Patents by Inventor Anna Olson
Anna Olson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11975442Abstract: A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Inventors: Matthew Matera, Adam Thomas Stagnaro, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Tamara Hasoon, Merritt Jenkins, Andy Dubel
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Patent number: 11951610Abstract: A tower opening apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the opening of a multi-piece, hinged, hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower opening apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, stationary wedges, longitudinal ramps, etc.) to open a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the opening apparatus, the fastener(s) holding the face plate(s) to the tower body is released by a wedge(s). After the fastener(s) is released, the face plate(s) is partially rotated about the tower body, thereby partially opening the tower cavity(s). Next a longitudinal ramp(s) continues to rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) to a fully open position.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Brice Klein, Matthew Matera, Andy Dubel, Merritt Jenkins, Tamara Hasoon, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Mark Cuson
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Publication number: 20240090394Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Nicholas Kalayjian, Alan Colbrie Schoen, Andrew Keith James, Arvind Sankaran, Alexandre Le Roux, Nadav Sahar Hendel, Anna Olson, Michael Bennett Hamilton, Theodore Howe St. George, Loren Raymond Pilorin
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Patent number: 11856902Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Nicholas Kalayjian, Alan Colbrie Schoen, Andrew Keith James, Arvind Sankaran, Alexandre Le Roux, Nadav Sahar Hendel, Anna Olson, Michael Bennett Hamilton, Theodore Howe St. George, Loren Raymond Pilorin
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Patent number: 11832569Abstract: An automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes a horizontal-to-vertical grow tower interface between a vertical grow structure that includes vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, and a processing system that performs one or more processing operations—such as harvesting, cleaning and/or transplanting—on the grow towers in a substantially horizontal orientation. The present disclosure also describes an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that selectively routes grow towers through various processing stages of an automated crop production system.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Nathaniel R. Storey, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Maria Alexandria Malone, Matthew James Matera, Anna Olson, Nadav Sahar Hendel
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Publication number: 20220338422Abstract: A drive unit in a controlled agricultural environment increases a distance between an alignment element and a drive element in order to receive a plant support structure that is oriented non-vertically so that the plant support structure rests on the drive element or the alignment element. The drive unit decreases the distance between the alignment element and the drive element so that the alignment element or the drive element rests on the plant support structure. The drive element conveys the plant support structure along a direction of conveyance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Luke Asperger, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Michael Peter Flynn, Anna Olson, Kellen Murray, Andrew Dubel, Matthew James Matera, Charles Dylan Karr, Mark Cuson
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Publication number: 20220338431Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Nicholas Kalayjian, Alan Colbrie Schoen, Andrew Keith James, Arvind Sankaran, Alexandre Le Roux, Nadav Sahar Hendel, Anna Olson, Michael Bennett Hamilton, Theodore Howe St. George, Loren Raymond Pilorin
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Publication number: 20220000043Abstract: An automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes a horizontal-to-vertical grow tower interface between a vertical grow structure that includes vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, and a processing system that performs one or more processing operations—such as harvesting, cleaning and/or transplanting—on the grow towers in a substantially horizontal orientation. The present disclosure also describes an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that selectively routes grow towers through various processing stages of an automated crop production system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2019Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Nathaniel R. Storey, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Maria Alexandria Malone, Matthew James Matera, Anna Olson, Nadav Sahar Hendel
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Publication number: 20210169028Abstract: A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Matthew Matera, Adam Thomas Stagnaro, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Tamara Hasoon, Merritt Jenkins, Andy Dubel
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Patent number: 10765064Abstract: A plant harvesting system for use with a vertical hydroponic tower, the hydroponic tower containing a plurality of vertically aligned plants. The harvesting system includes a payload transport system and a harvester. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the harvester upward and downward. In addition to cutting plant stalks while moving upwards along the face of the hydroponic tower, the harvester also groups and collects the plant leafs.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Brice Klein, John Whitworth, Loren Pilorin, Anna Olson, Maria Malone, Alexandre Le Roux, Michael Flynn, Tamara Hasoon
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Patent number: 10750675Abstract: A planting system for use with a vertical hydroponic tower. The planting system includes a payload transport system and a planter. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the planter upward and downward. The planter is configured to insert plant containers containing seedlings into the hydroponic tower as the motorized payload lift system moves the planter upwards along the face of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Matthew Matera, Mark Cuson, Alexandre Le Roux, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Michael Flynn, Merritt Jenkins
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Patent number: 10682769Abstract: A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Matthew Matera, Adam Thomas Stagnaro, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Tamara Hasoon, Merritt Jenkins, Andy Dubel
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Publication number: 20200037525Abstract: A tower opening apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the opening of a multi-piece, hinged, hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower opening apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, stationary wedges, longitudinal ramps, etc.) to open a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the opening apparatus, the fastener(s) holding the face plate(s) to the tower body is released by a wedge(s). After the fastener(s) is released, the face plate(s) is partially rotated about the tower body, thereby partially opening the tower cavity(s). Next a longitudinal ramp(s) continues to rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) to a fully open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Brice Klein, Matthew Matera, Andy Dubel, Merritt Jenkins, Tamara Hasoon, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Mark Cuson
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Publication number: 20200039087Abstract: A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Matthew Matera, Adam Thomas Stagnaro, Maria Malone, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Tamara Hasoon, Merritt Jenkins, Andy Dubel
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Publication number: 20190387689Abstract: A planting system is provided for use with a vertical hydroponic tower. The planting system includes a payload transport system and a planter. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the planter upward and downward. The planter is configured to insert plant containers containing seedlings into the hydroponic tower as the motorized payload lift system moves the planter upwards along the face of the tower.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Matthew Matera, Mark Cuson, Alexandre Le Roux, Anna Olson, Brice Klein, Michael Flynn, Merritt Jenkins
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Publication number: 20190387677Abstract: A plant harvesting system is provided for use with a vertical hydroponic tower, the hydroponic tower containing a plurality of vertically aligned plants. The harvesting system includes a payload transport system and a harvester. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the harvester upward and downward. In addition to cutting plant stalks while moving upwards along the face of the hydroponic tower, the harvester also groups and collects the plant leafs.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Brice Klein, John Whitworth, Loren Pilorin, Anna Olson, Maria Malone, Alexandre Le Roux, Michael Flynn, Tamara Hasoon