System and method for providing modular growth tower

Abstract

Modular growth tower systems and related methods are presented. One such system includes a modular growth tower assembly having a plurality of body frames, a plurality of lift frames, and a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction and stacked in a vertical direction; a plurality of carts for supporting crop material, one or more lowering lift mechanisms for vertically translating the carts between rows; one or more lift mechanisms for vertically translating the cart; a maintenance system for providing water and nutrients to the crop material; a lighting system including a lighting element mounted within the body frame; comprising a drainage tank and a drainage pipe for collecting and conveying excessive water and nutrient substances; and / or a master controller for managing and controlling operation of the modular growth tower system.

Description

Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 512,129, entitled “Systems and Methods for Providing a Modular Grow Pod” and filed on July 6, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for providing a modular grow pod, and more particularly to embodiments for providing a grow pod comprising a plurality of modularized parts. BACKGROUND

[0003] While crop growing technology has developed over the years, there are still many problems in the agricultural and crop industry today. As an example, while technological advancements have improved efficiency and production of different crops, many factors such as weather, disease, infestation, etc. can affect the harvest. Further, while the United States currently has adequate farmland to provide enough food for the U.S. population, pets, and livestock, other countries and future populations can not have adequate farmland to provide an adequate amount of crops for these purposes. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure present a modular grow pod system and related methods. One such system includes a modular grow pod assembly having a plurality of body frames, a plurality of lift frames, and a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction and stacked in a vertical direction. The example system also includes a plurality of carts for supporting crop material, each cart including a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of trays for containing the crop material. Such a system can also include one or more lowering lift mechanisms for vertically translating the carts between the rows, one or more raising lift mechanisms for vertically translating the carts, a maintenance system for providing water and nutrients to the crop material, a lighting system including lighting elements mounted within the body frames, a drainage system including a drain and a drain pipe for collecting and transporting excess water and nutrients, and / or a master controller for managing and controlling operation of the modular grow pod system.

[0005] In one or more aspects of modular grow tower systems and related methods, one individual elevation lift mechanism of the one or more elevation lift mechanisms is located within a harvest frame; one or more descent lift mechanisms are positioned within a lift frame; the modular grow tower assembly is configured to adjust the size and arrangement of the modular grow tower assembly by adding or removing a body frame or a lift frame; the cart facilitates movement through a movement path of the modular grow tower assembly by the descent lift mechanisms and the elevation lift mechanisms; the movement path comprises a serpentine movement path; a master controller is configured to manage environmental factors comprising: lighting, temperature, humidity, airflow, and nutrient delivery by a maintenance system; the master controller is configured to adjust the environmental factors and growth recipes based on user input; the descent lift mechanisms and the elevation lift mechanisms are synchronized to facilitate transitions of the cart between different rows and sections of the modular grow tower assembly; the cart comprises sensors for monitoring crop growth and development, wherein the master controller adjusts one or more growth recipes based on data from the sensors; the maintenance system is configured to deliver precise amounts of water and nutrients to the crop material and comprises spray nozzles, drip tips, flood nozzles, and / or fluid lines; a drainage system is configured to reuse collected water and nutrients within the maintenance system; and / or each cart comprises a male engagement mechanism and a female engagement mechanism for connecting adjacent carts to maintain alignment and ensure smooth movement through the modular grow tower assembly.

[0006] In one or more aspects, the modular grow tower system can further comprise: a seeding component mounted on one of the lift frames for dispensing crop material into the carts; a harvesting component for harvesting crop material from the carts; and / or a cleaning component for cleaning the carts after harvesting. In one or more aspects, the cleaning component comprises one or more ultraviolet sensors, imaging sensors, or microbiological sensors.

