JP2001069853A - Plant lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To secure necessary illuminance according to the growing condition of a plant while saving power. A plant lighting system (20) is provided in a house (1). The plant lighting system 20 includes an elevating device 21 controlled by a control unit. In the pedestal part 32 of the elevating device 21,
It includes a plurality of lamps L, a sensor 23, and a reflection sheet 25 above the lamps L. The lamp L is a light bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device, which is arranged at equal intervals on the lower surface of the gantry 32. The sensor 23 is
The distance A between the top of the plant 12 and the lamp L is measured.
Based on the measurement result of the sensor 23, the control means raises and lowers the gantry portion 32, and keeps the distance A between the lamp L and the plant 12 constant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting system for plants which enables lighting according to the growing condition of plants while saving power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-22262
As described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7, a configuration is known in which a plurality of specific high-power lamps are arranged near the ceiling of a plant cultivation house to give uniform light emission to plants. And, in this configuration, when the lamp is turned on with the base facing upward,
The vertical light distribution angle is configured to have a laterally spread light distribution characteristic having a maximum light emission in a direction of 30 to 70 degrees.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional construction, light-supply cultivation for the purpose of photosynthesis of plants is effective for a house for the purpose, but flower bud differentiation inhibitory effect, coloring of petals, prevention of dormancy, etc. However, when used for photomorphogenesis of plants, there is a problem that efficiency is low and power consumption is large. In addition, recent breeding of plants has produced varieties that do not take much time to grow, but in such varieties it is difficult to control photomorphogenesis at conventional illuminance levels, and higher horizontal illuminance Is needed. Furthermore, in Japan, where greenhouse horticulture is slower than in Europe, etc., few producers still invest in equipment, and use existing equipment for wiring, electric capacity, etc., while maintaining or reducing power consumption. There is a need for lighting equipment that can provide higher horizontal illuminance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for plants which enables lighting according to the growing condition of plants while saving power.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant lighting system comprising: a sensor for measuring a growth state of a plant on a cultivation surface; a lamp for illuminating a plant on a cultivation surface; Control means for driving the elevating device based on the measurement result of the sensor.

In this configuration, the necessary illuminance is secured while saving power by raising and lowering the lamp according to the growing condition of the plant.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lighting system for a plant according to the first aspect, the control means includes an actual measurement value of a distance between the plant and the lamp by a sensor, and a distance between the plant and the lamp. The lifting device is driven in a direction that matches the optimum calculated value.

[0008] In this configuration, the optimum illuminance according to the growing condition of the plant is automatically realized, and labor is saved.

A plant lighting system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the plant lighting system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the lamp is a bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device.

In this configuration, power consumption can be reduced as compared with an incandescent lamp.

A plant lighting system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the plant lighting system according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising: It is provided with a reflection sheet that reflects light on the surface side.

[0012] In this configuration, it is possible to reduce the power consumption by effectively using the light traveling toward the opposite side of the cultivation surface.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a plant lighting system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of a plant lighting system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the plant lighting system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a calculation processing method of the above plant lighting system. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the above plant lighting system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a house.
Is a glass house for plant cultivation. Plants 12 such as chrysanthemums are cultivated on a plurality of cultivation ridges 11 formed on a cultivation surface 10 in the house 1. In this embodiment,
The plant 12 is a chrysanthemum which is cultivated under illumination. In the house 1, that is, the three-dimensional space formed by the three vectors of the depth direction, the frontage direction, and the height direction includes a plant lighting system 20 for each block divided by a predetermined area. Are located. The plant lighting system 20 can be called a plant growing lighting system, a plant growing lighting device, or a plant growing lighting device.
The apparatus includes an elevating device 21, a plurality of lamps L supported by the elevating device 21 to move up and down, a sensor 23, control means (not shown), and a reflection sheet 25 provided above the lamp L.

The elevating device 21 includes, for example, columns 31 erected at four corners of each block, and a gantry 32 supported by the columns 31. The gantry part 32 covers almost the entire surface above the cultivation surface 10 which is a two-dimensional plane composed of two vectors of the depth direction and the frontage direction substantially in parallel with the cultivation surface 10, that is, substantially horizontally. The gantry 32 is moved up and down, that is, driven in the vertical direction while maintaining the horizontal position, by a drive unit such as a motor and a gear provided in the 32.

