A gravity-driven plant cultivation system includes: (a) a frame; (b) a plurality of vertically stacked conveyor assemblies mounted to the frame. Each conveyor assembly includes at least one gravity conveyor extending along a conveyor axis. The conveyor axis slopes downwards relative to a horizontal plane from a frame upstream end to a frame downstream end of the frame. The system further includes (c) a plurality of plant cultivation trays rollingly supported on each gravity conveyor and urged to translate along a respective conveyor axis toward the frame downstream end via gravitational force.

An installation for the aeroponic/hydroponic production of plants (P) comprises at least a table (1), trays (2) able to move on the table (1) and intended to support the plants (P) so as to transfer the plants (P), the installation being characterized in that it comprises a dipping station (14) comprising a lift for lowering and raising at least one tray (2) between a raised position and a lowered position so as to dip the roots (PR) in a dipping bath (140) containing a liquid in the lowered position for a predetermined length of time.

[Object] To provide a hydroponic cultivation system that is capable of transporting a seedbed with a simple mechanism and has excellent durability.

[Solving Means] A hydroponic cultivation system includes a plurality of seedbeds, a hanging part, and a transport mechanism. A plurality of seedlings of a plant to be cultivated are transplanted to side surfaces of the plurality of seedbeds. The hanging part hangs each of the plurality of seedbeds while the plurality of seedbeds are arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction from a planting side of the seedlings to a harvesting side of the seedlings. The transport mechanism transports the plurality of seedbeds in the predetermined horizontal direction while widening spaces between the seedbeds in the predetermined horizontal direction in a stepwise or continuous manner.

A generally planar foundation pad is foamed of a material such as concrete, or the like, and supports a framework defining a plurality of concentric circular paths stacked in a cylindrical array. A plurality of helical water troughs are supported by the framework within each of the circular paths. Water circulation apparatus is provided to selected intermediate portions of the water trough to produce a continuous circulation of water. The circulating water is combined with various nutrients and the nutrient and water solution is filtered as it is circulated. Each helical water trough is formed of multiple vertically stacked layers of the trough. As a result, a great length of water trough is stacked upon a small footprint of land. Each water trough is filled with a plurality of floating growing trays to form a continuous train of growing trays extending down the entire water trough. As the water and nutrient solution flows down each helical water trough, the floating growing trays are carried down the water trough. As the growing trays move, they are continuously removed from the bottom end of the water trough and added at the top.

The present invention may relate to Aeroponic Systems and their individual elements. More particularly to automated systems capable of monitoring and adjusting some if not all of the light, nutrient, water quality and environmental factors required for the propagation and sustained growth of all types of plants. It may also describe methods to support the plants during propagation from seeds and for growth and harvesting. It may describe various methodologies for reducing space requirements and for increasing plant density without detriment to the growth cycles.

Typically greenhouse crop production uses 85% of the floor area for growing crops. The present invention provides a fourfold increase in the usable growing area by using a conveyor to move plants around a closed loop (11), with a plurality of carriages mounted on the conveyor and at least one tray (7) configured to be received on each of the plurality of carriages, each tray (7) configured for growing at least one plant by means of hydroculture.

A linked-chain system and custom gutter within an agricultural environment may be shown and described. In an exemplary embodiment, plantlets, seedlings, plant pods, or crops may be connected to one another in a linked-chain. The linked-chain may be placed within a gutter that may be provided within a growing facility. The gutter system may include multiple gutters for receiving and growing crops. The gutters may be arranged parallel to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the gutters may include a linked-chain of plantlets or plant plugs. Plants in a linked-chain configuration can be transplanted together. The chain of plantlets may be densely planted initially and then may be pulled apart to increase spacing as the crops grow and density increases.

The present disclosure is directed to improved vertical farming using autonomous systems and methods for growing edible plants, using improved stacking and shelving units configured to allow for gravity-based irrigation, gravity-based loading and unloading, along with a system for autonomous rotation, incorporating novel plant-growing pallets, while being photographed and recorded by camera systems incorporating three dimensional/multispectral cameras, with the images and data recorded automatically sent to a database for processing and for gauging plant health, pest and/or disease issues, and plant life cycle. The present disclosure is also directed to novel harvesting methods, novel modular lighting, novel light intensity management systems, real time vision analysis that allows for the dynamic adjustment and optimization of the plant growing environment, and a novel rack structure system that allows for simplified building and enlarging of vertical farming rack systems.

A vertical agriculture apparatus is provided, including a drive mechanism, chain tensioning mechanism, connection assembly for connecting trays to a roller chain, tray assemblies, tray hangers, and a watering system. The watering system includes seal members attached to a spring-biased moveable member that is actuated by a surface attached to a tray. The connection assembly includes a connector member defining an inner aperture for receiving pins of a roller chain and an outer aperture for receiving a bolt or rod passing through a tray aperture. The apparatus has a tray that is supported on first and second vertical loops at positions that are spaced apart in two perpendicular horizontal directions. Water is added to the trays on a downward leg of the vertical loop to drive travel of the vertical loop or augment a drive mechanism.

Typically greenhouse crop production uses 85% of the floor area for growing crops. The present invention provides a fourfold increase in the usable growing area by using a conveyor to move plants around a closed loop 11, with a plurality of carriages mounted on the conveyor and at least one tray 7 configured to be received on each of the plurality of carriages, each tray 7 configured for growing at least one plant by means of hydroculture.