KR20210121738A - Plants cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant cultivating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet forming a growing space; a water tank disposed in the cultivating space and storing water; a pod provided inside the cultivating space and containing seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation; and a bed in which the pod is seated and water supplied from the water tank is stored, wherein the pod is provided with an antibacterial agent made of a substance contained in grapefruit.

Description

Plant Cultivation Apparatus {PLANTS CULTIVATION APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus.

A general plant cultivation apparatus forms a predetermined cultivation room having an environment suitable for plant growth, and stores the plants in the predetermined cultivation room. The plant cultivation apparatus is provided with a configuration for supplying nutrients and light energy necessary for plant growth, and the plant grows by the supplied nutrients and light energy.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to the prior art is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1240375. In this prior art, a multi-stage tray is disposed inside the cabinet, light is irradiated from the light irradiation unit to the tray, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the tray through the nutrient solution recovery box, and the inside of the cabinet is set at a set temperature by the air conditioner and air circulation fan. A structure that can grow plants by maintaining them is disclosed.

However, in the prior art, water and nutrient solution have a structure in which water and nutrient solution are supplied and recovered through nutrient solution recovery, and there is a problem of being vulnerable to contamination due to a structure in which the nutrient solution is circulated.

In particular, when used for a long time, the nutrient solution is corrupted or contaminated. In a structure in which the nutrient solution recovers the nutrient solution and circulates through the entire flow path, there is a problem that inevitably a sanitary environment cannot be maintained.

In addition, since the environment in the medium in which the plant is grown is a good environment for microorganisms such as mold and bacteria to be generated, there is a problem in that various mold bacteria adversely affect plant growth. When these fungi multiply, hygiene and aesthetics are not good, and there is a problem in that cultivation performance (yield) is reduced.

Registration number (registration date): Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1240375 (February 28, 2013).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of preventing contamination of a cultivation space and maintaining a sanitary environment at all times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria in a pod (POD) in which plants grow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of improving cultivation performance (yield) by increasing the germination rate or growth rate of cultivated plants.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of creating a stable and harmless cultivation environment to the human body by using a natural antibacterial agent without using chemical drugs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of stably and evenly injecting an antibacterial agent into a pod.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided in a cabinet, a water tank, and a cabinet, and a pod containing seeds and nutrients of a plant for cultivation and the pod are seated, It includes a bed in which the feed water supplied from the water tank is stored, and the pod may be provided with an antibacterial agent made of a material contained in grapefruit.

According to this configuration, since the growth of microorganisms such as mold and bacteria is suppressed by providing a natural antibacterial agent in the pod in which the plant grows, hygiene and aesthetics are improved and cultivation performance (yield) is improved due to the reduction of mold.

The natural antibacterial agent may be made of a material containing grapefruit extract. In this case, the natural antibacterial agent may be composed of 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The antimicrobial agent may be provided in a solid state inside the pod.

For example, the antibacterial agent may be formed of a water-soluble material that gradually dissolves in water. That is, the antibacterial agent is dissolved by the supply water supplied from the water tank, the grapefruit extract can maintain a certain concentration. In this case, the predetermined concentration may be maintained at 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The pod is provided inside the pod housing and the pod housing to be seated on the bed, and includes a vermiculite layer containing the nutrients, and the antibacterial agent may be disposed on the vermiculite layer. In addition, the pod may further include a protective paper covering the open upper surface of the pod housing and a packing member interposed between the protective paper and the vermiculite layer.

In addition, the pods are stacked on top of the vermiculite layer, and may further include seed paper containing the seeds. The pod is stacked on top of the seed paper, and may further include a brick including vermiculite. And the pod may further include a protective paper covering the open upper surface of the pod housing and a packing member interposed between the protective paper and the brick.

The pod may further include a pod protrusion protruding from a lower surface of the pod housing, and the pod protrusion may be located inside a water collecting unit formed in the bed. The water collecting unit may be depressed downwardly from the upper surface of the bed, and may store water supplied from the water tank.

The antibacterial agent is formed in a liquid phase, and the plant cultivation device may further include a spraying device for spraying the liquid antibacterial agent from above the pod. In this case, the liquid antibacterial agent may be composed of 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The injection device may be installed on any one of an upper surface, a side surface, and a rear surface corresponding to the interior of the cabinet.

The plant cultivation apparatus may further include a light assembly provided above the pod, and the spraying apparatus may be installed in the light assembly.

Alternatively, the antimicrobial agent is formed in a liquid phase, and the plant cultivation apparatus may further include a storage unit in which the liquid natural antibacterial agent is stored, and a supply pipe for supplying the liquid antibacterial agent to the inside of the pod from the storage unit. And the plant cultivation apparatus is provided on one side of the supply pipe, and may further include a supply valve for controlling the flow of the liquid natural antibacterial agent.

According to the plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention having the configuration as described above, the following effects are obtained.

First, by providing a natural antibacterial agent in the pod where the plant grows, the growth of microorganisms such as mold and bacteria is suppressed, so hygiene and aesthetics are improved, and cultivation performance (yield) is improved.

Second, the natural antibacterial agent is provided in a solid state inside the pod and is formed of a water-soluble material that dissolves gradually in water. can Accordingly, there is an advantage in that antibacterial performance is improved and product reliability is secured.

Third, since the antibacterial agent is formed in a liquid phase and is provided in a manner that is sprayed from the top to the bottom of the pod, the natural antibacterial agent can be evenly sprayed on the top surface of the pod. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that microorganisms such as mold and bacteria are effectively removed.

Fourth, since the spraying device for spraying the liquid natural antibacterial agent can be installed in the light assembly located above the pod, there is an advantage that the antibacterial agent can be efficiently sprayed and the installation space of the spraying device can be secured.

Fifth, since a storage unit in which liquid natural antibacterial agent is stored and a supply pipe for supplying the antimicrobial agent from the storage unit to the inside of the pod are provided, there is an advantage that the natural antibacterial agent can be stably and evenly injected into the pod at an appropriate time. .

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the door of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1 is opened.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is a 4-4′ cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 ;
6 is a perspective view of a water supply module of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken 7-7′ of FIG. 6 .
8 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.
9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is withdrawn.
10 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage.
11 is a plan view of the bed.
12 is a cutaway perspective view of the bed.
13 is a perspective view of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention;
14 is a view showing a state in which the protective paper and the packing member are removed from the pod of FIG. 13 .
15 is an exploded perspective view of the pod.
16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the inside of the pod.
17 is an exploded perspective view of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the inside of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.
19 is a view showing a method for providing an antibacterial agent to a pod according to various embodiments of the present invention.
20 is a view showing a method for providing an antimicrobial agent to a pod according to various embodiments of the present invention.
21 is a table of experimental results showing the state of cultivation of plants according to the addition of conventional chemical preservatives.
22 is a graph showing the mold area according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.
23 is a graph showing the antibacterial effect on mold according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.
24 is a graph showing the germination rate of cultivated plants according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.
25 is a graph showing the yield of cultivated plants according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of the drawings, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, or order of the components are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is “connected”, “coupled” or “connected” to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component is between each component. It will be understood that may also be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

1 is a perspective view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an open perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 4 is a 4-4′ cut-away perspective view of FIG. 2 , and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 .

1 to 5 , a plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 100 forming a space in which plants are grown, and a door opening and closing the interior of the cabinet 100 . 130 may be included. The exterior of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 may be formed by the cabinet 100 and the door 130 .

Plants grown inside the cabinet 100 may include plants that are edible by a user, are easy to cultivate, and do not occupy a lot of space, such as leaf vegetables and herbs that can be typically used in wraps or salads. The plant may be provided in the form of a pod 10 including seeds and nutrients.

