Patents Examined by Megan J Moroney
  • Patent number: 11963493
    Abstract: A grow module, a plant growing system, and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The grow module comprises a plurality of tray modules including a light tray over a growing tray. The light tray includes a lighting array and at least one sensor. The growing tray is adapted to hold a plurality of plant vessels. The grow module comprises a machine-readable identification. The grow module is configured to hold the plurality of tray modules in a vertically stacked configuration. The lighting array on the light tray is configured to provide light to the plurality of plant vessels on the growing tray in the grow module directly under said light tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MAUI GREENS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Robell
  • Patent number: 11917957
    Abstract: A hydroponic grow system includes: multiple grow containers; a reservoir; and a water pump, where an output of the water pump is coupled to an inlet of the reservoir and at least one outlet of the reservoir is coupled to an input of the water pump. A hydroponic grow container includes: a grow vessel; and an adaptable manifold coupled to the grow vessel. A hydroponic reservoir including: at least one inlet; at least one outlet; a return tank; and a distribution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas Eugene Nelson
  • Patent number: 11895959
    Abstract: The present invention is a scalable and re-configurable system for indoor growing. The scalable and re-configurable system for indoor growing is comprised of a plurality of growing sleds, in which each growing sled has a plurality of plant stations. Plants are grown in receptacles on each plant station. The plant station is rotated by a drive system. Each plant station provides irrigation. Each plant station has a forced frame connected to the top of a plant support assembly. A forced frame is used to confine each plant to a known foot-print. This is necessary in indoor growing in order to make the production uniform and efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Brandon Massay
  • Patent number: 11882801
    Abstract: A tank housing a vertical farm, having inside a plurality of structures at different heights that are supported on the tank wall such that they create ring-shaped projections on which to place the trays for the crops and the remaining installations and channels, wherein, since the structures are arranged as rings, a hollow space is created in the central shaft of the tank that is used to install a liftable platform so that an operator or robot may access the different trays holding the vegetables, and wherein on the lower portion of the tank are located closed and sealed compartments intended for the hydraulic, electric and electronic systems for controlling the parameters necessary for crop optimisation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Vicente Parra Cebrian
  • Patent number: 11864507
    Abstract: A cultivation method for cultivating leaf vegetables includes preparing correspondence information associating light characteristic information indicative of a characteristic of light with which leaf vegetables are irradiated, with quantified quality information having a quantified quality of leaf vegetables; setting the light characteristic information; and irradiating the leaf vegetables with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru Aoki, Nahoko Sato
  • Patent number: 11864530
    Abstract: A teat preparation handpiece designed to fit around a teat on a bovine to sequentially clean the teat using high-pressure air and a pre-dip solution, then dry the teat using high-pressure air before milking. After milking, the handpiece is then used to atomize and apply a post-dip solution to the teat. The handpiece includes a teat receiving body with an exchangeable modified spray cylinder placed inside the teat receiving body's center bore. When the modified spray cylinder is placed inside the center bore, upper and lower raceways are formed between the walls of the teat receiving body and the modified spray cylinder that delivers high-pressure air, pre-dip solution and post-dip solution two sets of nozzles formed inside the modified spray cylinder. The modified spray cylinders may have different diameter center bores and configured to be exchangeable in the teat receiving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Roy L. Rard, Ronnie L. Medeiros
  • Patent number: 11785899
    Abstract: A crop production system includes a number of crop production units which are coupled to a crop control centre. The crop production units are configured to perform a method for cultivating and producing a crop, where all climatological ambient factors and the light spectrum, which in their mutual relation determine the development of the crop, are regulated and controlled on the basis of a cultivation schedule which can be obtained from the crop control centre. For the purpose of production and development of a growth-promoting agent and/or crop protection agent and for the purpose of breeding a plant variety, one or more plants of a crop are at least substantially exactly reproduced in accordance with the cultivating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PlantLab Groep B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Kers, Klaas Heijmans, Leendert Pieter Jacob van Duijn
  • Patent number: 11771014
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. There is a substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of corners with a light panel that is secured to the frame. Brackets a first opening are secured to each corner. Mounting members are secured to the brackets. The mounting members have: a first body; a second and third aligned openings formed in the first body; a fourth opening formed in the first body; and a plurality of second bodies, where each second body extends from the bottom face of the first body. Also, each second body includes a front and a rear, wherein the front of each second body is at least partially set back from the front face of the first body, and wherein the rear of each second body is substantially aligned with the rear face of the first body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Robert V. Neuhoff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11758860
