wavelength range of about 400 to 700 nm among natural light can be obtained, but light in the wavelength range of far-red light (700 to 850 nm) is considerably less than natural light. . On the other hand, Sn-based lamps (34
B), far-red light (700 to 850) out of natural light
Although light on the long wavelength side including the wavelength of about 530 nm can be obtained, light on the short wavelength side of about 530 nm or less compared with natural light is considerably insufficient.

As a result of the research by the inventors, the Dy-T
The l-In lamp (34A) and the Sn lamp (34)
By mixing the respective irradiation lights of B) at substantially the same ratio,
Light very similar to the spectrum of various phases of natural light can be obtained. Here, in order to mix the irradiation lights of both lamps at substantially the same ratio, for example, the wattage may be set to a ratio of 1: 1.

Also, as described in [2], both lamps (3
4A and 34B) are prepared with substantially the same wattage, and the lamps (34A and 34B) are arranged in a matrix arranged alternately along a substantially plane. 34B) can be mixed almost uniformly. With such a simple configuration, a light environment similar to natural light can be realized without increasing costs.

Furthermore, as described in [3], both lamps (34A, 34B) are turned on or off, for example, by the same number, so that both lamps (34A, 34B) are turned off.
It is possible to efficiently conduct experiments in which the light intensity of light is mixed at approximately the same rate, that is, while maintaining a light environment similar to natural light, the light intensity is controlled stepwise to examine the effect of light intensity on plant growth. Can be done.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the plant growing apparatus 10 includes a growing room 20 in a box-shaped machine body 10a.
A light source room 30 and a machine room 50 are provided.
It is a device that controls the environmental factors artificially by circulating air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted inside, and performs a plant growth test. The artificial light source 31 forming the basis of the present invention is disposed in the light source room 30.

The growing room 20 is a room for growing plants,
The bottom portion is composed of a floor plate 21 parallel to the bottom wall of the machine body 10a, the upper surface portion is composed of a ceiling plate 23 parallel to the top wall of the machine body 10a, and the periphery is an outer wall or partition 25 of the machine body 10a.
Is surrounded by Below the floor plate 21 is a blow-out space 20a for blowing the adjusted air into the growing room 20, and a pot or the like in which a plant is planted is placed on the floor plate 21.

The floor plate 21 has a large number of blow holes 2 throughout its area.
2 have been established. On the other hand, the light source room 3
A plurality of openings 24 through which the 0 side artificial light source 31 is inserted are opened. Here, in each opening 24, the lower end opening (light irradiation part) of the shade 32 of the artificial light source 31 corresponding to each.
Side to penetrate into the growth chamber 20 so that the opening 24
A ring-shaped gap is formed between the inner peripheral edge and the outer periphery of the shade 32. This gap serves as a suction hole for discharging the air inside the growth chamber 20 to the outside of the room.

The light source chamber 30 is located on the ceiling plate 23 and also serves as an air suction space for discharging the air circulated in the growth chamber 20 to the outside. As described above, the artificial light source 31 that partially projects toward the breeding room 20 is provided in the light source room 30. The artificial light source 31 irradiates the plant with light and can artificially control the light environment.

The artificial light source 31 includes a Dy-Tl-In type lamp 34A which is a metal halide lamp 34,
And a system lamp 34B. The Dy-Tl-In-based lamp 34A and the Sn-based lamp 34B are arranged so that the plants on the floorboard 21 are illuminated in a state where the respective illumination lights are mixed at substantially the same rate.

As shown in FIG. 5, the metal halide lamp 34 is a type of high-pressure mercury lamp, and includes a quartz arc tube 36 supported in an outer bulb 35, and includes an electrode 37, a bimetal switch 38, a base 39 and the like. I have. Quartz arc tube 3
In addition to mercury, a metal halide (metal halide) is added to the inside of the lamp 6, and the lamp 6 mainly uses light emission by discharge in these metal vapors.

Such a metal halide lamp 34 is
The kind such as the spectral distribution differs depending on the kind of the luminescent metal added to the quartz arc tube 36, and a typical one is Dy-T.
An l-In lamp 34A and a Sn lamp 34B. The Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A has a strong emission line at 535 nm, and the Sn lamp 34B is a lamp having a large energy ratio in the far-red light region.