The cabinet 100 is formed to have an open front surface, and a cultivation space 101 may be provided therein. The cabinet 100 may include an outer case 110 forming an exterior and an inner case 120 forming the cultivation space 101 , and the outer case 110 and the inner case 120 . A heat insulating material 102 may be provided between the two to insulate the cultivation space, and the cultivation space 101 may be maintained at a set temperature.

The outer case 110 and the inner case 120 may be formed of a metal material, and may be formed by combining a plurality of plate-shaped materials with each other. In particular, the inner case 120 may have both side surfaces, a rear surface, and an upper surface formed in a metal plate shape, and may be coupled to each other.

A plurality of beds 300 may be disposed inside the cabinet 100 . The plurality of beds 300 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction inside the cabinet 100 .

In this embodiment, the plurality of beds 300 may consist of two. That is, the two beds 300a and 300b are provided in the vertical direction and may have the same structure. The two beds 300a and 300b may include a lower bed 300a disposed below and an upper bed 300b disposed thereon. Of course, three or more beds 300 may be provided according to the size of the cabinet 100 .

The bed 300 may have a structure in which a plurality of pods 10 containing plant seeds and nutrients necessary for cultivation are seated. Here, the bed 300 may be called a shelf or tray. The bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be seated and the seated state can be maintained. In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which the pod 10 can be easily seated, and to facilitate management and harvesting of plants growing in the pod 10 .

In addition, the bed 300 may have a structure in which water supplied from the water tank 710 flows and is delivered to all the pods 10 seated on the bed 300 . In addition, the bed 300 may maintain an appropriate water level so as to constantly supply moisture to the pod 10 .

Meanwhile, a machine room 200 may be provided below the cabinet 100 . In the machine room 200 , a compressor (not shown) and a condenser 620 constituting a refrigeration cycle for controlling the temperature of the cultivation space 101 may be disposed.

A grill cover 220 may be provided on the front side of the machine room 200 , and the grill cover 220 has a grill suction port 221 through which air is sucked into the machine room 200 , and the inside of the machine room 200 . A grill outlet 222 through which air is discharged may be formed.

The internal temperature of the cultivation space may be controlled by the refrigeration cycle 600 . In this case, the evaporator 630 may be disposed on the inner rear wall surface of the cultivation space 101 . The evaporator 630 may be provided with a roll bond type heat exchanger, and may be referred to as a heat exchanger. The evaporator 630 may have a plate-shaped structure that is easily attached to the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . In addition, the evaporator 630 minimizes the loss of the cultivation space 101 due to the plate-like structure and effectively controls the temperature of the cultivation space 101 by being close to the cultivation space 101 .

A heater (not shown) may be provided on the rear wall of the cultivation space 101 . Accordingly, heating and cooling may be performed in the rear region of the cultivation space. By the evaporator 630 and the heater, the inside of the cultivation space 101 may maintain a temperature suitable for plant growth (eg, 18° C. - 28° C.). Of course, a configuration for heating other than the heater may be provided as needed, and various heating methods such as a heating structure through hot gas or a heating structure through conversion of a refrigeration cycle will be possible. The temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is sensed by an internal temperature sensor (not shown), and may be kept constant regardless of the external temperature of the cabinet 100 .

A blower assembly 500 may be provided in front of the evaporator 630 . The blower assembly 500 may circulate the internal air of the cultivation space 101 to uniformly cool or heat the cultivation space 101 .

The blower assembly 500 may include an upper blower assembly 500b disposed in an upper space divided by the bed 300 and a lower blower assembly 500a disposed in a lower space.

The blower assembly 500 disposed up and down has the same structure and shape with only a difference in mounting position from each other. The blower assembly 500 may be provided as many as the number corresponding to the number of the beds 300 , and may blow air from the rear of the bed 300 toward the front. Accordingly, independent air circulation can be achieved in each space inside the cultivation space 101 partitioned by the bed 300 .

The air inside the cultivation space 101 is circulated by the blower assembly 500, and the circulated air passes through the evaporator 630 so that the entire interior of the cultivation space 101 has a uniform temperature. , the temperature can be controlled quickly. In addition, the air circulated by the blower assembly 500 may flow while passing through the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

The air flowing by the blower assembly 500 passes over the upper surface of the bed 300 to make the breathing of the plant grown in the bed 300 more smooth and the plant to shake properly, thereby controlling the stress to grow. It can provide the optimal airflow required for In addition, the air flowing by the blower assembly 500 may prevent overheating of the light assembly 400 while passing through the lower surface of the light assembly 400 .

Specifically, the blower assembly 500 includes a blower fan 520 , a fan guide 510 to which the blower fan 520 is mounted, and a blower cover for shielding the fan guide 510 and the evaporator 630 . 530 may be included.

The blower fan 520 is formed in the shape of a box fan, and may be provided in the center of the fan guide 510 . The blower fan 520 may discharge air introduced from the rear of the blower assembly 500 to the front.

The fan guide 510 provides a space in which the blower fan 520 is mounted, and is configured to guide the discharge of air discharged by the blower fan 520 . The fan guide 510 is injection-molded with a plastic material, and the blower fan 520 may be mounted in the center of the rear surface of the fan guide 510 .

The blower cover 530 may shield the fan guide 510 and components mounted on the fan guide 510 in front of the fan guide 510 . In addition, the blower cover 530 extends to a position adjacent to the upper end of the bed 300 to expose the rear wall surfaces of the evaporator 630 and the inner case 120 in the mounted state of the blower assembly 500 . it can be prevented

And, between the blower cover 530 and the bed 300 may be spaced apart, and through between the lower end of the blower cover 530 and the upper surface of the bed 300 to the rear along the bed 300 Flowing air may be sucked toward the blower fan 520 .

At this time, in order to prevent the evaporator 630 from being exposed through the gap between the blower cover 530 and the bed 300 , a shielding plate 560 is further provided in a corresponding area of the evaporator 630 . can be

Meanwhile, the light assembly 400 may be provided above the bed 300 . The light assembly 400 provides light necessary for plants by irradiating light toward the bed 300 . In this case, the amount of light irradiated by the light assembly 400 may be set similarly to sunlight, and the amount of light and irradiation time optimized for the plant being grown may be set.

The light assembly 400 may include an upper light assembly 400b provided in an upper space partitioned by the bed 300 and a lower light assembly 400a provided in a lower space. The upper light assembly 400b may be mounted on an upper surface of the cultivation space 101 , and the lower light assembly 400a may be mounted on a lower surface of the upper bed 300b.

That is, the upper light assembly 400b and the lower light assembly 400a may be positioned vertically above the bed 300 disposed below, respectively, and on the upper surface of the divided cultivation space 101 , the bed By irradiating light toward the 300, it is possible to control the growth of the cultivated plant.

On the other hand, the upper side of the machine room 200 may be provided with a control unit 190 for controlling the operation of each component of the plant cultivation apparatus (1). For example, the control unit 190 may be provided between the upper surface of the machine room 200 and the inner bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 , and may be accessible by opening the grill cover 220 . Therefore, even in a state in which the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed and in use, the control unit 190 can be easily accessed, and maintenance can be facilitated.

A water supply module 700 may be provided on a bottom surface inside the cabinet 100 . The water supply module 700 includes a water tank 710 in which water supplied to the bed 300 is stored.