On the lower surface of the pedestal portion 32, lamp sockets 34 are mounted at regular intervals, for example, in the depth direction or the frontage direction, and the lamp L is mounted on the lamp socket 34 with the base facing upward. Each lamp L is a light bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device, in which an arc tube and a lighting circuit are housed inside an envelope provided with an Edison-type base at one end. In addition, each lamp L has a light distribution characteristic having light emission at a vertical light distribution angle of 90 degrees or more when the lamp L is turned on upward and the vertical light distribution angle is 0 degree. I have.

Further, the gantry portion 32 faces downward,
The sensor 23 is attached. And this sensor 23
Is a displacement sensor of a laser type, an ultrasonic type, a contact type or the like, which is installed vertically downward, and measures a distance A between the top of the plant 12 and the lamp L.

Further, the reflection sheet 25 is a reflection sheet having a reflection film made of, for example, aluminum having a high visible light reflectance. The reflection sheet 25 is located above the lamp L, has a reflection surface as a lower surface, and has a pedestal portion 32. It is arranged substantially horizontally by sticking it on the surface. In addition, the area of the reflection sheet 25 is house 1
Is set to be the same as the total floor area. The reflection sheet 25 can be opened and closed, and is closed when the lamp L is turned on.
While the lamp L is turned off, it is basically opened. However, when shortening the day length in shade cultivation in summer or the like, the lamp can be closed even when the lamp L is turned off.

The control means is constituted by a control device such as a personal computer having a CPU, for example.
The measurement result of the sensor 23 is input, and in consideration of the previously input distance between the cultivation surface 10 and the lamp L, vertical light distribution data, luminous flux maintenance rate data, total luminous flux data, etc., the horizontal plane at the distance A is considered. The illuminance is calculated and compared with the optimum horizontal illuminance, that is, the horizontal dimension illuminance effective for the light morphogenesis of the plant and the calculated separation dimension B for realizing the photosynthetic effective photon flux density, to control the elevating device 21.

That is, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, basic data is input in advance (step 1), and the top of the plant 12 and the lamp L are detected by the sensor 23 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Is measured (step 2). Then, based on preset data, an optimum horizontal plane illuminance is calculated, and further, an optimum height of the lamp L, that is, a separation dimension B is calculated.
Is calculated (steps 3 and 4). If the calculated separation B is different from the measured separation A, that is, if it is high or low, then an appropriate distance between the lamp L and the plant 12 is obtained by calculation, and a command for ascending and descending is issued. The lamp L is moved up and down an appropriate distance together with the gantry 32 by operating the drive unit (steps 5 and 6). on the other hand,
When the calculated separation dimension B is equal to the actually measured separation dimension A, the current state is maintained without issuing an elevating command (steps 5 and 7).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plant
By raising and lowering the lamp L in accordance with the growth condition of the plant 12, for example, by keeping the distance between the top of the plant 12 and the lamp L constant, it is possible to always provide the plant with optimal illuminance, As illumination of the plant cultivation house 1 for the purpose of controlling the formation, required illuminance can be secured while saving power. That is, if the lower limit of the horizontal illuminance or the photosynthetic effective photon flux density effective for the light morphogenesis of the plant 12 is known, a lamp L capable of providing this horizontal illuminance is installed, and the luminous flux maintenance factor of the lamp L is determined by the system. The distance to the plant 12 can be calculated by taking into account, and the lower limit of the horizontal illuminance can be maintained and provided.

Since the control for raising and lowering the lamp L is automated by the control means, labor saving can be realized.

Further, since a bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device is used as the lamp L, power saving can be realized as compared with a configuration using an incandescent bulb such as a silica bulb or a clear bulb.

When a bulb-type fluorescent lamp device or the like is used as the lamp L in a state in which the base is turned upward, the light distribution characteristics of the lamp L having a radiation intensity when the vertical installation light distribution angle is 90 degrees or more are used. With upward light emission that does not contribute to the photomorphogenesis of plant 12, but above lamp L,
Cover with a reflective sheet 25 with high reflectivity, as shown in FIG.
Since the upward light is reflected downward, the degree of uniformity can be improved, and the efficiency can be increased to increase the horizontal illuminance, thereby realizing power saving. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the lamp socket 34 is supported by a wiring W extending laterally.