More specifically, the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A has a quartz arc tube 36 in addition to mercury and argon.
It is a lamp in which a halide such as dysprosium or thallium is sealed. The luminous efficiency of the Dy-Tl-In-based lamp 34A is about 1.5 times that of a mercury lamp, and the color rendering property is such that the average color rendering index Ra reaches about 90. Specifically, for example, B
An OC lamp (registered trademark) and the like are known.

FIG. 6 shows a Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A.
4 is a graph comparing spectral energy distributions of natural light and natural light. Here, the natural light is sunlight having a color temperature that can be obtained most frequently on the ground surface. As can be seen from this graph, the spectral energy distribution of the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A is symbolized by a rich continuous spectrum over a wide visible region and a strong thallium line at 535 nm. The continuous spectrum mainly consists of a collection of an infinite number of line spectra by Dy, giving this light source high color rendering characteristics. However, far-red light (700
The light in the wavelength range of ８850 nm) is considerably insufficient.

On the other hand, the Sn-based lamp 34B is a lamp utilizing a continuous spectrum by molecular emission of tin halide (SnI, SnBr). The luminous efficiency of the Sn-based lamp 34B is about the same as that of a mercury lamp, but the color rendering property reaches an average color rendering index Ra of about 92. Specifically, for example, a sunlight lamp (registered trademark) is known.

FIG. 7 is a graph comparing the spectral energy distributions of the Sn lamp 34B and natural light. As described above, natural light is sunlight having a color temperature that is obtained most frequently on the ground surface. As can be seen from this graph, the spectral energy distribution of the Sn-based lamp 34B is symbolized by a continuous spectrum over a wide visible region due to molecular emission of tin iodide. However, light on the short wavelength side of about 530 nm or less compared to natural light is considerably insufficient.

The Dy-Tl-In-based lamp 34A and the Sn-based lamp 34B are arranged so as to irradiate the plants on the floorboard 21 in a state where the respective irradiation lights are mixed. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
Reference numerals 34B are arranged in a 4 × 5 matrix arranged alternately on the upper surface wall of the substantially flat machine body 10a.

In the example of FIG. 2, a white circle is the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A, and a hatched circle is the Sn lamp 34A.
B, and the reverse mode is acceptable, but the point is that the lamps adjacent to each other in the upper, lower, left, and right directions are of different types. In addition to such an arrangement, for example, the same type of lamp may be arranged for each row or column, and the lamp rows may be alternately arranged every other row or every other column. It is to be noted that the arrangement is not limited to a matrix, but may be arranged radially or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Reflector shade 3 to which both bases 39 of 4A and 34B can be attached
Two sockets 32a are arranged in the above-described arrangement. A light-transmitting lid 32b is openably and closably attached to the lower end opening of the reflection shade 32 on the light irradiation side of the lamps 34A and 34B via a hinge.

In FIG. 2, the number and the wattage of each of the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A and the Sn lamp 34B are previously set to be the same in the present embodiment. That is, the wattage of each of the lamps 34A, 34B is set at a ratio of 1: 1.
The number of 34B is ten each.

As a result of the experiment using the artificial light source 31, the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A and the Sn lamp 3
By mixing the respective irradiation lights of 4B at substantially the same ratio,
As shown in FIG. 8, light very similar to the spectrum of various phases of natural light could be obtained. In FIG. 8, indicates the spectral energy distribution of the mixed light of the two lamps 34A and 34B, and indicates the spectral energy distribution of natural light on an actual experimental day (clear weather).

Further, the light intensity of each of the two lamps 34A and 34B can be controlled stepwise while maintaining the state where the irradiation lights of the two lamps 34A and 34B are mixed at substantially the same ratio by changing the lighting number of each of the two lamps 34A and 34B. Have been. For example, the same number of lights of both lamps may be turned on or off. In this case, the turning on and off of the two lamps 34A and 34B may be performed manually, or may be performed automatically by control means.