The water tank 710 may be located below the lower bed 300a, which is located at the lowermost position among the plurality of beds 300, and has a front surface at a position corresponding to the front end of the lower bed 300a. can be located

The length of the water tank 710 in the horizontal direction may correspond to the width of the inner space of the cabinet 100 . In addition, the vertical length of the water tank 710 may be formed to correspond to the distance between the lowermost bed 300a and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 . That is, the water tank 710 may be formed to fill the entire space below the lower bed 300a located at the lowermost position, and the space behind the water tank 710 is located in the water tank 710 . can be covered by

The water supply module 700 may further include a pump cover 740 provided in a rear space covered by the water tank 710 . A water pump 720 and a water supply valve 724 to be described below may be provided inside the pump cover 740 . The pump cover 740, the internal components of the pump cover 740, and a pipe connected to each component may be referred to as a “water supply unit” or a “water tank assembly”.

The water tank 710 may be provided inside the cultivation space 101 to be withdrawn in the front-rear direction. To this end, tank rails 730 for guiding the inlet/outlet of the water tank 710 may be provided on both left and right sides of the water tank 710 . In addition, the water tank 710 may have a structure in which additional water supply is possible by being opened in the drawn-out state.

Meanwhile, the display assembly 800 may be provided in the opened front portion of the cabinet 100 . The display assembly 800 may output the operating state of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 to the outside. In addition, the display assembly 800 is provided with a manipulation unit to which a user's manipulation is input to set and input the overall operation of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 . For example, the display assembly 800 may include a touch screen structure, and may include a structure such as a button or a switch.

The door 130 may have a size capable of shielding the opened front surface of the cabinet 100 . An upper hinge 135 and a lower hinge 136 may be shaft-coupled (or hinge-coupled) to the upper end and lower end of one of the left and right sides of the door 130 . The door 130 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 100 by the upper hinge 135 and the lower hinge 136 , and the cultivation space 101 by rotation of the door 130 . can be opened and closed.

At least a portion of the door 130 may have a see-through structure, and the cultivation space 101 may be checked even when the door 130 is closed.

In detail, the door 130 may include a door frame 131 forming a periphery and having an opening in the center, and door panels 132 and 133 for shielding the opening of the door frame 131 . The door panels 132 and 133 may be formed of glass or a transparent plastic material to have a structure in which an interior can be seen through. In addition, the door panels 132 and 133 may have a color or a colored coating, metal deposition, or film attached thereto so that the cultivation space 101 is selectively visible or invisible.

A plurality of the door panels 132 and 133 may be disposed forward and backward, and an insulating space may be formed between the plurality of door panels 132 and 133 . And, if necessary, the door panels 132 and 133 may include insulating glass. Accordingly, it is possible to insulate the inside and the outside of the cabinet 100 .

If necessary, the entire front exterior of the door 130 may be formed by the door panel 132 disposed on the front side of the door 130 . A sealing part 134 may be provided on the rear surface of the door frame 131 . The sealing part 134 is disposed along the rear edge of the door frame 131 , and functions to seal the culture space 101 and the door 130 in close contact with each other.

Meanwhile, components of reference numerals not described in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described below.

6 is a perspective view of a water supply module of the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken 7-7′ of FIG. 6 , and FIG. 8 is a rear view of the pump cover of the water supply module.

6 to 8 , the water supply module 700 is for supplying water to the pod 10 for cultivation of crops, and the water stored inside the plant cultivation device 1 is appropriate at an appropriate time. It may be configured to be supplied as much as the capacity.

In particular, in this embodiment, only water may be supplied through the water supply module 700 , and nutrients may be provided through the pod 10 . That is, various nutrients required for a variety of crops may be provided through the pod 10 , and even if heterogeneous pods 10 are provided in one bed 300 , nutrients may be provided from each pod. In addition, water may be supplied from the water supply module 700 , and accordingly, components other than water are not stored or flowed inside the water supply module 700 , so that contamination is prevented and a clean state can be maintained.

The water supply module 700 includes a water tank 710 for storing water for water supply, a water pump 720 for forcibly supplying water from the water tank 710, and a mounting space for the water pump 720 . and may include a pump cover 740 that shields components including the water pump 720 .

A water supply valve 724 may be provided on the pump cover 740 , and water supply pipes (see 780a and 780b in FIG. 10 ) for guiding water to the bed 300 may be connected to the water supply valve 724 .

In detail, the water tank 710 may be formed in a rectangular box shape with an open upper surface, and water supplied to the bed 300 may be accommodated therein. The water tank 710 may be formed to have a width corresponding to the horizontal length of the cultivation space 101, and may fill a space between the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 and the bottom surface of the lower bed 300a. can be formed to

A tank cover 713 may be provided on the opened upper surface of the water tank 710 . The tank cover 713 is for opening and closing the opened upper surface of the water tank 710 , and a rear end thereof may be rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the water tank 710 . Accordingly, the user may fill the inside of the water tank 710 with water after opening the tank cover 713 .

Tank rails 730 may be provided on both left and right sides of the water tank 710 . The tank rail 730 is for drawing in and out of the water tank 710 and may have a sliding drawing in and out structure. One end of the tank rail 730 may be fixed to the side surface of the water tank 710 , and the other end may be fixed to both sides of the inner case 120 to guide the inlet and outlet of the water tank 710 .

On the other hand, the water tank 710 may be located at a position corresponding to the front surface of the bed 300 in the retracted state. A tank handle 711 may be provided on the front surface of the water tank 710 , and the user may take out the water tank 710 by holding the tank handle 711 and pulling it forward.

The water tank 710 may be withdrawn as much as a distance at which the tank cover 713 can be completely exposed. 710) can be filled with water.

A connection pipe 760 may be formed in the water tank 710 . The connection pipe 760 may be configured such that water from the water tank 710 is supplied to the water pump 720 in a state in which the water tank 710 is introduced. In addition, the water tank 710 may be selectively connected to the pipe connection part 721 formed in the pump cover 740 according to the inlet/outlet of the water tank 710 .

In detail, the connection pipe 760 may be provided in the tank cover 713 , may be located in the center of the tank cover 713 in the left and right directions, and may be provided at the rear end. Accordingly, even when the tank cover 713 is rotated for opening and closing, the connection pipe 760 may be configured not to interfere with the water tank 710 .

The connecting pipe 760 may include a vertical pipe 761 extending downward from the lower surface of the tank cover 713 and a horizontal pipe 762 extending rearward from the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 . The vertical pipe 761 may extend downward from the tank cover 713 to a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the tank cover 713 . Accordingly, the water stored in the tank cover 713 may flow upward along the vertical pipe 761 .

The horizontal pipe 762 is connected to the upper end of the vertical pipe 761 and may extend rearward. The horizontal pipe 762 may protrude further rearward than the rear surface of the water tank 710 , and may extend rearward at a position corresponding to the pipe connection part 721 . The horizontal pipe 762 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 in a state in which the water tank 710 is completely introduced, and the water flowing upward through the vertical pipe 761 is the pipe connection part. It can be guided to be supplied to (721).

In addition, the horizontal pipe 762 can be completely separated from the pipe connection part 721 when the water tank 710 is drawn out, and even when the tank cover 713 is rotated, the pipe connection part 721 and It can be configured not to interfere. In addition, when the horizontal tube 762 and the rear surface of the tank cover 713 corresponding to the horizontal tube 762 are partially depressed and the horizontal tube 762 is rotated together by the rotation of the tank cover 713, the tank cover 713 ) can be prevented from interfering with the rear surface.

Meanwhile, the pump cover 740 may be disposed at the rear of the water tank 710 . Both ends of the pump cover 740 may be coupled to both left and right sides of the cultivation space 101 , and a front surface and an upper surface may be formed to shield the space behind the water tank 710 .

The bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 in which the pump cover 740 is disposed has a step in the second half due to the height of the compressor inside the machine room 200 , and the pump cover 740 is located in front of the stepped portion. can be placed in

The water tank 710 is located in front of the pump cover 740 . In this case, the upper surface of the water tank 710 , the upper surface of the pump cover 740 , and the bottom surface of the cultivation space 101 above the compressor may have the same height and may be shielded by the bed 300 . .

The pipe connection part 721 , a water pump 720 , and a water supply valve 724 may be disposed on the pump cover 740 .

In detail, the opened front surface of the pipe connection part 721 connected to the connection pipe 760 may be exposed on one front side of the pump cover 740 . The front surface of the pipe connection part 721 may be formed at a position corresponding to the rear end of the connection pipe 760 . Accordingly, when the water tank 710 is drawn in, the rear end of the connection pipe 760 may be inserted into the pipe connection part 721 .

A water pump 720 may be disposed on the rear surface of the pump cover 740 . The water pump 720 forces the water of the water tank 710 to be directed to the bed 300, and the inlet of the water pump 720 is connected to the pipe connection part 721, and the outlet 722 ) may be connected to a pipe 723 connected to the water supply valve 724 .

The water supply valve 724 is opened when the water pump 720 is driven so that water can be supplied toward the bed 300 . A plurality of water supply valves 724 may be provided according to the number of the beds 300 , and one water supply valve 724 may be branched to supply water to each of the plurality of beds 300 .

In this embodiment, the input side 733 of the water supply valve 724 is connected to the outlet 722 of the water pump 720 by a pipe 723, and the output side of the water supply valve 724 is branched, so that the upper A fitting 724b and a lower fitting 724a may be formed. In addition, an upper water supply pipe 780b and a lower water supply pipe 780a are connected to the upper fitting 724b and the lower fitting 724a, respectively, so that each independent water supply is provided to the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a. possible structures. Therefore, different water supply environments can be created in the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a, and an appropriate amount of water can be supplied to each of the upper bed 300b and the lower bed 300a. have.

By this configuration, the connection pipe 760, the pipe connection part 721, the water pump 720, the water supply valve 724, and the water supply pipes 780a, 780b are sequentially connected, and the operation of the water pump 720 is Thus, water in the water tank 710 may be supplied to the bed 300 through the water pump 720 and the water supply valve 724 .

Meanwhile, a water level sensing device 750 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The water level detecting device 750 is for detecting the water level of the water tank 710 and may include a capacitive sensor. The water level sensing device 750 may be formed to protrude forward, and may be configured to be in close contact with the circumferential surface of the water tank 710 in a state in which the water tank 710 is retracted.

When the water level in the water tank 710 is lower than the set water level by the water level detection device 750, the controller 190 detects that there is no water in the water tank 710 through the display assembly 800. It can be output so that the user can fill the water tank 710 with water.

A tank switch 741 may be provided on the front surface of the pump cover 740 . The tank switch 741 may protrude toward the water tank 710 , and may be configured to be pressed in contact with the rear surface of the water tank 710 while the water tank 710 is fully retracted.

Accordingly, the tank switch 741 may detect whether the water tank 710 is normally mounted and in a state in which water supply is possible, and may transmit it to the controller 190 . When the installation signal of the water tank 710 is not input by the tank switch 741 , the water pump 720 may not be operated. In addition, information about not mounting the water tank 710 may be displayed on the display assembly 800 so that the user can recognize it. That is, it is possible to ensure the water level sensing performance of the water tank 710 through the water level detecting device 750 by maintaining the water tank 710 in a fully retracted state.

Meanwhile, a residual water detection device 742 may be provided on the upper surface of the pump cover 740 . The residual water detection device 742 is for determining whether water supplied to the lower bed 300a remains, and a lower residual water detection device ( 742) can be called.

The upper residual water detecting device and the lower residual water detecting device 742 may have the same structure with only a difference in their mounting positions.

The residual water detection device 742 may include a residual water detection sensor 440 capable of detecting moisture. For example, the residual water detection sensor 440 may be a capacitive sensor. The residual water detection device 742 protrudes upward so that the residual water detection sensor 440 approaches the lower surface of the bed 300 to accurately detect whether water is present in the bed 300 . In order to more accurately detect whether the water remains in the bed 300 , a sensing unit (see 323 in FIG. 10 ) may be protruded from the bed 300 , and the residual water sensing device 742 may include the sensing unit 323 . ) may have a structure that is in close contact with the

Hereinafter, the structure of the bed 300 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Even if a plurality of the beds 300 are provided, only one bed 300 will be described because they all have the same structure except for different mounting positions.

9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bed of the plant cultivation apparatus is withdrawn according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the bed and the water supply passage, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the bed, FIG. 12 is a cut-away perspective view of the bed.

9 to 12 , the bed 300 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape dividing the cultivation space 101 , and the bed rail device 140 is mounted on both sides of the cultivation space 101 . It can be mounted so that it can be drawn in and out by the

The bed rail device 140 may include a slidably extending bed rail 142 and a rail bracket 141 capable of fixing the bed rail 142 to both sides of the cultivation space 101 . The bed rail 142 may have a structure extending in multiple stages, and may connect the left and right side surfaces of the bed 300 and the rail bracket 141 .

The bed 300 may be formed in a rectangular shape as a whole to provide a space in which a plurality of pods 10 are disposed, and may form a structure in which water supplied can be stored. In addition, the bed 300 may be formed of a plastic material to form a structure for guiding the flow of supplied water.

A bed flange 301 extending outwardly is formed around the bed 300 . A bed tray 350 to be described below may be seated on the bed flange 301 . And, the inner region of the bed flange 301 becomes a region in which the pod 10 can be disposed.

A depression 302 is formed inside the bed flange 301 , and the bed tray 350 may be seated in the depression 302 . The recessed portion 302 may be formed to accommodate the entire plurality of pod seating portions 351 and 352 formed in the bed tray 350 . In addition, when the bed tray 350 is mounted, the upper surface of the bed 300 and the lower surface of the bed tray 350 may be in contact with each other and overlapped.

A water supply part 310 may be formed at the rear end of the bed 300 . The water supply part 310 may be located at one end of both left and right sides, and may be formed in a shape protruding backward from the rear end of the bed 300 . That is, the water supply unit 310 may be positioned vertically below the ends of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b protruding from the side surface of the cultivation space 101 .

At least a portion of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b may be formed of a tube made of a flexible resin material. In addition, a coil member 783 may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b. The coil member 783 is formed of a metal wire material and may have a spring-like structure. The water supply pipes 780a and 780b may be disposed to pass through the coil member 783 .

Depending on the shape in which the coil member 783 is bent, the shape of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b may be maintained, and thus the water supply pipes 780a and 780b may maintain the bent shape.

A sleeve 782 may be formed at the ends of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b. The sleeve 782 may be formed in a metal tube shape. The sleeve 782 may cover at least the water supply pipes 780a and 780b exposed to the inside of the cultivation space 101 . Therefore, the sleeve 782 allows the ends of the water supply pipes 780a and 780b to maintain a predetermined position, and it is always possible to accurately supply water to the area of the water supply unit 310 to prevent overflow of water during the water supply process. have.

The water supply part 310 may be formed in a shape in which an upper surface is opened and a lower surface is depressed. The periphery of the water supply unit 310 protrudes to a predetermined height to prevent water supplied from the water supply pipes 780a and 780b from splashing or overflowing.

A water collecting unit 320 in which water supplied through the water supply unit 310 is stored may be formed in the bed 300 . A water guide part 330 may be recessed between the water supply part 310 and the water collection part 320 . That is, the water guide unit 330 may connect the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 , and the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 follows the water guide unit 330 to the water collection unit. 320 may be supplied.