    Abstract: An alga growing apparatus that includes a gas dissolving portion, an alga tank, first and second LEDs, a supplying portion, and a circulation pump portion. Gas dissolving portion dissolves carbon dioxide and oxygen into deep-ocean water to form growing water. The circulation pump portion sucks out and delivers the growing water and the nori thalli from the alga tank 30 to the gas dissolving portion and injects the growing water and the nori thalli into the alga tank upon passage through the gas dissolving portion and a supply pipe of the supplying portion. The supplying portion discharges the growing water and the nori thalli along a direction obliquely intersecting a curving direction of an inner side surface of the alga tank and the growing water flows inside the alga tank as an eddy flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: NICHIMAN CO., LTD., DAISHIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Yamada, Satoshi Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kazumitsu Toya
  • Patent number: 11744196
    Abstract: A plant cultivating apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a main body, a shelf, and a cultivation container. The cultivation container has a medium formed therein and is supplied with water from the shelf. Specifically, the main body has a cultivation space of a predetermined size formed therein. The shelf is configured to supply and discharge water to and from the cultivation space. The cultivation container is placed to be supported on the shelf, and configured to receive or discharge water from or to the shelf. The cultivation container includes a water flow guide protruding downward from a bottom surface of the cultivation container and having an opening formed at the protruded lower end, and a wick accommodated inside the water flow guide and configured to absorb and hold water introduced through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Mina Yang
  • Patent number: 11730098
    Abstract: A hydroponic growing system is presented. The system can include multiple growing trays in a vertical arrangement, where a pump supplies the top-most tray and each lower tray is supplied by the overlying tray, and where the plumbing elements for supply and drainage are arranged to one side of the system. The system includes variations to support different crop types within the same system, including removable growing structures for root vegetable, microgreens and supports for vining crops. The system can monitor and adjust the nutrients and other features of the systems water profile to concurrently group multiple crops in differing developing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Rise Gardens Inc.
    Inventors: Henry W. Adams, Craig Field Sampson, Sergio Alonso Marquina, Nicholas Daniel Phillips, Sullivan S. Stewart, Angelo E. Kelvakis, Brandon C. Bay, Enrique Lopez Salido, Diego Alonso Blondet Padro, Jason Matthew Domanski
  • Patent number: 11696534
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module rotatably mounted within a liner to at least partially define a first grow chamber and a second grow chamber. A climate control system includes an evaporator plenum housing an evaporator, a fan assembly for urging air through the evaporator plenum, recirculation ducts for independently circulating air through the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber, and ambient duct systems for independently circulating fresh ambient air through the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber. A system of dampers selectively opens or closes each respective recirculation duct and ambient duct system for independent climate control of the first grow chamber and the second grow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Vineeth Vijayan, Vishal Vittal Tulasigeri
  • Patent number: 11678621
    Abstract: A growing system and/or plant support structure may include one or more feet supporting at least one or more uprights, on which a plurality of plants and/or grow boards for growing plants may be positioned. A nutrient delivery system may be positioned between opposing uprights to provide nutrient supply to a root zone of plants, which nutrient delivery system may be positioned adjacent each opposing upright in an interior chamber of the plant support structure. A light system may be positioned between two adjacent plant support structures such that it simultaneously provides light to the exterior surface of the two plant support structures. A collapsible light may be positioned adjacent plants and plant support structures for improved access to the plants or plant support structures while allowing variable and controllable light distribution beneficial to control of adjacent plants and plant structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Dana Anderson, Jay Jon Bauer
  • Patent number: 11666032
    Abstract: A milking system includes one or more milking devices and a control unit. The system is provided with a plurality of milking cups, a first milk jar for receiving the milking, a first pumping device for pumping the milking, a second milk jar for receiving the milking from the first milk jar, a second pumping device for pumping at least a part of the milking, and at least one storage tank for storing at least a part of the milking. The second pumping device pumps the milking at a lower flow rate than that at which the first pumping device pumps the milking. As a result, the milk is for the most part moved with low mechanical load and little admixture with air which improves milk quality. In the case of a plurality of milking devices in the milking system, various milkings can be moved and treated separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventor: Robertus Carolus Maria Van De Meerendonk
  • Patent number: 11659795
    Abstract: A hydroponic growing system is presented. The system can include multiple growing trays in a vertical arrangement, where a pump supplies the top-most tray and each lower tray is supplied by the overlying tray, and where the plumbing elements for supply and drainage are arranged to one side of the system. The system includes variations to support different crop types within the same system, including removable growing structures for root vegetable, microgreens and supports for vining crops. The system can monitor and adjust the nutrients and other features of the systems water profile to concurrently group multiple crops in differing developing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rise Gardens Inc.
