Patents by Inventor Mark Cuson
Mark Cuson 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: 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: 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: 20220279744Abstract: A plant support tower cleaning system for cleaning a plant support tower is provided. A drive actuator propels the tower through the tower cleaning system. One or more linear or rotating first structures each have at least one projection. One or more first actuators coupled to the one or more first structures push the at least one projection of the one or more first structures against a stem side of plant material in containers in the tower as the tower is propelled through the system. A rotating second structure has at least one circumferential projection to pull plant material from a root side of the plant containers as the tower is propelled through the system. A second actuator rotates the second structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Mark Cuson, Jordan Giglio, Charles Dylan Karr, Matthew James Matera, John Whitworth
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Publication number: 20220225588Abstract: Mechanisms that facilitate location and alignment of grow towers for one or more processing operations. In one implementation, the alignment mechanism comprises a track including an alignment feature and one or more engagement actuators. The alignment feature is configured to engage features of a track-contacting face of a grow tower. The engagement actuators press the grow tower against the track, causing the alignment feature to engage the grow tower and align it along the track to facilitate processing operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Mark Cuson, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Michael Peter Flynn, Aidan Patrick Barry, Charles Dylan Karr, Frank Spiteri
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Publication number: 20220217899Abstract: Automated transplanter assemblies and systems. For example, the disclosure sets forth a plug holder and assembly adapted to transplant plugs into tight-fitting plug holders. The disclosure also conveys a transplanter assembly useful in transplant operations where a plug holder is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the surface of a grow tower or other structure that contains the plug holder. The disclosure also provides a transplanter system useful in transplanting plugs into grow towers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Mark Cuson, Michael Peter Flynn, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Matthew James Matera, Travis Callahan
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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: 10694689Abstract: A dual-sided hydroponic tower utilizing separate body and face components coupled together with temporary fasteners. The tower includes a tower body that defines two vertical cavities. Attached to each vertical cavity is a tower face, each tower face including a plurality of plant container compatible cut-outs. By utilizing separate body and face components, the end user is able to easily switch tower face plates in order to adapt the tower to different plant container configurations. The multi-piece tower design also simplifies tower construction as well as tower maintenance between planting cycles.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: MJNN, LLCInventors: Brice Klein, Michael Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Meaghan Fitzgerald, Matthew Matera, Mark Cuson, Alex Ibrahim
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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: 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: 20190269080Abstract: A plant container is provided which is designed to be inserted within the slot of a hydroponic tower, where the hydroponic tower includes both a matrix media and a moisture and nutrient transport system (e.g., a wicking strip). The plant container includes (i) a plant cup configured to hold a plant's root structure along with a small portion of plant growth media; (ii) an insertion blade that insures that as the plant container is inserted into the hydroponic tower slot, the matrix media and the associated wicking strips are pushed to either side of the plant cup; and (iii) a handling member that aids container insertion and removal, and which may include an alignment surface that insures that the plant container is fully inserted and aligned during the insertion procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: John Whitworth, Loren Pilorin, Taylor Brooke Wollert, Michael Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Damon Henry Smith, Mark Cuson
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Publication number: 20190269082Abstract: A multi-piece hydroponic tower is provided which utilizes separate body and face components coupled together using either permanent or temporary fasteners, where the tower face includes a plurality of plant container compatible cut-outs. By utilizing separate body and face components, the end user is able to easily switch tower face plates in order to adapt the tower to different plant container configurations. The multi-piece tower design also simplifies tower construction as well as tower maintenance between planting cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: Brice Klein, Michael Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Meaghan Fitzgerald, Matthew Matera, Mark Cuson, Alex Ibrahim
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Publication number: 20190269081Abstract: A plant container is provided which is designed to be inserted within a cut-out in a hydroponic tower. The plant container includes (i) a plant cup configured to hold a plant's root structure along with a small portion of plant growth media; (ii) a pair of side wings extending from the sides of the plant cup, the side wings helping to direct water and nutrients to the plant roots contained within the plant cup; (iii) at least one handling rail that aids plant container insertion and removal, and which may include an alignment surface that insures that the plant container is fully inserted and aligned during the insertion procedure; and (iv) a fastener configured to hold the plant container within the tower cut-out.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: MJNN, LLCInventors: John Whitworth, Loren Pilorin, Taylor Brooke Wollert, Michael Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Damon Henry Smith, Mark Cuson