The water supply unit 310 is positioned higher than the water collection unit 320 , and water from the water supply unit 310 may naturally flow into the water collection unit 320 . In addition, the water guide part 330 may be formed to have an inclination that gradually decreases from the water supply part 310 toward the water collecting part 320 . Accordingly, when water is supplied to the water supply unit 310 , it may be naturally supplied to the water collection unit 320 along the water guide unit 330 .

Meanwhile, guide walls 331 may be formed on both sides of the water guide part 330 to form the water guide part 330 . The guide wall 331 may extend from the water supply unit 310 to the water collection unit 320 , and a pair may be spaced apart from each other to form both sides of the water guide unit 330 . In addition, the guide wall 331 may be formed to have a height corresponding to the height of the bed flange 301 to support the bed tray 350 from below.

Accordingly, the water guided from the water supply unit 310 to the water collecting unit 320 by the water guide unit 330 may be directed toward the water collecting unit 320 without overflowing to the outside. In particular, the bottom surface of the water guide part 330 may be inclined at a height higher than that of the water collecting part 320 by the guide wall 331 extending upward.

In addition, even in a situation where the height difference between the water supply unit 310 and the water collection unit 320 is not large, the water supplied to the water supply unit 310 may be directed toward the water collection unit 320 without overflowing. In addition, it is possible to provide a path of sufficient space so that water can be smoothly guided from the water supply unit 310 to the water collection unit 320 . That is, it provides a structure in which the water of the water supply unit 310 can be stably supplied without excessively deepening the depression depth of the water collection unit 320 , thereby increasing the vertical thickness of the bed 300 . This can be prevented, and the bed 300 can have a slim structure.

The guide wall 331 and the water guide part 330 may extend between a pair of pod seating parts 352 recessed in the bed tray 350 . Accordingly, the guide wall 331 can be prevented from interfering when the bed tray 350 is seated, and a space for water supply can be secured through the space between the adjacent pod seating parts 352 .

Meanwhile, in the central region of the bed 300 , a water collecting unit 320 for storing water supplied to the pod 10 may be recessed. The water collecting unit 320 is more depressed than the bottom surface of the depression 302 formed around the water collecting unit 320 so that water supplied to the water supply unit 310 is stored only in the water collecting unit 320 area. state can exist.

In detail, the water collecting part 320 is located at the center of the bed 300 and may be formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the bed 300 , that is, from the left end to the right end. In addition, the water collecting part 320 may be formed to have a predetermined width in the front and rear directions to accommodate both the seating part openings 351a and 352a formed in the bed tray 350 .

In addition, a bed protrusion 340 protruding upward may be formed in the central portion of the bed 300 . The height of the bed protrusion 340 may be the same as or higher than the height of the depression 302 . The bed protrusion 340 may be located in the center of the water collecting part 320 .

Accordingly, the water collecting unit 320 may have a closed loop shape, and water introduced through the water guide unit 330 may flow along the inside of the closed loop water collecting unit 320 . In addition, a portion of the area of the water collecting unit 320 located in front of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as a front water collecting unit 321 , and a portion located at the rear of the bed protrusion 340 may be referred to as a rear side. It may be referred to as a water collecting unit 322 .

The distance between the outer end of the water collecting part 320 and the bed protrusion 340 may be greater than the front and rear widths of the seating part openings 351a and 352a. Accordingly, when the bed tray 350 is seated, the seating part openings 351a and 352a may be disposed along the water collecting part 320 .

The front and rear widths of the front water collecting part 321 and the rear collecting part 322 in which the seating part openings 351a and 352a are located are equal to or slightly larger than the front and rear width of the pod seating part 352 . can be formed, so that an appropriate amount of water required for water supply to the pod 10 can be effectively supplied to the pod 10 . In addition, it is possible to prevent unnecessary water from remaining in the water collecting unit 320 for a long period of time, thereby preventing contamination of the bed 300 and always maintaining a clean state.

Meanwhile, a sensing unit 323 may be formed in an inner region of the water collecting unit 320 . The sensing unit 323 may be formed at a position corresponding to the residual water sensing device 742 located below. In a state in which the bed 300 is fully retracted, the residual water detection device 742 may have a structure capable of being in close contact with the detection unit 323 .

In this case, the sensing unit 323 may have a shape that protrudes when viewed from above and is recessed when viewed from below. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the residual water detecting device 742 from interfering with the detecting unit 323 in the process of withdrawing and withdrawing the bed 300 , thereby preventing the bed 300 from being blocked.

In addition, due to the structure of the protruding sensing unit 323 , the water supplied to the sensing unit 323 does not accumulate, and it is possible to accurately determine whether additional water is needed to the water collecting unit 320 .

A bed handle 361 may be formed on the front surface of the bed 300 . The bed handle 361 may have a structure in which a lower surface is depressed so that a user can hold the bed 300 when withdrawing it. In addition, the front surface of the bed handle 361 may be formed of the same material as the tank handle 711 or may be formed of a material of the same texture to have a sense of unity.

Meanwhile, the bed tray 350 is seated on the upper surface of the bed 300 , and may form an upper surface appearance of the bed 300 . The bed tray 350 may be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel to make the appearance neat and hygienically managed.

The bed tray 350 is formed in a size capable of shielding the upper surface of the bed 300 and may be formed in a plate shape. Accordingly, in a state in which the bed tray 350 is mounted on the bed 300 , the upper surface of the bed 300 is formed.

In addition, a plurality of pod seating portions 351 and 352 on which the pod 10 is mounted may be formed in the bed tray 350 . The pod seating parts 351 and 352 are recessed in a shape corresponding to the pod 10 so that the pod 10 can be seated, and a plurality of pod seating parts 351 and 352 may be continuously disposed. Accordingly, a plurality of the pods 10 may be disposed on the bed tray 350 .

A plurality of the pod seating parts 351 and 352 may be disposed in the first half and the second half based on the center, respectively, and may be formed to have the same size. The pod seating parts 351 and 352 may include a front pod seating part 351 disposed at the front of the bed tray 350 and a rear pod seating part 352 disposed at the rear side of the bed tray 350 .

Seating part openings 351a and 352a may be formed in the pod seating parts 351 and 352 . The seating part openings 351a and 352a can pass through the pod protrusion 16 protruding from the lower surface of the pod 10, and the pod protrusion 16 can come into contact with the water inside the water collecting part 320. let it be The seating part openings 351a and 352a respectively formed in the plurality of pod seating parts 351 and 352 may be disposed along an area corresponding to the water collecting part 320 .

In detail, when the bed tray 350 is seated on the bed 300 , the seating part openings 351a and 352a are located on the water collecting part 320 so that the water stored in the water collecting part 320 is stored in the water collecting part 320 . It may be supplied to the pod 10 through the seating openings 351a and 352a.

In this embodiment, the water collecting part 320 is arranged in the horizontal direction in the center of the bed 300, and therefore the seating part openings 351a and 352a are also located above the inside of the water collecting part 320 and corresponding to the upper part. It may be formed in a position close to the center side of the bed tray 350 as possible.

In more detail, all of the seating part openings 351a formed in the front pod seating part 351 disposed in front of the bed 300 are positioned adjacent to the rear end of the pod seating part 352, and the bed All of the seating part openings 352a formed in the rear pod seating part 352 disposed at the rear of the 300 may be positioned adjacent to the front end of the pod seating part 352 . That is, the seating part openings 351a and 352a may be continuously disposed along the inner region of the water collecting part 320 .

Hereinafter, the structure of the pod 10 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

13 is a perspective view of a pod according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in which the protective paper and the packing member are removed from the pod of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the pod, and FIG. 16 is the This is a longitudinal section showing the inside of the Pod.