    Inventors: Henry W. Adams, Craig Field Sampson, Sergio Alonso Marquina, Nicholas Daniel Phillips, Sullivan S. Stewart, Angelo E. Kelvakis, Brandon C. Bay, Enrique Lopez Salido
  • Patent number: 11606912
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method that can effectively/efficiently increase the amount of a phenolic compound such as a polyphenol. The invention provides a method for increasing an amount of a phenolic compound in a plant, or a method for producing a plant containing an increased amount of a phenolic compound, the method comprising irradiating the/a plant with ultraviolet light, wherein a fluence at wavelengths of 270 to 290 nm is 1500 to 50000 ?mol/m2 and a fluence at wavelengths of 310 to 400 nm is less than 50% of that at wavelengths of 270 to 290 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Okazawa, Yasuo Fujikawa, Tomohiro Tsurumoto
  • Patent number: 11589525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant cultivation device (1) having: a housing (2), a receiving drum (3) which is rotatably mounted on the housing (2) and comprises multiple plant receiving containers (5) for plants (6), a drive (8) for rotating the receiving drum (3) within the housing (2), and a robot device (10) with a mounting (11) for a first working head (12) for supplying the plants (6) into the plant receiving containers (5), comprising a first linear guide (13) for moving the mounting (11) for the first working head (12) along a first axis and comprising a second linear guide (14) for moving the first linear guide (13) together with the mounting (11) for the first working head (12) along a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Lucas Schmutzer
  • Patent number: 11576310
    Abstract: An integrated modular and scalable fogponics crop growth system for cultivating a crop includes an upper growth chamber housing a leafy portion of a crop, a lower growth chamber housing a root portion of the crop, a nutrient tank and dispenser, and an environmental system. The nutrient dispenser is coupled to the nutrient tank holding a nutrient mixture for sustaining the crop. The dispenser atomizes the nutrient mixture into a nutrient fog using a booster pump and a high pressure pump capable of generating approximately 800 PSI to 1500 PSI. The high pressure pump is operatively coupled to a nozzle configured to dispense the atomized nutrient fog, substantially between 6 microns and 15 microns droplet size, into the lower growth chamber. Temperature and humidity are separately controlled in the leaf area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AGRITAINER, LLC
    Inventor: Serge J. Bouchard
  • Patent number: 11576314
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a plant cultivating apparatus. The plant cultivating apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a body configured to have a cultivation chamber therein, a water storage configured to be disposed in the body and store water, a water supply bed configured to be disposed at one side of the cultivation chamber and have a water supply flow path receiving water from the water storage, and a cultivation port configured to be seated on the water supply bed and receive water from the water supply flow path, in which the cultivation port includes a suction member disposed in the cultivation port and suctioning water stored in the water supply flow path, and a medium disposed above the suction member, receiving water from the suction member, and storing nutrients required for plant growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mina Yang, Youngsuk Kim
  • Patent number: 11564364
    Abstract: An apparatus for cultivating plants may include a cabinet forming a space in which plants may be cultivated; a door connected to the cabinet to open or close the space; at least one bed disposed in the space; at least one seed package separably seated on the at least one bed and having a medium including seeds of plants and nutrient solution; and a light assembly to radiate light to the at least one seed package disposed on the at least one bed. The at least one bed may include an upper bed on which the at least one seed package may be seated and a bottom bed on which the upper bed may be seated and that forms a water collecting portion that stores water, and the at least one seed package may be supplied with the water stored in the water collecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myeongha Yi, Soobeom Lee