Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes a vertical array of plant supporting arms extending radially from a central column. Each arm has a plurality of plant receiving trough elements which receive the plant seedling and liquid nutrients and water. The plant supporting arms rotate on the hollow column which is motor-driven at its lower end and supported on a bearing mounted on a fixed central pipe at its upper end. The central pipe is fixed to a concrete base or post buried in the supporting surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 24, 2020
Assignee:
Affinor Growers Inc.
Inventors:
Nicholas G. Brusatore, Ron Adolf, Ron G. Fraser, Ryan Ronald Adolf
Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes a vertical array of plant supporting arms extending radially from a central axis. Each arm has a plurality of pot receptacles which receive the plant seedling and liquid nutrients and water. The potting arms are rotated beneath grow lamps and pollinating arms. The frequency of feeding is increased as the plants grow. CO2 enriched air may also be provided. Once the plants are ready to harvest, they are manually exchanged for new seedlings and packaged.
Abstract: A method and system for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes production lines each comprising a number of growth sections, each growth section comprising multiple horizontal transport levels, each level of each section having a source of light and liquid nutrient, and plant growing trays which move horizontally into, along and out of each transport level; whereby each subsequent growth section has a greater length than the previous section to receive a greater number of growing trays than the previous section so that as plants grow, the number of plants per growing tray is decreased but the number of plants per growth section remains constant. A group of plants is thereby broken out into an ever greater number of trays as it proceeds through the growing sections from germination to harvest, with the ability to simultaneously start the growth cycle for additional crops.