13 to 16 , the pod 10 may be configured by types of plants that can be cultivated with the plant cultivation apparatus 1 . Of course, each of the pods 10 composed of several types of plants may all have the same size, and may have a size set to be accommodated in the pod seat 352 . Therefore, the user can select the pod 10 of the plant desired to be cultivated and seated at a desired position on the bed 300 to start cultivation.

The inside of the pod 10 contains seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation. Accordingly, the pod 10 may be referred to as a “seed package”.

In detail, the pod 10 includes a pod housing 11 and a vermiculite layer 20 disposed inside the pod housing 11 .

The pod housing 11 forms an accommodating space 13 for accommodating the vermiculite layer 20 therein. The pod housing 11 may be formed in a container shape with an open upper surface. That is, the pod housing 11 includes a plate-shaped bottom surface 11a and a side surface 11b extending upward from the edge of the bottom surface 11a to form the accommodating space 13 therein. can do. For example, the pod housing 11 may be formed in a rectangular box shape with an open top.

The pod 10 further includes a pod protrusion 16 protruding downward from the bottom surface 11a. The pod protrusion 16 may be formed to extend downward along the circumference from the opening 12 formed at any point on the bottom surface 11a.

The pod protrusion 16 may come into contact with water inside the water collecting part 320 of the bed 300 . At this time, a water hole 16a for introducing water is formed on the lower surface of the pod protrusion 16, and water from the water collecting unit 320 flows into the inside of the pod housing 11 through the hand hole 16a. can be

The accommodating space 13 of the pod housing 11 may be filled with a vermiculite layer 20 .

The vermiculite layer 20 may be configured to suppress microorganisms such as mold or bacteria generated in the pod 10 and to improve plant cultivation performance.

The vermiculite (vermiculite) contained in the vermiculite layer 20 is a material produced by the alteration action of biotite, and has a characteristic of expanding up to 20 times its original thickness during high-temperature heat treatment, and has a high retention capacity and gas exchange function and a high bulk density. is low In addition, since the vermiculite has a property of absorbing moisture in the soil as well as moisture in the air, it can maintain moisture until the sown seeds germinate.

In this embodiment, the vermiculite may have a diameter of 0.5 mm to 10.0 mm. In addition, the vermiculite layer 20 may be composed of 100% or close to 100% of the vermiculite based on weight %.

Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the configuration of the pod 10 is simplified because it is possible to sufficiently supply moisture necessary for plant growth and only one type of medium is used.

The vermiculite layer 20 includes a nutrient solution material (not shown). The nutrient solution material is a material containing nutrients that are supplied so that plants can grow better. Such a nutrient solution material may be provided in the form of a water-soluble capsule that is gradually dissolved in water, and may be configured to be contained in the feed water while gradually dissolving each time the feed water is supplied.

In addition, the plant seeds 32 are located in the vermiculite layer 20 . The seeds 32 are planted inside the vermiculite layer 70 , receive moisture and nutrients from the vermiculite layer 20 , and grow by the light irradiated from the light assembly 400 .

A plurality of the seeds 32 are included, and the plurality of seeds 32 may be directly planted in the vermiculite layer 20 or disposed in a fixed state on a separate carrier. The seeds 32 are preferably not exposed to the outside of the vermiculite layer 20 because moisture escapes as the time of contact with the outside air increases.

Accordingly, the seeds 32 may be covered by the vermiculite layer 20 and located adjacent to the upper portion of the vermiculite layer 20 for germination. For example, the seeds 32 may be located above the line C that bisects the vertical height H of the vermiculite layer 20 .

In addition, the vermiculite layer 20 includes an antibacterial agent 50 for inhibiting the generation of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria. The antibacterial agent 50 may be made of a material contained in grapefruit. For example, the antibacterial agent 50 may be made of a material containing grapefruit extract. The antibacterial agent 50 may be composed of 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The antibacterial agent 50 is composed of a material contained in fruit and may be called a “natural antibacterial agent”.

In this embodiment, the antimicrobial agent 50 may be provided in a solid state inside the vermiculite layer 20 . The antimicrobial agent 50 may be formed of a water-soluble material that gradually dissolves in water.

The antimicrobial agent 50 may be dissolved by the supply water supplied from the water tank 710 to maintain a certain concentration in the pod 10 . The predetermined concentration may be maintained at 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

For example, the antimicrobial agent 50 may be provided in the form of a water-soluble capsule that is gradually soluble in water, and may be contained in the feed water while gradually soluble every time the feed water is supplied.

One or a plurality of the antimicrobial agents 50 may be disposed inside the vermiculite layer 20 . At this time, the antibacterial agent 50 is disposed to be spaced apart from the seed 32 , for example, may be disposed under the seed 32 .

For example, the antimicrobial agent 50 may be located below the line C that bisects the vertical height H of the vermiculite layer 20 . Therefore, the antimicrobial agent 50 is located close to the bottom surface 11a of the pod housing 11, and can be easily dissolved by the feed water and contained in the feed water, so that it can effectively inhibit the generation of microorganisms such as mold and bacteria. There are advantages that can be

The pod 10 may further include a packing member 70 disposed on the upper surface of the vermiculite layer 20 .

The packing member 70 is provided between the vermiculite layer 20 and the protective paper 90 to be described later to protect the internal configuration of the pod housing 11 . The packing member 70 may be interposed in close contact between the upper surface of the vermiculite layer 20 and the lower surface of the protective paper 90 . Accordingly, when the pod 10 is transported or moved, the packing member 70 can stably support the vermiculite layer 20 and minimize internal damage.

The pod 10 further includes a protective paper 90 covering the open upper surface of the pod housing 11 .

The type of plant to be cultivated may be printed on the protective paper 90 to provide information about the pod 10 to the user. The protective paper 90 may be disposed on the packing member 70 .

The protective paper 90 covers the upper portion of the pod housing 11 in a detachable state. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , when the user separates the protective paper 90 from the pod housing 11 , the packing member 70 is exposed inside the protective paper 90 . The protective paper 90 is formed of a thin and flexible material, for example, may be formed of a metal such as aluminum, paper, or a synthetic resin material.

A handle 90a may protrude from an edge of the protective paper 90 . The handle 90a is made of the same material as the protective paper 90 , and may be viewed as a part of the protective paper 90 . The user may pull the handle 90a to separate the protective paper 90 from the pod housing 11 .

The protective paper 90 and the packing member 70 are for packaging, and may be unnecessary in the process of cultivating plants. Accordingly, the protective paper 90 and the packing member 70 are removed before use of the pod 10 , and the pod 10 may be seated on the bed 300 .

Hereinafter, the operation of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above structure will be described.

The user selects a plant desired to be cultivated, and after removing the protective paper 90 of the corresponding pod 10 , is seated on the bed 300 . When the pod 10 is seated on the bed 300 , a predetermined amount of water stored in the water tank 710 is supplied to the bed 300 .

In this case, the amount of water supplied is a set amount, and may be slightly less than the amount to be sufficiently supplied to the pod 10 . Accordingly, the supplied water may be absorbed from the water collecting unit 320 to the pod 10 , and when a predetermined time elapses, the supplied water is completely absorbed, so that no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 .

When it is sensed that there is no water in the water collecting unit 320, it is re-supplied with a fixed amount of water and it is sensed that no water is left in the water collecting unit 320, and the control unit 190 detects the time at this time and sets the time. It is determined whether this has elapsed.

While repeating this process, a quantity of water is continuously supplied and the time taken to be absorbed by the pod 10 is measured. If the time for which no water remains in the water collecting unit 320 after water supply has elapsed for a set time, it is determined that sufficient water has been supplied and the water supply is stopped for a certain period of time. Then, when the conditions for re-watering are satisfied, water-supplying is started again.