[0007] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The embodiments set forth in the attached drawings are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive in nature. The following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, will further illustrate the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the figures, and wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of a modular grow tower in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0010] Figure 2 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0011] Figure 3 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 2 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0012] Figure 4 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 2 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0013] Figure 5 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0014] Figure 6 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0015] Figure 7A depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0016] Figure 7B depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0017] Figure 8 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0018] Figure 9 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0019] Figure 10 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of portions of a modular grow tower assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0020] Figure 11depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0021] Figure 12 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0022] Figure 13 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 1 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0023] Figure 14 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; Figure 13 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

[0024] Figure 15 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and

[0025] Figure 16 depictions of a harvesting component of a modular grow tower system in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing modular grow towers. Some embodiments are configured with modular grow tower assemblies that contain carts of crops. The crops can include traditional agricultural materials, such as seeds, seedlings, plants, grass, fully grown crops, leafy crops, crop outputs, such as seeds, nuts, fruits, and / or the like. The crops can also include non-traditional materials, such as microgreens, eggs, algae, insects, insect larvae, fungi, other kinds of organic materials, and / or the like. The carts containing the crops travel through the modular grow tower assemblies via a movement path (e.g., a serpentine movement path, a circular movement path, a curved movement path, or a straight movement path, etc.). Different embodiments include systems for pushing and / or pulling multiple carts along a track using push / pull mechanisms that are placed periodically across the width of the track. Furthermore, in different embodiments, an elevator system can be provided that includes multiple elevators for raising or lowering multiple carts in the modular grow tower assemblies throughout the modular grow tower system.

[0027] Some embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for maintaining crops in multiple carts as the carts traverse a serpentine movement path of a modular grow tower assembly. Different embodiments can include mechanisms for receiving carts from grow rows, harvesting crops from the carts, cleaning the carts, seeding the carts, and / or returning seeded carts back into circulation in the modular grow tower. Exemplary systems and methods for providing modular grow towers incorporating the systems will be described in greater detail below. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0028] Referring now to Figure 1 , a modular grow tower system 10 ("modular grow tower") is illustrated in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. The modular grow tower 10 can generally include a modular grow tower assembly 100, which can generally include a first end 102, a second end 104 opposite the first end 102, a top end 106, and a bottom end 108 opposite the top end 106. As discussed herein, the dimensions of the modular grow tower assembly 100 can be customized based on user needs and the types of crops grown within the modular grow tower assembly 100. The modular grow tower assembly 100 includes a plurality of riser frames 200a...200d (collectively 200) at the first end 102 and the second end 104, and a plurality of body frames 112a...112d (collectively 112) between the plurality of riser frames 200 at the first end 102 and the second end 104.

[0029] In different embodiments, the modular grow tower assembly, as well as the constituent riser and body frames, can include a variety of materials, such as but not limited to aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP), high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels, stainless steels, bamboo, composites (hybrids), engineered wood products (e.g., cross-laminated timber (CLT)), high-strength thermoplastics (e.g., polycarbonate, polyether ether ketone (PEEK)).

[0030] Multiple lifting frames 200 and multiple body frames 112 are arranged in multiple rows 114a, 114b (collectively referred to as 114). Thus, each row 114 includes a lifting frame 200 at a first end 102 and a second end 104, and multiple body frames 112 disposed between each lifting frame 200. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, a single body frame 112 may be provided in each row 114. Rows 114 extend in the longitudinal direction and are stacked on top of each other in the vertical direction. As mentioned herein, rows 114 include a top row 114a and a bottom row 114b. Therefore, this example of the modular growth tower assembly 100 includes four body frames 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d and four lifting frames 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d. However, it should be understood that other configurations of the modular growth tower assembly 100 are considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0031] See now Figure 1 and Figure 2 The main frame 112 and the lifting frame 200 can be attached to adjacent lifting frames 200 and / or main frames 112. Therefore, the lifting frames 200 and main frames 112 can be connected using any suitable fastening mechanism. Similarly, the lifting frames 200 and main frames 112 can be disconnected from each other for rearrangement as needed to adjust the dimensions of the modular growth tower assembly 100, i.e., the number of rows 114 and the number of main frames 112 within each row 114. In some embodiments, each main frame 112 includes multiple rows of sub-frame supports 126. Figure 2 As illustrated, each of the multi-row sub-frame supports 126 can be loaded with a trolley 300.

[0032] The modular growth tower system 10 may further include a plurality of lowering lifting mechanisms 400a, 400b (collectively referred to as 400), which are confined within lifting frames 200 located at a first end 102 and a second end 104 of the modular growth tower assembly 100. In some embodiments, each of the lifting frames 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d may include a lowering lifting mechanism 400. As described in more detail herein, a trolley 300 enters each lifting frame 200 and is lowered vertically by the lowering lifting mechanism 400, such that the trolley 300 moves to a lower position within each row 114.