Further, since the reflection sheet 25 also serves as a shade, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. That is, in a house that is cultivated year-round, such as chrysanthemum cultivation of chrysanthemums, a shade such as a blackout curtain is placed on the inside of the house, that is, on the ceiling and side, in order to shorten the summer daylength. Some have high reflectance aluminum deposited, and some have good visible light reflectance of about 90% on a good deposition surface. Therefore, such a shade is not used only for shading sunlight, but is used as a reflection sheet when illuminated by the lamp L, so that the illuminance on the horizontal surface of the cultivation surface 10 is greatly improved as compared with when the shade is not used. In addition, the uniformity can be greatly improved.

For example, the frontage is 12.6 m, the depth is 55 m,
In the house 1 having a height of 4 m, the lamp L of the fluorescent lamp device in the form of a light bulb is arranged to have a width of 2.7 m, a depth of 2.8 m,
When it is installed at an installation height of 1.9 m and the reflection sheet 25 having a visible light reflectance of 70% is installed at a height of 2.0 m and on the entire side surface, the illuminance on the horizontal surface of the cultivation surface 10 is 108 [lx], and the light is reflected. Compared to 66 [lx] in the case where the sheet 25 was not installed, the height could be increased about 1.5 times, and the uniformity could be improved from 0.84 to 0.92.

With such a configuration, for example,
Even in a house in which the flower bud differentiation inhibitory effect was not obtained due to insufficient illuminance, by using the plant lighting system 15, the uniformity was high and the horizontal level illuminance was increased with the same installation interval of the lamp L as in the past. And the effect of suppressing flower bud differentiation was obtained.

Further, in some cases, the number of lamps L can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional number of lamps L.

Further, in the house 1 where nighttime light cultivation was performed, light leakage to the outside could be reduced, and light pollution could be suppressed.

Furthermore, since the leakage light from the house 1 at night can be reduced, pests flying toward the light of the house 1 can be suppressed.

The reflection sheet 25 can be opened and closed, such as a retractable type, and can utilize daytime sunlight.

Also, the lamp L is not necessarily limited to a bulb-type fluorescent lamp device, and an incandescent lamp can be used.

The arrangement of the lamps L is not necessarily limited to those arranged at equal intervals, but may be arranged in a predetermined pattern.

[0035]

According to the plant lighting system of the present invention, the necessary illuminance can be secured while saving power by raising and lowering the lamp according to the growing condition of the plant.

According to the plant lighting system of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the control means includes an actual measurement value of the distance between the plant and the lamp by the sensor, and a distance between the plant and the lamp. Since the lifting / lowering device is driven in a direction that matches the optimum calculated value of, the optimum illuminance according to the growing condition of the plant is automatically realized, and labor saving can be realized.

According to the plant lighting system of the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects, the power consumption can be reduced as compared with an incandescent light bulb by using a bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device as the lamp. .

According to the plant lighting system of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to third aspects, the light irradiated by the lamp is located on the opposite side of the cultivation surface with respect to the lamp. Since the reflection sheet is provided on the surface side, the light traveling toward the opposite side of the cultivation surface can be effectively used to reduce power consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of a plant lighting system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the plant lighting system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a calculation processing method of the plant lighting system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the above plant lighting system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Cultivation surface 12 Plant 20 Plant lighting system 21 Lifting device 23 Sensor 25 Reflective sheet L lamp

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsuhide Misono 4-3-1 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation F-term (reference) 2B022 DA01 DA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for measuring a growth state of a plant on a cultivation surface; a lamp for illuminating a plant on a cultivation surface; an elevating device for elevating the lamp; and a control means for driving the elevating device based on a measurement result of the sensor. A lighting system for plants, comprising: 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives the elevating device in a direction in which an actual measured value of the distance between the plant and the lamp by the sensor matches an optimum calculated value of the distance between the plant and the lamp. The plant lighting system according to claim 1, 3. The plant lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lamp is a bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp device. 4. A cultivation surface according to claim 1, further comprising a reflection sheet positioned on the opposite side of the cultivation surface with respect to the lamp, to reflect light irradiated by the lamp toward the cultivation surface. Plant lighting system.