Patent classifications
A01G9/088
Multifunctional seedling culturing apparatus
A multifunctional seedling culturing apparatus includes a fixed seedling culturing pedestal and a movable seedling culturing shelf cart, where the fixed seedling culturing pedestal includes a frame, and light sources are disposed on the frame; the movable seedling culturing shelf cart includes a board shelf, at least two boards are disposed on the board shelf, planting plates are disposed on the at least two boards, a movable apparatus is disposed on a bottom of the board shelf, and the at least two boards on the board shelf match light source positions on the fixed seedling culturing pedestal.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED FARMING OF POTTED PLANTS
A system for automated farming of potted plants is disclosed and includes a closed-loop conveyor system configured to facilitate gradual cyclic mobility and storage of a plurality of potted plants. The system also includes at least one centralized processing zone disposed along the conveyor system and configured to perform at least one operation such as fertilization, irrigation, treatment, instrumentation, repotting, seeding, and inspection on each individual pot. The processing zone includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one property of a potted plant. The system also includes a processing unit in communication with the at least one sensor, the processing unit configured to determine a state of each potted plant based on the at least one detected property. The state describes a physical state of the potted plant. The system also includes at least one loading station coupled to the conveyor system and configured to feed (input) potted plants to the conveyor system, and at least one unloading station coupled to the conveyor system and configured to unload (output) potted plants from the conveyor system.
APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR GROWING A PLURALITY OF PLANTS AS A MULTIPLICITY OF INDIVIDUAL, SEPARABLE UNITS
A system for growing a plurality of plants, including a support apparatus having a plurality of upright frames and a plurality of substantially parallel wires extending longitudinally between the upright frames above a base surface. The wires are placed in tension to support laterally therebetween a multiplicity of individual, separable bags containing plants. Cultivation of the plants is facilitated by the apparatus with the supported bags positioned in a minimally spaced arrangement relative to each other at an ergonomic height above the base surface.
Systems and methods for managing a weight of a plant in a grow pod
An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.
PLANT TERRARIUM ASSEMBLY WITH A REMOVABLE RETAINER
The present invention relates to a plant terrarium assembly for containing a plant, the plant terrarium assembly comprising an at least partially transparent housing enclosing an inner volume, the transparent housing comprising a top side, and an opening defined by a rim, a closing member configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position in order to open and close the opening in the housing, wherein the closing member has an inner side and an outer side, wherein in the closed position the inner side faces the inner volume, and wherein the outer side is configured to form a bottom side of the plant terrarium assembly and to be placed on a base surface.
Systems and methods for bypassing harvesting for a grow pod
A system bypasses harvesting in an assembly line grow pod when it is determined that a plant in a cart is not ready to harvest. The system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, one or more sensors and a controller. The cart includes an upper plate that supports a plant. The controller receives information about the plant from the one or more sensors, determines whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information; and transmits an instruction for bypassing harvesting the plant in the cart in response to determination that the plant in the cart is not ready to harvest.
Peristaltic pumps in an assembly line grow pod and methods of providing fluids via peristaltic pumps
Devices, systems, and methods for providing a predetermined amount of fluid in an assembly line grow pod are provided. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod including a tray held by a cart supported on a track, the tray including at least one section. The assembly line grow pod further includes a fluid source and a watering station. The watering station includes a robot device having a movable arm and at least one peristaltic pump coupled to the arm, the peristaltic pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly coupled to the fluid source. A predetermined amount of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to the at least one section of the tray via movement of the movable arm of the robot device to align the outlet of the peristaltic pump with the at least one section and via ejection of the fluid from the outlet.
Tray and Trellis System for an Automated Farm with Robots Working on Plants
A Tray and Trellis System includes vertical posts or legs, longitudinal members, and cross members. Combs include tines fixed at one end to longitudinal members on one side, and releasably engaged at their other end to other longitudinal members on the other side. Further combs include tines fixed to a cross member at one end, and releasably engaged to another cross member at the other end. There may be intermediate cross members having tines fixed to them and other tines releasably engaged to them. Fixation of the tines may be by clips, rings, welding, bonding, fastening, or by molding as a single piece. The releasably engaged ends of the tines may be engaged with snap-fit slot features in the longitudinal members, the cross members, or the clips or rings, or may be engaged with open grommets inserted into openings in the longitudinal members or cross members.
AUTOMATED DRY GRANULAR MATERIAL DISPENSER
An automatic dry material dispenser for dispensing dry material such as fertilizer to pots or other containers passing by on a conveyor. The device is controlled by a photo-detector or mechanical switch to dispense material when the container is in the proper position. The device consists of a material reservoir, a flexible feed hose, a pipe and elbow which can be pivoted by an electric solenoid and electronics for control. As the pipe and elbow are pivoted to a stop by the solenoid material is expelled from the elbow and down into the passing pot. The amount of material dispensed is controlled by an insert-able cylinder and by selecting the number of dispensing cycles per pot.
Systems and methods for pressurizing an assembly line grow pod
A method for pressurizing an assembly line grow pod system is provided. The method includes arranging a dual wall including an outer wall and an inner wall, controlling, with an air pressure controller, first air pressure in the first sealed area and second air pressure in the second sealed area, and controlling, with a master controller, operations of the air pressure controller. The first air pressure of the first sealed area is controlled to be higher than pressure of an exterior area to the outer wall by a predetermined amount.