[0033] like Figure 1As depicted, the modular growth tower system 10 may further include a lifting mechanism 600, which may be located within the harvesting frame 1000. In some embodiments, the harvesting frame 1000 may be located near the lifting frame 200c on one side where the movement path of the modular growth tower assembly 100 terminates. In some embodiments, the harvesting frame 1000 may house the lifting mechanism 600, the harvesting component 700, and the cleaning component 800.

[0034] In various embodiments, the lifting mechanism 600 may be powered via a pneumatic arm and / or a motor (such as multiple translation mechanisms positioned along the length of a track), wherein each translation mechanism has multiple motorized devices (e.g., motors) configured to push or pull the trolley in the longitudinal direction. Correspondingly, the motorized devices may be configured to use extendable and retractable mechanisms to push and retrieve the trolley to move it a predetermined length. In various embodiments, such motorized devices may include one or more of the following: motors, belts, chains, rollers, tracks, conveyors, racks and pinions, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, linear actuators, screw jacks, winches, cables and pulleys, gear systems, cam mechanisms, scissor lifts, and / or magnetic levitation systems.

[0035] In different embodiments, the movement path can take different shapes. For example, the movement path can include a serpentine path, such as a serpentine path that starts at the top, moves the trays horizontally in one direction, and then moves down a sequential row as they reach the end of the horizontal path. The trays then move along a new row in the opposite horizontal direction, and then down to another row to continue the same pattern, and so on. Alternatively, in different embodiments, the movement path can include a C-shaped path, such that the cart can move horizontally in one direction over the upper half of all rows, and then down to the lower half of all rows where the lighting system can be located. The cart can then move horizontally in the opposite direction, harvesting at the bottom. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the movement path can include an alternating row / skip row path, such that the cart can move from row A to row C, and subsequently, the cart can move from row B to row D, instead of moving sequentially from A to B to C to D. Further, in different embodiments, the movement path can have batch sets of rows, such that groups of rows can be set up and held still for several days, and then all of them are moved in a rapid, continuous process to a new set of rows with different heights or systems. For example, rows A, B, C, and D can be batched to move to rows I, J, K, and L on the same day, while rows E, F, G, and H remain stationary until the next day. Furthermore, in different embodiments, the movement path can include sporadic paths, allowing a cart from the top row to move down to any of the lower rows where different systems (such as nutrients, lighting, watering, and measurement) are located, and then move back up to the original row or another row, thus providing full versatility.

[0036] Once the trolley 300 has traversed a movement path (such as a serpentine path) from the top 106 to the bottom 108 of the modular growth tower assembly 100, the trolley 300 can be conveyed to the lifting mechanism 600. After the trolley 300 is received by the lifting mechanism 600, the lifting mechanism 600 can raise the trolley 300 to engage the harvesting component 700 and the cleaning component 800, which can harvest the crop located in the trolley 300 and clean the trolley 300. Once the crop has been harvested and the trolley 300 has been cleaned, the lifting mechanism 600 can raise the trolley 300 to the seeding component 900, which supplies new crop to the trolley 300. After the tray receives the crop material, the lifting mechanism 600 can convey the trolley 300 to the lowering mechanism 400a located in the lifting frame 200a connected to the seeding component 900. The lowering lifting mechanism 400a can raise the trolley 300 via the lifting frame 200a, so that the trolley 300 can re-enter the modular growth tower assembly 100 at the top 106 and pass through the modular growth tower assembly 100 again via the serpentine movement path.

[0037] exist Figure 1 The document also depicts a main controller 20. The main controller 20 may include computing devices and / or other components for controlling the modular growth tower 10. The modular growth tower 10 may also include one or more environmental influencing factors, such as lighting components, pressure components, heating components, cooling components, humidity components, airflow components, a maintenance system 500, and / or other hardware for altering the environment and / or controlling various acids in the modular growth tower 10.

[0038] See now Figure 3 The illustration shows a body frame 112. Each body frame 112 is generally similar in structure. Specifically, each body frame 112 includes a housing 146 defining a first end 148 and a second end 150 opposite to the first end 148. In an embodiment, each body frame 112 includes a pair of diagonal braces 152 extending along a first side 154 of the body frame 112 between the first end 148 and the second end 150, and a pair of diagonal braces 152 extending along an opposite second side 156 of the body frame 112 between the first end 148 and the second end 150.

