Patents by Inventor Alexandre Le Roux
Alexandre Le Roux 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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Vertical grow tower conveyance system for controlled environment agriculture including tower shuttle
Patent number: 11944049Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes a tower shuttle mechanism that provides operational flexibility by decoupling the loading and unloading operations of the grow towers from the vertical farming structure and, therefore, allowing multiple grow towers to be extracted for harvesting in a batch process before loading new grow towers into the vertical farming structure in a separate process.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Alexandre Le Roux, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Michael Peter Flynn, Andrew Dubel, Roger Lee -
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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Publication number: 20230389494Abstract: 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-hearing modules for re-use.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: 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, Kelly Catherine Casie LaBuff, Alan Colbrie Schoen
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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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Patent number: 11744197Abstract: A multi-piece hydroponic tower comprised of a tower body defining a tower cavity, where the tower cavity provides a passageway for a water/nutrient mix, and a tower face plate hingeably coupled to the tower body. The tower face plate is positionable relative to the tower body in a tower cavity closed position and a tower cavity open position. The tower face plate includes a plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept plant containers. A fastener temporarily latches tower face plate to the tower body when the tower face plate is in the tower cavity closed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Brice Leon Klein, Michael Peter Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Alex Ibrahim, Matthew James Matera
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Patent number: 11700804Abstract: 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-hearing modules for re-use.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 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, Kelly Catherine Casie LaBuff, Alan Colbrie Schoen
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Patent number: 11690326Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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Patent number: 11612112Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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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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VERTICAL GROW TOWER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE INCLUDING TOWER SHUTTLE
Publication number: 20220330503Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes a tower shuttle mechanism that provides operational flexibility by decoupling the loading and unloading operations of the grow towers from the vertical farming structure and, therefore, allowing multiple grow towers to be extracted for harvesting in a batch process before loading new grow towers into the vertical farming structure in a separate process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Alexandre Le Roux, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Michael Peter Flynn, Andrew Dubel, Roger Lee -
Publication number: 20220227007Abstract: Automated pickup and laydown systems for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes vertical grow towers. Some implementations of the invention can be used to create a horizontal-to-vertical 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 central processing system that processes (for example, harvests, cleans, transplants, etc.) the grow towers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2020Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Michael Peter Flynn, Merritt Jonathan Jenkins, Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Alexandre Le Roux, Charles Dylan Karr, Nadav Sahar Hendel
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Publication number: 20220007601Abstract: 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 he 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-hearing modules for re-use.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2019Publication date: January 13, 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, Kelly Catherine Casie LaBuff, Alan Colbrie Schoen
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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: 20210337742Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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Publication number: 20210337741Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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Patent number: 11089741Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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Publication number: 20210000022Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
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Publication number: 20210000027Abstract: A multi-piece hydroponic tower is provided which utilizes separate tower body and face plate components that are hingeably coupled together, thereby simplifying tower construction as well as tower maintenance. In addition to the hinge, the tower face plate(s) is held in place with a latch, e.g., a snap-fit fastener. A V-shaped groove may be included on either side of the tower, the grooves increasing the efficiency of delivering water and nutrients to the plants via the narrowed rear cavity wall(s). The V-shaped grooves may also be used as an alignment aid when coupling planters, harvesters, or other equipment to the tower.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Brice Leon Klein, Michael Peter Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Alex Ibrahim, Matthew James Matera
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Publication number: 20200383287Abstract: An irrigation system for a vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a grow tower conveyance system that moves vertically-oriented grow towers to select positions along a grow line. An irrigation line having apertures at the select positions provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers, while a gutter structure captures excess solution. In a closed loop system, the excess solution returns to a recirculation tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: MJNN LLCInventors: Brice Leon Klein, Allison Marie Maclellan, Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Casey Bennet Call, Loren Raymond Pilorin, Andrew Keith James, Alexandre Le Roux, Michael Peter Flynn, Alan Colbrie Schoen, Theodore Howe St. George, Danielle Meredith Fallon