Patents by Inventor Kevin Grauberger
Kevin Grauberger 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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Publication number: 20240251726Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for weight measurement of grow towers and/or grow lines with grow towers disposed thereon. In various embodiments, compression type, tension type, and/or beam type load cells may be positioned at various locations within the apparatus to facilitate weight measurement. In one embodiment, a hook, which couples a grow tower to a grow line, includes a tension type load cell disposed between two portions of the hook. The load cell measures force applied thereto which can provide or be translated into a weight measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: Damon Smith, Kevin Grauberger, Aunders Hallsten, Gage Coffin
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Patent number: 11950547Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for weight measurement of grow towers and/or grow lines with grow towers disposed thereon. In various embodiments, compression type, tension type, and/or beam type load cells may be positioned at various locations within the apparatus to facilitate weight measurement. In one embodiment, a hook, which couples a grow tower to a grow line, includes a tension type load cell disposed between two portions of the hook. The load cell measures force applied thereto which can provide or be translated into a weight measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Damon Smith, Kevin Grauberger, Aunders Hallsten, Gage Coffin
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Publication number: 20230397536Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses for plant harvesting. More specifically, apparatuses for harvesting vertically grown fruit (620), plants, or vegetables are described herein. In one embodiment a harvesting system includes a grow line (100, 102) and one or more grow towers (150) coupled to and moveable along the grow line (100, 102). A plurality of platforms (306) are disposed adjacent to the grow towers (150) and include one or more robots (302) disposed on the platforms (306).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Damon SMITH, Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders HALLSTEN, Nathaniel R. STOREY, Lucas WOODBURY, Paul KREINER
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Publication number: 20230371450Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2021Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Damon SMITH, Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders HALLSTEN, Michael BALDWIN, Lucas WOODBURY
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Patent number: 11808621Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus for measuring various characteristics of an indoor agriculture system. In one embodiment, a plug holder weight measurement system includes a plant plug holder disposed in a grow tower and one or more load cells positioned and configured to detect a weight of a plug holder. The load cells may be compression-type, tension-type, torsion-type, or beam-type load cells and each may be integrated into the grow tower.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: MJNN LLCInventor: Kevin Grauberger
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Patent number: 11796379Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to plant propagation weight measurement apparatus and methods. Load cells are utilized to measure one or more of seedling trays, flood tables, support systems, and combinations thereof. The load cells are integrated in weight measurement systems and configured to enable weight detection of various system components. In certain embodiments, load cells are utilized to measure stationary system components. In other embodiments, load cells are utilized to measure conveyed system components.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Inventors: Damon Smith, Kevin Grauberger, Aunders Hallsten
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Publication number: 20230270054Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for pollination within a controlled agricultural environment. In one example, a pollination system (300) includes a pollination chamber (322) having air curtains (302, 304) and walls (402, 404, 406) defining a volume, a grow tower conveyance system, and ultra-violet light sources (314, 318, 330, 334) for illuminating the pollination volume. Pollinators, such as bees or the like, are positioned within the volume of the pollination chamber (322) and the light sources (314, 318, 330, 334) are utilized to control and encourage pollination and pollinator movement with the pollination chamber (322).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders HALLSTEN, Damon SMITH, Lucas WOODBURY, Michael BALDWIN
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Publication number: 20220408672Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatus for growing plants. More specifically, apparatus described herein relate to an inverted controlled irrigation grow pot (100). In one embodiment, a plant pot includes a multi-walled tube which defines a plurality of volumes therein to facilitate inverted growth of a plant while accounting for the geotropic nature of root proliferation. Embodiments of the disclosure also provide for controlled irrigation of a plant grown in an inverted orientation. Further embodiments of the disclosure provide for plant propagation systems which include multiple plant pots. In certain embodiments, load cells (802, 1002, 1101, 1102, 1202) are incorporated in to the systems to enable detection and measurement of plant pot weights.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Damon SMITH, Matthew Arrington, Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders R. HALLSTEIN
