PLANT ILLUMINATION APPARATUS AND PLANT ILLUMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20140204567A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes Limited
• Original Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Che-Wei, Cheng, Min-Chung, Wu, Min-Lun
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/122
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A plant illumination apparatus including a driving unit having a central axis, a first slide base, a second slide base, a light source, and a retractable arm having a retraction-control terminal and light-disposing terminal is provided. The first and second slide bases are disposed on the driving unit. The drive unit simultaneously drives the first and second slide bases to move along the central axis in opposite directions. The retraction-control terminal has a first end and a second end respectively connected to the first and second slide bases and moving therewith. When the first and second ends approach each other, the retractable arm extends so the light-disposing terminal moves away from the retraction-control terminal. When the first and second ends leave each other, the retractable arm retracts so the light-disposing terminal moves toward the retraction-control terminal. The light source is disposed on the light-disposing terminal to illuminate a plant.

Claims

1. A plant illumination apparatus, suitable for illuminating a plant, the plant illumination apparatus comprising:

a driving unit, having a central axis;

a first slide base and a second slide base, respectively disposed on the driving unit, wherein the driving unit is suitable for simultaneously driving the first slide base and the second slide base to move along the central axis in opposite directions;

a retractable arm, having a retraction-control terminal and a light-disposing terminal, wherein the retraction-control terminal has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end are respectively connected to the first slide base and the second slide base to respectively move along with the first slide base and the second slide base, when the first end and the second end move toward each other, the retractable arm extends so that the light-disposing terminal moves away from the retraction-control terminal, and when the first end and the second end move away from each other, the retractable arm retracts so that the light-disposing terminal moves towards the retraction-control terminal; and

a light source, disposed on the light-disposing terminal, and illuminating the plant.

2. The plant illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit further comprises a servo motor, a pair of gears, and a conveyor belt, the gears are respectively located at two opposite ends of the central axis, the conveyor belt is looped around outer surfaces of the gears, the servo motor is suitable for driving one of the gears to rotate, so as to drive the conveyor belt and accordingly the other gear to rotate, the first slide base and the second slide base are fixed on the conveyor belt and are respectively located at two opposite sides of the driving unit, and when the servo motor rotates, the conveyor belt respectively drives the first slide base and the second slide base to move in opposite directions.

3. The plant illumination apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first slide rail and a second slide rail disposed in parallel, wherein the driving unit is disposed between the first slide rail and the second slide rail, the first slide base comprises a first driving portion and a first sliding portion, the second slide base comprises a second driving portion and a second sliding portion, the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion are slidably disposed on the first slide rail and the second slide rail respectively, the first driving portion and the second driving portion are disposed on the driving unit and are respectively located at two opposite sides of the driving unit, and the driving unit is suitable for simultaneously driving the first driving portion and the second driving portion to move in opposite directions, so as to drive the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion to respectively slide on the first slide rail and the second slide rail in opposite directions.

4. The plant illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retractable arm extends or retracts along a light path of the light source.

5. The plant illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plant is located on the light path.

6. A plant illumination system, suitable for illuminating a plurality of plants, the plant illumination system comprising:

a plurality of plant illumination apparatuses, wherein each of the plant illumination apparatuses comprises;

a driving unit, having a central axis;

a first slide base and a second slide base, respectively disposed on the driving unit, wherein the driving unit is suitable for simultaneously driving the first slide base and the second slide base to move along the central axis in opposite directions;

a retractable arm, having a retraction-control terminal and a light-disposing terminal, wherein the retraction-control terminal has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end are respectively connected to the first slide base and the second slide base to respectively move along with the first slide base and the second slide base, when the first end and the second end move toward each other, the retractable arm extends so that the light-disposing terminal moves away from the retraction-control terminal, and when the first end and the second end move away from each other, the retractable arm retracts so that the light-disposing terminal moves towards the retraction-control terminal; and

a light source, disposed on the light-disposing terminal, and illuminating the corresponding plant;

wherein the driving units are connected with each other and are suitable for driving each other to move.

7. The plant illumination system according to claim 6 further comprising a servo motor, wherein the servo motor is connected to one of the driving units and drives the connected driving unit to rotate, so that the connected driving unit drives the other driving units to rotate and accordingly drives the first slide bases and the second slide bases respectively disposed on the driving units to respectively move along the corresponding central axes.

8. The plant illumination system according to claim 7, wherein each of the driving units further comprises:

a conveyor belt; and

a pair of gears, wherein the gears are respectively located at two opposite ends of the central axis, and the conveyor belt is looped around outer surfaces of the gears,

wherein the gears have different diameters such that when the driving units driving each other to move, the conveyor belts looped around the outer surfaces of the gears have different moving speeds.

9. The plant illumination system according to claim 6, wherein each of the plant illumination apparatuses further comprises a first slide rail and a second slide rail disposed in parallel, the driving unit is disposed between the first slide rail and the second slide rail, the first slide base comprises a first driving portion and a first sliding portion, the second slide base comprises a second driving portion and a second sliding portion, the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion are slidably disposed on the first slide rail and the second slide rail respectively, the first driving portion and the second driving portion are disposed on the driving unit and are respectively located at two opposite sides of the driving unit, and the driving unit is suitable for simultaneously driving the first driving portion and the second driving portion to move in opposite directions, so as to drive the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion to respectively slide on the first slide rail and the second slide rail in opposite directions.

10. The plant illumination system according to claim 6, wherein each of the retractable arms extends or retracts along a light path of the corresponding light source, and the plants are respectively disposed on the light paths.