One end of the light source chamber 30 is connected to the machine room 5.
0, and the lower end of the machine room 50 communicates with the blowing space 20a. The continuous space blows out the air discharged from the opening 24 through the light source chamber 30. An air circulation path for circulating to the hole 22 is formed. Note that an air filter 26 for removing dust and dirt in the air is interposed between the light source room 30 and the machine room 50.

In the machine room 50, there is provided an air adjusting device for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air and sending the air in a certain direction.
Here, the air conditioner specifically includes a blower 51, a cooling coil 52, an electric heater 53, and a humidifying nozzle 54 in combination. The operation of the components of the air adjustment device such as the blower 51 is controlled by a control device (computer). The air adjusting device is not limited to the configuration described above, and may be configured without the humidifying nozzle 54, for example.

Next, the operation will be described. The plant growing device 1
According to 0, the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A
As shown in FIG. 6, about 400 to 700 nm of natural light
Is obtained. However, light in the wavelength range of far-red light (700 to 850 nm) is considerably less than natural light.

On the other hand, according to the Sn lamp 34B, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
nm) is obtained. However, light on the short wavelength side near 530 nm or less compared to natural light is considerably insufficient.

As shown in FIG. 2, these two lamps 3
4A and 34B have the same wattage and are arranged alternately along a substantially horizontal matrix, so that the irradiation lights of both lamps 34A and 34B are mixed almost uniformly and at the same rate, and the floor plate 21 Irradiates the plants placed on top.

By irradiating the Dy-Tl-In-based lamp 34A and the Sn-based lamp 34B with substantially the same ratio, the Dy-Tl-In-based lamp 34A and the Sn-based lamp 34B are mixed with each other, as shown in FIG. Obtainable. That is, the far-red light (700 to 850 nm) that is insufficient for the Dy-Tl-In lamp 34A is supplemented by the Sn lamp 34B, and conversely, for the Sn lamp 34B.
Light on the short wavelength side of around 30 nm or less is Dy-Tl-In
Supplemented by system lamp 34A.

As described above, the two lamps 34A, 3 are more efficient and cheaper than, for example, a microwave lamp.
4B is combined with blue light (400 to 500n).
m), a light environment in which the ratio of red light (600 to 700 nm) and far red light (700 to 850 nm) is close to natural light can be artificially created.

In FIG. 2, both lamps 34A, 34
By turning on and off the same number of B lights, respectively, it is also possible to control the light intensity stepwise while maintaining the state where the irradiation lights of both lamps 34A and 34B are mixed at substantially the same rate. Therefore, an experiment for examining the effect of light intensity on plant growth can be efficiently performed while maintaining a light environment similar to natural light. In this case, both lamps 34
The turning on and off of A and 34B may be performed manually, or may be performed automatically by control means.

The ratio of blue light / red light and red light / far red light in the natural light is almost constant except in the morning and evening, but strictly speaking, the amount of blue light is slightly greater in the morning and the amount of red light in the evening. There are many. The number of lights of both lamps 34A and 34B may be arbitrarily changed and adjusted in accordance with such a natural situation.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
4A and 34B, the lower end opening side of the reflection shade 32 is inserted through the opening 24 of the ceiling plate 23 and protrudes inside the growth chamber 20. Therefore, it is possible to directly irradiate the plant without the irradiation light passing through the ceiling plate 23. In addition, since the lower end opening of the reflection shade 32 is exposed in the growth room 20, the lamps 34A and 34B can be used without opening and closing the ceiling plate 23 at all.
Can be easily replaced or inspected from within the training room 20.

The air in the plant growing apparatus 10 is first supplied to the cooling coil 52 and the electric heater 5 in the machine room 50.
In a state where the temperature is adjusted to a desired temperature by 3 and the humidity is adjusted to a desired humidity by the humidifying nozzle 54, the air is sent to the blowing space 20 a below the growing room 20 by the operation of the blower 51. The adjusted air is blown into the growth chamber 20 through a large number of blow holes 22 in the entire area of the floor plate 21 of the growth chamber 20.

On the other hand, the light source room 30 above the ceiling plate 23 of the growing room 20 has a negative pressure due to the operation of the blower 51, and the air in the growing room 20 flows outside through the opening 24 in the ceiling plate 23. The air is sucked and discharged. Thereby, distribution of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity in the breeding room 20 can be favorably maintained, and variation in plant growth due to unevenness of the environmental factors in the breeding room 20 can be prevented.