[0039] In some embodiments, each body frame 112 includes a plurality of holes 158 for attaching multiple rows of sub-frame supports 126. Each sub-frame support 126 can be detachably attached to the body frame 112 using any suitable fastener, such as bolts, clips, etc. The plurality of holes 158 allow adjustment of the distance between adjacent sub-frame supports 126 of each body frame 112. It should be understood that the distance between the sub-frame supports 126 in each body frame 112 of the same row 114 is the same, allowing the trolley 300 to move seamlessly between body frames 112 of the same row 114. However, the distance between the sub-frame supports 126 in the same row 114 of the body frame 112 may differ from the distance between the sub-frame supports 126 in different rows 114 of the body frame 112. This is due to the fact that when the trolley 300 is translated by the lifting frame 200 discussed herein to the body frames 112 of different rows 114, the height of the crop increases and more space is required for growth.

[0040] Now go to Figure 4 Each lifting frame 200 may be structurally similar. Specifically, each lifting frame 200 may include a housing 216 defining a top end portion 218 and a bottom end portion 220 opposite to the top end portion 218, and utilizes a lowering lifting mechanism 400 that translates between the top end portion 218 and the bottom end portion 220. Figure 1 As discussed in more detail herein, the lowering lifting mechanism 400 operates to move the trolley 300 vertically onto different rows 114 within each body frame 112. The lowering lifting mechanism 400 may include any suitable device for moving the trolley 300 vertically, such as rollers, tracks, racks, and pinions. As described in more detail herein, the trolley 300 enters each lifting frame 200 and is lowered vertically by the lowering lifting mechanism 400, thereby moving the trolley 300 to the lower sub-frame support 126 within each row 114. It should be understood that the trolley 300 is provided with crops.

[0041] The structure of the trolley 300 is Figure 5 The clearest illustration is shown below. The trolley 300 can support a large quantity of plant material and / or miniature vegetables and includes multiple wheels 310A, 310B, 310C, and 310D (collectively referred to as 310) for supporting the crops as the trolley 300 moves through the serpentine path of the modular growth tower assembly 100. The trolley 300 may additionally include a tray 320 (such as a foam-reinforced thermoformed tray) for holding the crop material.

[0042] See also Figure 5The trolley 300 may include a first end 302 and a second end 304. In some embodiments, the first end 302 and the second end 304 may each include an engagement mechanism configured to allow the trolley 300 to engage with other trolleys 300. For example, the first end 302 of the trolley 300 may include at least one convex engagement mechanism 306, and the second end of the trolley 300 may include at least one concave engagement mechanism 308. The convex engagement mechanism 306 may be configured to engage the concave engagement mechanism 308 of an adjacent trolley 300, such that each of the multiple trolleys 300 can remain in contact as the trolley 300 moves through the movement path of the modular growth tower assembly 100.

[0043] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a lowering and lifting mechanism 400, which may include a receiving plate 410 for engaging with a trolley 300. The receiving plate 410 may further include a first arm 420 located at a first end 422 of the receiving plate 410 and a second arm 424 located at a second end 426 of the receiving plate 410 opposite to the first end 422. Additionally, the first arm 420 may include a first receiving block 428, and the second arm may include a second receiving block 430. The first receiving block 428 and the second receiving block 430 may include a notch 432, which may be configured to engage a convex engaging mechanism 306 and a concave engaging mechanism 308 of the trolley 300.

[0044] The receiving plate 410 can be configured such that it can be actuated in the longitudinal direction between an extended position 412 and a retracted position 414. In the retracted position 414, the entire receiving plate 410 can be held within its respective lifting frame 200. In the extended position 412, the first arm 420 and the second arm 424 can extend outside the lifting frame 200 and into the sub-frame support 126 of one of the body frames 112. In the extended position 412, the first arm 420 and the second arm 424 can be configured to slide under the wheels 310 of the trolley 300, and the notches 432 of the first receiving block 428 and the second receiving block 430 can be configured to engage the convex engagement mechanism 306 and the concave engagement mechanism 308 of the trolley 300.

