Hydroponic cultivation system, hydroponic cultivation method, plant cultivation system, and plant cultivation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016324089-A1
Application number	US-201615215092-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hydroponic cultivation system for plants includes a first plant cultivation apparatus to hydroponically cultivate plants using a first liquid fertilizer, a first supply path to supply the first liquid fertilizer, a second plant cultivation apparatus to hydroponically cultivate plants using a second liquid fertilizer having a component differing from a component of the first liquid fertilizer, a second supply path to supply the second liquid fertilizer, and a tray carrier device to carry cultivation trays with the plants thereon between the first plant cultivation apparatus and the second plant cultivation apparatus. The cultivation trays are arranged in stages and mutually connected in series to the first supply path via a removable hose in the first plant cultivation apparatus, and the cultivation trays are arranged in stages and mutually connected in series to the second supply path via a removable hose in the second plant cultivation apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hydroponic cultivation system for plants, the hydroponic cultivation system comprising:
a first plant cultivation apparatus configured to hydroponically cultivate plants using a first liquid fertilizer; a first supply path disposed in the first plant cultivation apparatus, and configured to supply the first liquid fertilizer; a second plant cultivation apparatus configured to hydroponically cultivate plants using a second liquid fertilizer having a component differing from a component of the first liquid fertilizer; a second supply path disposed in the second plant cultivation apparatus, and configured to supply the second liquid fertilizer; and a tray carrier device configured to carry cultivation trays with the plants thereon between the first plant cultivation apparatus and the second plant cultivation apparatus, wherein the cultivation trays are arranged in a plurality of stages, and mutually connected in series to the first supply path via a removable hose in the first plant cultivation apparatus, and the cultivation trays are arranged in a plurality of stages, and mutually connected in series to the second supply path via a removable hose in the second plant cultivation apparatus.

2 . The hydroponic cultivation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first plant cultivation apparatus faces the second plant cultivation apparatus such that the first plant cultivation apparatus and the second plant cultivation apparatus sandwiches a passage.

3 . The hydroponic cultivation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first plant cultivation apparatus includes rails configured to move the tray carrier device.

4 . The hydroponic cultivation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first plant cultivation apparatus cultivates the plants at timing differing from timing at which the second plant cultivation apparatus cultivates the plants in a growth period of one plant.

5 . The hydroponic cultivation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
water is used as the second liquid fertilizer.

6 . A hydroponic cultivation method utilizing a hydroponic cultivation system, the hydroponic cultivation system including a first plant cultivation apparatus to hydroponically cultivate plants using a first liquid fertilizer supplied from a first supply path and capable of accommodating a tray carrier device having a plurality of cultivation trays with the plants thereon, each of the cultivation trays being removably connected to the first supply path via a first hose, and a second plant cultivation apparatus to hydroponically cultivate plants using a second liquid fertilizer differing from the first liquid fertilizer supplied from a second supply path and capable of accommodating the tray carrier device, the first plant cultivation apparatus facing the second plant cultivation apparatus such that the first plant cultivation apparatus facing the second plant cultivation apparatus sandwich a passage, the hydroponic cultivation method comprising:
removing the first hose from each of the cultivation trays placed on the tray carrier device before the moving the tray carrier device to the second plant cultivation apparatus; removing from the first plant cultivation apparatus the tray carrier device carrying the trays with the plants thereon; moving the tray carrier device to the second plant cultivation apparatus via the passage.

7 . The hydroponic cultivation method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the moving the tray carrier device to the second plant cultivation apparatus includes
removing the tray carrier device from the first plant cultivation apparatus; reversing the tray carrier device such that a side of the tray carrier device facing the passage when the tray carrier device is accommodated in the first plant cultivation apparatus matches a side of the tray carrier device facing the passage when the tray carrier device is accommodated in the second plant cultivation apparatus; and moving the tray carrier device via the passage.

8 . The hydroponic cultivation method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
removably inserting the second hose connected to the second supply path into a same liquid fertilizer introducing area into which the first hose has been previously inserted after the tray carrier device is moved to the second plant cultivation apparatus.

Assignees

• Fujitsu Ltd

Inventors

• Miyabe Haruyasu
• Muraoka Tatsuo
• Satoh Akihiko

Classifications

• F21V17/08

  onto the supporting or suspending arrangements of the lighting device, e.g. power cords, standards · CPC title

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• A01C21/005

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title

• A01G31/06 Primary

  Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers · CPC title

• A01G9/20

  Forcing-frames; Lights {, i.e. glass panels covering the forcing-frames} · CPC title