Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition including a base polymer and a material that is discolored by water or water vapor, a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet including a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, a method for producing the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, and a method for attaching the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet to an adherend and detecting presence of the water or the water vapor in the attached location.

Abstract: A rotary kiln includes: a heating tube; a material feeding unit disposed on a first end of the heating tube; a material collection unit disposed on a second end of the heating tube; an inner cylinder supported at the second end of the heating tube with the inner cylinder being inserted in a central portion of the heating tube; a plurality of branch tubes disposed circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder, each of the branch tubes branching from the inner cylinder and extending in an axial direction along an inner circumferential surface of the heating tube; a hot air supply tube supported to be relatively rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder with the hot air supply tube being inserted in one end of the inner cylinder that extends outside the heating tube; and a drive mechanism that rotates the heating tube.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprises: at least cultivation containers for growing the plants; a plurality of plant supporting portions to support the plants; a plurality of nutrient solution supplying portions to supply nutrient solutions; a plurality of first switching valves; a plurality of nutrient solution discharging portions to discharge the nutrient solutions; a plurality of second switching valves; a plurality of pH value detecting portions to detect pH values of the nutrient solutions; a receptacle portion to store the nutrient solutions discharged from the plurality of nutrient discharging portions; nutrient solution circulating portions to send the nutrient solutions from the receptacle portion; and a controlling portion to control opening and closing operations of the first switching valves and the second switching valves based on the pH values detected by the pH value detecting portions.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivating device includes a first spraying portion configured to supply a plant with water utilizing electric power; a second spraying portion configured to supply the plant with the water utilizing water-line pressure; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of electric power supply necessary for supplying the plant with the water by the first spraying portion; and a controlling portion configured to control the second spraying portion, wherein the controlling portion switches a city-water switching valve and a discharge switching valve from a closed state to an open state, and thereby, supplies the plant with the water by the second spraying portion, in a case where it is determined that the electric power supply is stopped, based on the state of the electric power supply detected by the detecting portion.

Abstract: To grow a plant which stores nutrients synthesized in an above-ground part into an underground part, a hydroponic cultivation apparatus waters the underground part. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus includes: a void portion housing the underground part while establishing a substantially sealed state; a sensor which detects an amount of moisture in the void portion at the underground part or around the underground part; an air conditioning fan which introduces outside air to the void portion and controls temperature and humidity inside the void portion; and a controller which controls the amount of moisture detected by the sensor by driving the air conditioning fan in such a way as to adjust an amount of the outside air or an introduction period of the outside air.

Abstract: A plant growing device includes: a container configured to reserve a nutrient solution in a lower portion of the container; a holding unit configured to hold plants inside the container; spray units configured to spray the nutrient solution toward the inside of the container; and support units configured to support the holding unit, and to move the holding unit to a position depending on how the spray units are driving, in a range from a spray region where the nutrient solution sprayed by the spray units is supplied to roots of the plants to an immersion region where the nutrient solution reserved in the container is supplied to the roots of the plants.

Abstract: When a cultivation condition value changed by using a prescribed value in a changing step is equal to or above a preset upper limit value, the cultivation condition value is replaced with the upper limit value. When the cultivation condition value changed by using the prescribed value in the changing step is equal to or below a preset lower limit value, the cultivation condition value is replaced with the lower limit value.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivation apparatus grows a plant by circulating a nutrient solution. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus includes: a hydroponic container configured to hold the nutrient solution; a support portion configured to support the plant; a nutrient solution supply unit configured to supply the nutrient solution to the hydroponic container; a nutrient solution discharging unit configured to discharge the nutrient solution from the hydroponic container; and a budding enhancer supply unit configured to supply a budding enhancer to the plant. Thereby, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus makes the plant produce a bud.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivation apparatus comprises: at least cultivation containers for growing the plants; a plurality of plant supporting portions to support the plants; a plurality of nutrient solution supplying portions to supply nutrient solutions; a plurality of first switching valves; a plurality of nutrient solution discharging portions to discharge the nutrient solutions; a plurality of second switching valves; a plurality of pH value detecting portions to detect pH values of the nutrient solutions; a receptacle portion to store the nutrient solutions discharged from the plurality of nutrient discharging portions; nutrient solution circulating portions to send the nutrient solutions from the receptacle portion; and a controlling portion to control opening and closing operations of the first switching valves and the second switching valves based on the pH values detected by the pH value detecting portions.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivating device includes a first spraying portion configured to supply a plant with water utilizing electric power; a second spraying portion configured to supply the plant with the water utilizing water-line pressure; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of electric power supply necessary for supplying the plant with the water by the first spraying portion; and a controlling portion configured to control the second spraying portion, wherein the controlling portion switches a city-water switching valve and a discharge switching valve from a closed state to an open state, and thereby, supplies the plant with the water by the second spraying portion, in a case where it is determined that the electric power supply is stopped, based on the state of the electric power supply detected by the detecting portion.

Abstract: To grow a plant which stores nutrients synthesized in an above-ground part into an underground part, a hydroponic cultivation apparatus waters the underground part. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus includes: a void portion housing the underground part while establishing a substantially sealed state; a sensor which detects an amount of moisture in the void portion at the underground part or around the underground part; an air conditioning fan which introduces outside air to the void portion and controls temperature and humidity inside the void portion; and a controller which controls the amount of moisture detected by the sensor by driving the air conditioning fan in such a way as to adjust an amount of the outside air or an introduction period of the outside air.

Abstract: A hydroponic apparatus configured to grow a plant having a taproot and a branch root includes: a plant support body configured to support the plant; a taproot irrigation part configured to spray a liquid in a form of mist onto the taproot; a deep-flow nutrient solution in which the branch root is soaked; and a liquid fertilizer concentration management sensor configure to detect a concentration of the deep-flow nutrient solution. Referring to the detected concentration, the hydroponic apparatus controls at least one a concentration of the liquid sprayed from the taproot irrigation part and the concentration of the deep-flow nutrient solution.

Abstract: A plant growing device includes: a container configured to reserve a nutrient solution in a lower portion of the container; a holding unit configured to hold plants inside the container; spray units configured to spray the nutrient solution toward the inside of the container; and support units configured to support the holding unit, and to move the holding unit to a position depending on how the spray units are driving, in a range from a spray region where the nutrient solution sprayed by the spray units is supplied to roots of the plants to an immersion region where the nutrient solution reserved in the container is supplied to the roots of the plants.