[0045] It should be noted that, as an additional safety measure, each subframe support 126 may include a support stop 128. Figure 1Support stop 128 may be located at the end of each subframe support 126 adjacent to one side of the lifting frame 200. Support stop 128 may include a distal end adjacent to the lifting frame 200 and a proximal end positioned opposite the distal end. The distal end may include a buffer that may be configured to stop the movement of the trolley 300 by stopping the wheels 310 of the trolley. In some embodiments, the proximal end may have a downward ramp such that the trolley 300 reaching the proximal end of support stop 128 will continue to roll across support stop 128 until the wheels 310 of the trolley 300 strike the buffer.

[0046] Due to the support stop 128, when the receiving plate 410 has engaged the trolley 300, the lowering lifting mechanism 400 must raise the trolley 300 above the buffer before returning to the retracted position 414. As the lowering lifting mechanism 400 raises the trolley 300, the trolley 300 can disengage from its adjacent trolley 300, allowing it to be pulled out from the subframe support 126 where it is located.

[0047] Once the trolley 300 has been raised above the buffer, it can be pulled out from the subframe support 126 on which it rests and into the lifting frame 200 by returning the receiving plate 410 to the retracted position 414. It should be noted that the receiving plate 410 can be actuated by any mechanism capable of actuating the receiving plate 410 between the extended position 412 and the retracted position 414, such as a motor, drive, actuator, etc.

[0048] Once the receiving plate 410 returns to the retracted position 414 and the trolley 300 is fully pulled into the lifting frame 200, the lowering lifting mechanism 400 can be configured to vertically lower the trolley 300 so that it aligns with the sub-frame support 126, which is located directly below the sub-frame support 126 from which the trolley 300 is received. When the lowering lifting mechanism has been lowered to align with the lower sub-frame support 126, the receiving plate 410 can be actuated to the extended position 412, thereby pushing the trolley 300 out of the lifting frame 200 and back onto the sub-frame support 126 of the main frame 112.

[0049] When a trolley 300 is pushed onto the sub-frame support 126, the convex and / or concave engagement mechanisms 306, 308 engage with the convex and / or concave engagement mechanisms 306, 308 of the adjacent trolley 300 on the sub-frame support 126. When a trolley 300 engages its adjacent trolley 300, each trolley 300 located on the sub-frame support 126 can be pushed toward the opposing lifting frame 200.

[0050] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of lowering lifting mechanisms 400 is configured such that the movement of the lowering lifting mechanisms 400 is substantially synchronized. In this configuration, a lowering lifting mechanism 400 may pull a trolley 300 from a given sub-frame support 126 of the body frame 112 before the lowering lifting mechanism 400 located in the opposing lifting frame 200 pushes the trolley 300 onto the sub-frame support 126. By synchronizing the plurality of lowering lifting mechanisms 400, such that a trolley 300 is pulled from the sub-frame support 126 before a new trolley 300 is pushed onto the sub-frame support 126, it can be ensured that when a lowering lifting mechanism 400 is not present, no trolley 300 is pushed into the lifting frame 200.

[0051] See you again Figure 1 The trolley 300 moves through the path of the modular growth tower assembly 100 by a lowering lifting mechanism 400a associated with the lifting frame 200a to receive the trolley 300 already received with new crop. The lowering lifting mechanism 400a can be configured to raise the trolley 300 to the top 106 of the modular growth tower assembly 100, such that the lowering lifting mechanism 400a is aligned with the topmost subframe support 126 located at the first end 148 of the main frame 112a.

[0052] Once the lowering lifting mechanism 400a is substantially aligned, the lowering lifting mechanism 400b located in the opposing lifting frame 200b can pull the trolley 300 from the topmost subframe support 126 at the second end 150 of the main frame 112b. Once the trolley 300 is secured in the lifting frame 200b, the lowering lifting mechanism 400a can push its trolley 300 onto the topmost subframe support 126 located at the first end 148 of the main frame 112a. As the lowering lifting mechanism 400a pushes its trolley 300 onto the subframe support 126, the convex engagement mechanism 306 of the trolley 300 can engage the concave engagement mechanism of the adjacent trolley 300 on the topmost subframe support 126 of the main frame 112a, such that each trolley 300 on the subframe support is pushed toward the opposing lifting frame 200b.

