# US 9,433,158 B2 · Plant cultivation system

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- Number: US 9,433,158 B2
- Document ID: US9433158B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/379,637
- Filed: 2012-12-07
- Published: 2015-01-15
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-22
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Ryuji Nagadome; Hiroshi Haji
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433158B2

## CPC

- A01G 25/02: Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation
- A01G 9/00: Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses (of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00); Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G 9/143: {Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses}
- A01G 9/247: {Watering arrangements}
- A01G 25/097: {guided or propelled along a water supply line with supply line traversing means}
- B05B 15/60: Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
- Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

An irrigation device includes: a nozzle discharging liquid; a cover preventing the liquid discharged from the nozzle from splattering around the container; and a moving mechanism moving the cover between a first position and a second position. When moved to the first position, the cover covers space above the container. When moved to the second position, the cover is removed from the space above the container and the space is uncovered. The moving mechanism moves the cover (i) to the first position when the liquid is supplied to a plant, and (ii) to the second position when the supplying of the liquid to the plant ends.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plant cultivation system for cultivating a plant, the plant cultivation system comprising:
a transporting conveyor which transports a container, where the plant is planted, along a transport pathway; and
an irrigation device which is located in an irrigation area on the transport pathway, and supplies liquid to the plant planted in the container,
wherein the irrigation device includes:
a nozzle which discharges, from above, the liquid to the container located in the irrigation area;
a cover which has a box shape with a bottom end portion open, and prevents the liquid discharged from the nozzle from splattering around the container; and
a moving mechanism which moves the cover between a first position and a second position,
the bottom end portion of the cover has a receiving recessed portion extending from the bottom end portion of the cover toward an inside of the cover, for receiving the liquid from the nozzle flowing down an inner surface of the cover, and
the nozzle extends through a top surface of the cover,
wherein (i) when moved to the first position, the cover covers space above the container located in the irrigation area, and (ii) when moved to the second position, the cover is removed from the space above the container located in the irrigation area and the space is uncovered, and
the moving mechanism moves the cover (i) to the first position when the liquid is supplied to the plant, and (ii) to the second position when the supplying of the liquid to the plant ends.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plant cultivation system according to claim 1
wherein when the moving mechanism moves the cover to the first position, the bottom end portion of the cover is supported along an entire periphery of a top end portion defining an opening of the container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plant cultivation system according to claim 1,
wherein the irrigation device further includes a duct which discharges the liquid, received by the receiving recessed portion, out of the cover, and
the duct is in communication with the receiving recessed portion and extends outward from an outer surface of the cover.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plant cultivation system according to claim 1,
wherein the irrigation device further includes a compressed air supplying unit configured to supply the nozzle with compressed air, and
when the supplying of the liquid to the plant ends, the compressed air supplying unit is configured to supply the compressed air to the nozzle.