Accordingly, the water collection unit 320 does not maintain a state of being accommodated for a long time, and water in an amount necessary for plant growth can be supplied in a timely manner. In addition, the nutrients required for plant growth are supplied in the form of a nutrient solution contained in the pod 10 so that the plant inside the pod 10 can grow effectively.

Meanwhile, the light is irradiated toward the plant growing in the pod 10 by the operation of the light assembly 400 . The light assembly 400 may be turned on/off at an appropriate time period according to the growth state and environment of the plant. In particular, by turning the light assembly 400 on/off according to the actual amount of sunlight according to the season, it is possible to provide an environment similar to that of the plants inside the plant cultivation apparatus 1 growing in the external natural environment.

The plants of the pod 10 perform photosynthesis by the light provided by the light assembly 400, and in this process, carbon dioxide necessary for this process may be supplied through the air introduced into the cultivation space.

On the other hand, when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too low, the heater is driven, and when the temperature inside the cultivation space 101 is too high, the refrigeration cycle is driven and the evaporator 630 performs a cooling action. do.

Air heated or cooled by the heater or evaporator 630 is discharged forward through the blower assembly 500 . At this time, air flows from the rear end of the light assembly 400 to the front, and the lower surface of the light assembly 400 is cooled during the air flow process.

Then, the air moved forward flows downward from the front end of the bed 300 to the rear end of the bed 300 . Stems and leaves of plants grown in the bed 300 are shaken by the flow of air flowing on the upper surface of the bed 300, so that the appearance of the cultivated plants can be remarkably improved.

The air introduced into the rear end of the bed 300 passes through the space in which the evaporator 630 and the heater are disposed again, and may be discharged toward the light assembly 400 by the blower fan 520 .

The air flowing by the operation of the blower fan 520 circulates inside the cultivation space 101, and continuously air-cools the light assembly 400 during the circulation process and prevents the growth of food in the pod 10. can promote

In addition, by continuously and uniformly heating and cooling the inside of the cultivation space 101 through a repeated air circulation process, the entire cultivation space 101 may maintain a set temperature.

Meanwhile, the user can check the state inside the cultivation space 101 through the door 130 , and when the plants in the cultivation space 101 reach a harvestable state, the plants are harvested. In addition, if plant management is required before harvest, an appropriate operation is performed, and unnecessary crops may be discarded or the harvested pod 10 may be removed.

This harvesting and management operation may be performed by a user through guidance through the display assembly 800 , and information may be transmitted to a device carried by the user to guide the user's harvesting and management operation.

Hereinafter, another structure of the pod 10 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

17 is an exploded perspective view of a pod according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the inside of the pod according to another embodiment of the present invention.

17 and 18 , a pod 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a pod housing 11 , a vermiculite layer 20 disposed inside the pod housing 11 , and the vermiculite It includes a seed paper 30 disposed on the layer 20 and a brick 60 disposed on the seed paper 30 .

In addition, the pod 10 may further include a packing member 70 disposed on the brick 60 , and a protective paper 90 disposed on the packing member 70 .

The pod housing 11, the packing member 70 and the protective paper 90 are the same as or similar to the structures described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the seed paper 30 may be composed of a sheet in which the seeds 32 are arranged to have a predetermined arrangement. The seed paper 30 may be provided by being laminated on the upper surface of the vermiculite layer 20 . When supply water is supplied while the seed paper 30 is seated on the top surface of the vermiculite layer 20 , the seed paper 30 melts and disappears and the seeds 32 remain in the vermiculite layer 20 .

In addition, a brick 60 is provided on the upper surface of the seed paper 30 .

The brick 60 is configured to control the moisture and humidity of the soil and prevent mold formation, and may be formed by pressing and processing inorganic ore, such as vermiculite or vermiculite, into a powder state. Since the seed 32 should not be exposed to external air, it may be covered by the brick 60 .

A packing member 70 may be disposed on the upper surface of the brick 60 . And a protective paper 90 may be disposed on the upper surface of the packing member 70 .

On the other hand, the vermiculite layer 20 contains a nutrient solution material (not shown). The nutrient solution material is a material containing nutrients that are supplied so that plants can grow better. Such a nutrient solution material may be provided in the form of a water-soluble capsule that is gradually dissolved in water, and may be configured to be contained in the feed water while gradually dissolving each time the feed water is supplied.

In addition, the vermiculite layer 20 includes an antibacterial agent 50 for inhibiting the generation of microorganisms such as mold or bacteria. The antimicrobial agent 50 may be made of a material containing grapefruit extract.

In summary, in this embodiment, the seeds 32 are provided in the form included in the seed paper 30 , and the nutrient solution and the antibacterial agent 50 may be present in the vermiculite layer 20 .

Hereinafter, a method for providing the antimicrobial agent 50 to the pod 10 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

19 is a view showing a method for providing an antibacterial agent to a pod according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 19 , the antimicrobial agent 50 according to the present embodiment is formed in a liquid phase and may be provided by being sprayed downward from the top of the pod 10 .

Specifically, the antimicrobial agent 50 may be made of a material containing grapefruit extract. At this time, the material may be composed of 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The antibacterial agent 50 is made of a liquid and may be sprayed by the spraying device 910 . The above-described light assembly 400 may be disposed above the pod 10 , and the jetting device 910 may be installed on the light assembly 400 .

For example, the spraying device 910 may store the antibacterial agent 50 therein, and may spray the antibacterial agent 50 by a motor type or a pneumatic method. The injection device 910 may be provided in one or a plurality. The plurality of spraying devices 910 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the light assembly 400 at regular intervals.

In addition, the plurality of spraying devices 910 may be sprayed at a predetermined interval or at a specific time, so that the antimicrobial agent 50 may be injected or provided to the upper portion of the pod 10 .

Accordingly, the antibacterial agent 50 sprayed downward from the spraying device 910 is evenly sprayed on the inside of the pod 10 , and mold and algae generated in the pod 10 can be effectively removed.

Alternatively, the injection device 910 may be installed on the inner surface of the cabinet 100 . For example, the injection device 910 may be installed on any one of an upper surface, a side surface, and a rear surface corresponding to the interior of the cabinet 100 . In this case, the injection device 910 may be disposed in a portion where there is no obstacle in the direction in which the antimicrobial agent 50 is sprayed.

According to this configuration, the antibacterial agent 50 can be effectively provided through the spraying device 910 , and there is an advantage in that an installation space of the spraying device 910 can be secured.

20 is a view showing a method for providing an antimicrobial agent to a pod according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the antimicrobial agent 50 according to the present embodiment is formed in a liquid phase and may be provided from the outside of the pod 10 .

Specifically, the antimicrobial agent 50 may be made of a material containing grapefruit extract. The antimicrobial agent 50 may be mixed with the supply water supplied from the water tank 710 to maintain a constant concentration in the pod 10 . The predetermined concentration may be maintained in an amount of 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

The antimicrobial agent 50 is made in a liquid phase and may be provided by a supply pipe 930 . For example, the supply pipe 930 may be a pipe connected to the pod housing 11 from the storage unit 920 in which the antimicrobial agent 50 is stored.

At this time, a supply valve 940 for controlling the flow of the liquid antimicrobial agent 50 may be installed on one side of the supply pipe 930 . That is, by the opening and closing operation of the supply valve 940 , the antimicrobial agent 50 of the storage unit 920 may be provided into the pod housing 11 through the supply pipe 930 .

The supply valve 940 may be controlled by the controller 190 .