One end of the light source chamber 30 communicates with the upper end of the machine chamber 50, and the lower end of the machine chamber 50 communicates with the blow-out space 20a. The continuous space forms an air circulation path. That is, the air discharged from the suction hole 24 of the ceiling plate 23 to the outside of the growth chamber 20 is directly introduced into the light source chamber 30 and passes therethrough, and is again desired by the cooling coil 52 and the electric heater 53 in the machine room 50. Circulates toward the blow-out space 20a side, for example, by being adjusted to the temperature of.

As described above, since the light source chamber 30 also becomes a part of the air circulation path, both lamps 34A and 34B in the light source chamber 30 are provided.
Excess heat generated from the air conditioner is constantly released to the outside of the light source chamber 30 together with the air flowing through the air circulation path, and the excess heat is cooled mainly by the cooling coil 52 of the air conditioner. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a refrigerator specifically for the light source room 30, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the temperatures of the air in the growth room 20 and the light source room 30 are almost equal, the occurrence of dew condensation is reliably prevented. can do.

The plant growing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration according to the above-described embodiment. For example, the ceiling plate 23 is made of a translucent glass plate, the lamp 31 remains in the light source room 30 without providing the opening 24 through which the artificial light source 31 is inserted, and a number of suction holes are opened in the glass plate. You may make it.

In FIG. 2, a white circle indicates Dy-Tl-I
The n-type lamp 34A is shown, and the hatched circle is the Sn-type lamp 34B, but the reverse mode may be used. The lamps 34A, 34B are arranged on the upper surface wall of the substantially flat machine body 10a in a 4 × 5 matrix arranged alternately. However, the number of the lamps 34A, 34B is more than 20. And the arrangement is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. The characteristics of the lamps 34A and 34B and the graphs of FIGS. 6 and 7 refer to Katsumi Inada, Light and Plant Growth (Yokendo).

[0047]

According to the plant growing apparatus of the present invention, the artificial light sources are Dy-Tl, both of which are metal halide lamps.
-Since the system includes an In-based lamp and an Sn-based lamp, and the two lamps are arranged so that the irradiation light is irradiated to the plant in a state where the irradiation lights are mixed at substantially the same ratio, the configuration is simple and the cost is high. , Artificial light as close as possible to natural light can be easily realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an internal structure of a plant growing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of lamps constituting an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an attached state of a lamp constituting an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a lamp constituting an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph comparing the spectral energy distribution of natural light with a Dy-Tl-In lamp that constitutes an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph comparing the spectral energy distributions of Sn-based lamps and natural light constituting an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph comparing spectral energy distributions of mixed light and natural light of both lamps constituting an artificial light source of the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Plant growing apparatus 10a ... Machine body 20 ... Growing room 20a ... Blow-out space 21 ... Floor plate 23 ... Ceiling plate 24 ... Opening 30 ... Light source room 31 ... Artificial light source 32 ... Reflector shade 32a ... Socket 32b ... Transparent cover 34 ... Metal halide lamp 34A Dy-Tl-In system lamp 34B Sn system lamp 35 Outer bulb 36 Quartz arc tube 37 Electrode 38 Bimetal switch 39 Base 50 Machine room

Claims (3)

[Claims] An artificial light source for irradiating a plant with light, wherein the artificial light source can artificially control the light environment. The artificial light source is a metal halide lamp, Dy.
A Tl-In lamp and a Sn lamp; and irradiating the plant with the Dy-Tl-In lamp and the Sn lamp in a state where irradiation light from each other is mixed at substantially the same rate. A plant cultivation device, wherein the plant cultivation device is arranged so as to be operated. 2. The Dy-Tl-In system lamp and the Sn
2. The plant growing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number and wattage of the system lamps are substantially the same, and both lamps are arranged in a matrix alternately arranged along a substantially plane. 3. The Dy-Tl-In system lamp and the Sn
3. The light intensity can be controlled stepwise by changing the number of each of the system lamps to be turned on, while maintaining a state in which the irradiation lights of both lamps are mixed at substantially the same ratio. Plant growing equipment.