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Publication number: 20210360889Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for weight measurement of grow towers and/or grow lines with grow towers disposed thereon. In various embodiments, compression type, tension type, and/or beam type load cells may be positioned at various locations within the apparatus to facilitate weight measurement. In one embodiment, a hook, which couples a grow tower to a grow line, includes a tension type load cell disposed between two portions of the hook. The load cell measures force applied thereto which can provide or be translated into a weight measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Damon SMITH, Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders HALLSTEN, Gage COFFIN
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Publication number: 20210364338Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus for measuring various characteristics of an indoor agriculture system. In one embodiment, a plug holder weight measurement system includes a plant plug holder disposed in a grow tower and one or more load cells positioned and configured to detect a weight of a plug holder. The load cells may be compression-type, tension-type, torsion-type, or beam-type load cells and each may be integrated into the grow tower.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventor: Kevin GRAUBERGER
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Publication number: 20210364337Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to plant propagation weight measurement apparatus and methods. Load cells are utilized to measure one or more of seedling trays, flood tables, support systems, and combinations thereof. The load cells are integrated in weight measurement systems and configured to enable weight detection of various system components. In certain embodiments, load cells are utilized to measure stationary system components. In other embodiments, load cells are utilized to measure conveyed system components.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Damon SMITH, Kevin GRAUBERGER, Aunders HALLSTEN
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Patent number: 10772271Abstract: A seedling transplanting system is provided that utilizes a seedling feeder that is configured to fit between a tray of seedlings contained within a series of chain pots and a hydroponic trough. The feeder includes a ramp and a chute that direct the seedlings from the tray into the trough. A pair of guide surfaces, which form ramp sidewalls, help the seedlings to self-right as they are drawn into the hydroponic trough. A restraining jig aids in establishing and maintaining the relative positions of the seedling tray, feeder and trough during the transplanting process. A pulling tool simplifies the transplanting process by providing means for pulling a pair of media strips along with the captured chain pots into the hydroponic trough.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Nathaniel R. Storey, Kevin Grauberger, Damon Henry Smith, Jonah Eskin
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Patent number: 10234125Abstract: A lights integrated cooling system for providing environmental temperature controls for indoor growing environments is provided. The indoor growing environment has a predetermined target temperature. The system comprises a frame structure having top and bottom plumbing manifolds. A water cooled light bar is provided having first and second ends with the first end being fluidly connected to the top plumbing manifold and the second end being fluidly connect to the bottom plumbing manifold. A chiller is fluidly connected to the top plumbing manifold, the light bar and the bottom plumbing manifold. An amount of coolant circulates through the chiller, the top plumbing manifold, the light bar, and the bottom manifold. Heat from the light bar is transferred to the coolant thereby raising the temperature of the coolant. The chiller reduces the temperature of the coolant and the coolant leaving the chiller is chilled to a predetermined leaving water temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Damon Henry Smith, Kevin Grauberger
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Publication number: 20180153113Abstract: A seedling transplanting system is provided that utilizes a seedling feeder that is configured to fit between a tray of seedlings contained within a series of chain pots and a hydroponic trough. The feeder includes a ramp and a chute that direct the seedlings from the tray into the trough. A pair of guide surfaces, which form ramp sidewalls, help the seedlings to self-right as they are drawn into the hydroponic trough. A restraining jig aids in establishing and maintaining the relative positions of the seedling tray, feeder and trough during the transplanting process. A pulling tool simplifies the transplanting process by providing means for pulling a pair of media strips along with the captured chain pots into the hydroponic trough.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Nathaniel R. Storey, Kevin Grauberger, Damon Henry Smith, Jonah Eskin
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Publication number: 20180017244Abstract: A lights integrated cooling system for providing environmental temperature controls for indoor growing environments is provided. The indoor growing environment has a predetermined target temperature. The system comprises a frame structure having top and bottom plumbing manifolds. A water cooled light bar is provided having first and second ends with the first end being fluidly connected to the top plumbing manifold and the second end being fluidly connect to the bottom plumbing manifold. A chiller is fluidly connected to the top plumbing manifold, the light bar and the bottom plumbing manifold. An amount of coolant circulates through the chiller, the top plumbing manifold, the light bar, and the bottom manifold. Heat from the light bar is transferred to the coolant thereby raising the temperature of the coolant. The chiller reduces the temperature of the coolant and the coolant leaving the chiller is chilled to a predetermined leaving water temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Damon Henry Smith, Kevin Grauberger