The control unit 190 may periodically supply the antimicrobial agent 50 to the inside of the pod 10 by opening the supply valve 940 at a predetermined interval or at a specific time. Therefore, the antimicrobial agent 50 introduced into the pod 10 may be mixed with the feed water whenever the feed water is supplied to maintain a certain concentration of the grapefruit extract. In this case, the predetermined concentration may be maintained at 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %.

21 is a table of experimental results showing the state of cultivation of plants according to the addition of conventional chemical preservatives.

Specifically, FIG. 21 shows a case in which a chemical preservative (or disinfectant) is not added to the pod 10 in which cultivated plants grow (control, experiment 1), and sodium benzoate, a chemical preservative, in weight % compared to feed water When 0.10% was added (Experiment 2), when 10% of sodium benzoate was added (Experiment 3), when potassium sorbate, a chemical preservative, was added at 0.30% (Experiment 4), and potassium sorbate It shows the cultivation status of plants according to each case when 30% of

As shown in FIG. 21 , compared to Experiment 2 and Experiment 4 in which a small amount of chemical preservative was added, the growth rate was slightly reduced and the effect of removing green algae and mold was insignificant compared to Experiment 1 in which no chemical preservative was added. Able to know.

In addition, in the case of Experiment 3 and Experiment 5, in which a large amount of chemical preservative was added, there was a problem of poor germination although there was an effect of removing green algae and mold. Therefore, there is a need for a natural antibacterial agent capable of preventing the formation of green algae and mold while improving the cultivation performance (growth) of cultivated plants.

22 is a graph showing the mold area according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.

Specifically, FIG. 22 is a case in which the antimicrobial agent 50 of the present invention is not added to the pod 10 in which the cultivated plant grows (control, experiment 1) and the grapefruit extract as the antibacterial agent 50 is supplied based on weight % The mold area is shown for each case when 0.01% of the number was added (experiment 2) and when 0.04% of grapefruit extract was added (experiment 3).

As shown in FIG. 22 , it can be seen that the mold area was significantly reduced in Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 in which a small amount of grapefruit extract, an antibacterial agent, was added compared with Experiment 1 in which no antibacterial agent was added. In particular, it can be seen that the mold area is reduced more when 0.04% is added than when grapefruit extract is added 0.01%.

23 is a graph showing the antibacterial effect on mold according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.

Specifically, FIG. 23 is a case in which the antimicrobial agent 50 of the present invention is not added to the pod 10 in which the cultivated plant grows (control, experiment 1) and the grapefruit extract as the antibacterial agent 50 is supplied based on weight % When 0.01% of the number was added (experiment 2), the fungal group 40 according to each is shown.

As shown in FIG. 23 , it can be seen that in the second experiment in which a small amount of grapefruit extract, which is an antibacterial agent, was added, compared to the first experiment in which no antibacterial agent was added, the antibacterial effect on mold was large. (90% antibacterial effect)

In addition, it was confirmed that the case of adding 0.04% of grapefruit extract to the case of adding 0.01% had a greater antibacterial effect on mold. (99% antibacterial effect)

24 is a graph showing the germination rate of cultivated plants according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.

Specifically, FIG. 24 shows a case in which the antimicrobial agent 50 of the present invention is not added to the pod 10 in which the cultivated plant grows (control, experiment 1), and the grapefruit extract as the antibacterial agent 50 is supplied based on weight % It shows the germination rate (%) of cultivated plants according to the case where 0.01% of the number was added (Experiment 2) and when 0.04% of grapefruit extract was added (Experiment 3).

As shown in FIG. 24 , it was found that the germination rate of cultivated plants was similar or equal to that of Experiment 2 and Experiment 3, in which a small amount of grapefruit extract, an antibacterial agent, was added, and Experiment 1, in which no antibacterial agent was added. can

25 is a graph showing the yield of cultivated plants according to whether or not the antibacterial agent of the present invention is added.

Specifically, Figure 25 is a case in which the antibacterial agent 50 of the present invention is not added to the pod 10 in which the cultivated plant grows (control, experiment 1), and the grapefruit extract as the antibacterial agent 50 is supplied based on weight % It shows the yield ratio (%) of cultivated plants according to the case where 0.01% of the number was added (Experiment 2) and when 0.04% of grapefruit extract was added (Experiment 3).

As shown in FIG. 25 , it can be seen that the yield of cultivated plants is significantly increased in Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 in which a small amount of grapefruit extract, which is an antibacterial agent, is added compared with Experiment 1 in which no antibacterial agent is added.

Claims (20)

cabinets forming a growing space;
a water tank disposed in the cultivation space and storing water;
a pod provided inside the cultivation space and containing seeds and nutrients of plants for cultivation; and
and a bed in which the pod is seated and the supply water supplied from the water tank is stored,
Plant cultivation apparatus, characterized in that the pod is provided with a natural antibacterial agent made of a material contained in grapefruit. The method of claim 1,
The natural antibacterial agent is a plant cultivation device made of a material containing grapefruit extract. 3. The method of claim 2,
The natural antibacterial agent, a plant cultivation apparatus comprising 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %. The method of claim 1,
The natural antibacterial agent is a plant cultivation device provided in a solid state inside the pod. 3. The method of claim 2,
The natural antibacterial agent is a plant cultivation device formed of a water-soluble material gradually soluble in water. 6. The method of claim 5,
The natural antibacterial agent is dissolved by the supply water supplied from the water tank, and the grapefruit extract maintains a certain concentration. 7. The method of claim 6,
The predetermined concentration is, based on the weight %, the grapefruit extract is maintained in 0.01% to 0.04% plant cultivation apparatus. The method of claim 1,
The pod is
a pod housing seated on the bed; and
It is provided inside the pod housing and includes a vermiculite layer containing the nutrients,
A plant cultivation apparatus in which the natural antibacterial agent is disposed in the vermiculite layer. 9. The method of claim 8,
The pod is
a protective paper covering the open upper surface of the pod housing; and
Plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a packing member interposed between the protective paper and the vermiculite layer. 9. The method of claim 8,
The pod, stacked on top of the vermiculite layer, plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a seed paper containing the seeds. 11. The method of claim 10,
The pod, stacked on the top of the seed paper, plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a brick containing vermiculite. 12. The method of claim 11,
The pod is
a protective paper covering the open upper surface of the pod housing; and
Plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a packing member interposed between the protection paper and the brick. 9. The method of claim 8,
The pod further includes a pod protrusion protruding from the lower surface of the pod housing,
The pod protrusion is a plant cultivation device located inside the water collecting part formed in the bed. 14. The method of claim 13,
The water collecting unit is recessed downwardly from the upper surface of the bed, and the plant cultivation apparatus stores the water supplied from the water tank. The method of claim 1,
The natural antibacterial agent is formed in a liquid phase,
Plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a spraying device for spraying the liquid antimicrobial agent from above the pod. 16. The method of claim 15,
The liquid natural antibacterial agent is a plant cultivation device comprising 0.01% to 0.04% of the grapefruit extract based on weight %. 16. The method of claim 15,
The spraying device is a plant cultivation device installed on any one of the upper surface, the side surface, and the rear surface corresponding to the interior of the cabinet. 16. The method of claim 15,
Further comprising a light assembly provided above the pod,
The spraying device is a plant cultivation device installed in the light assembly. The method of claim 1,
The natural antibacterial agent is formed in a liquid phase,
a storage unit in which the liquid natural antibacterial agent is stored; and
Plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a supply pipe for supplying the liquid natural antibacterial agent from the storage to the inside of the pod. 20. The method of claim 19,
The plant cultivation apparatus further comprising a supply valve provided on one side of the supply pipe and controlling the flow of the liquid natural antibacterial agent.

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