[0053] After the lowering lifting mechanism 400a has pushed its trolley 300 onto the topmost subframe support 126 of the main frame 112a, the lowering lifting mechanism 400a can be lowered vertically via the lifting frame 200a, aligning the lowering lifting mechanism 400a with the subframe support 126 located below the topmost subframe support 126 of the main frame 112a. Once aligned, the lowering lifting mechanism 400a can pull the trolley 300 out from the first end 148 of the main frame 112a and into the lifting frame 200a. Once the trolley 300 is secured to the lowering lifting mechanism 400a within the lifting frame 200a, the lowering lifting mechanism 400b can be lowered vertically via the lifting frame 200b, aligning the lowering lifting mechanism 400b with the subframe support 126 located below the topmost subframe support 126 at the second end 150 of the main frame 112b. Once the lowering and lifting mechanism 400b is aligned, it can push its trolley onto the sub-frame support 126. As the lowering and lifting mechanism 400b pushes its trolley 300 onto the sub-frame support 126, the concave engagement mechanism 308 of the trolley 300 can engage the convex engagement mechanism 306 of the adjacent trolley 300 located on the sub-frame support 126 of the main frame 112b, such that each trolley 300 located on the sub-frame support is pushed toward the opposite lifting frame 200a.

[0054] This process can be repeated until multiple trolleys 300 have passed each sub-frame support 126 of the main frame 112 in row 114a. Once a trolley 300 has passed the movement path of row 114a, the trolley will be located on the bottommost sub-frame support 126 at the position corresponding to the first end 148 of the main frame 112a.

[0055] To facilitate the transition of trolley 300 from row 114a to row 114b, a lowering lifting mechanism 400c can be configured to be raised into lifting frame 200a. In this embodiment, lifting mechanism 400c can be raised into lifting frame 200a to engage trolley 300 located at the first end 148 of the bottommost subframe support 126 of body frame 112a. Once lowering mechanism 400c has engaged trolley 300, it can be pulled into lifting frame 200a and lowered into lifting frame 200c. Trolley 300 can be lowered into lifting frame 200c such that trolley 300 at the first end 148 is aligned with the topmost subframe support 126 of body frame 112c. Trolley 300 can then be pushed onto the topmost subframe support 126 of body frame 112c to begin its movement path through row 114b.

[0056] As the trolley 300 passes through the modular growth tower assembly 100, the maintenance system 500 can supply nutrients and / or water to the crops carried by the trolley 300. Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, in different embodiments, the maintenance system 500 may include a watering component 510 and / or a nutrient dispensing component 520. The watering component 510 and the nutrient dispensing component 520 may be configured to dispense water and / or nutrients to one or more crop trays at predetermined areas of the modular growth tower assembly 100. The watering component 510 and the nutrient dispensing component 520 may each include a plurality of spray nozzles 522, drippers, overflow nozzles, and / or other fluid dispensers mounted within and / or on the body frame 112 to provide water and / or nutrients to crops located on the trolley 300. The nozzles 522 may be mounted within each body frame 112 or only within certain body frames 112 of each row 114 of the modular growth tower assembly 100. More specifically, the nozzles 522 may be mounted to sub-frame supports 126. In these embodiments, the trolley 300 may receive water and / or nutrients as it passes through those body frames 112 in which one or more nozzles 522 are mounted.

[0057] In some embodiments, the watering component 510 may be coupled to one or more fluid lines 530 that distribute water and / or nutrients into one or more trays at predetermined locations within the modular growth tower 10. In some embodiments, the crop may be sprayed with fluid to reduce buoyancy and / or flooding. Additionally, water use and consumption may be monitored so that, at a subsequent watering station, this data can be used to determine the amount of water to be applied to the crop (or removed from the cells) at that time.

[0058] Nutrient dosing unit 520 can provide predetermined nutrient and / or nutrient dosages to one or more of the crop and / or microvegetable. As discussed in more detail below, some embodiments may provide at least one watering unit 510 different from the nutrient dosing unit 520. In some embodiments, one or more of the nutrient dosing units 520 may be integrated with one or more watering units 510 to provide a single station or mechanism (such as...) for providing both water and nutrients. Figure 7B (as depicted in the text).

[0059] Modular growth tower assembly 100 may also include lighting system 550. Figure 1 The lighting system 550 includes multiple lighting elements for emitting light onto the trolley 300, such as... Figure 1As illustrated, the lighting elements may include, for example, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, fluorescent lamps, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, and / or the like. The lighting elements may be mounted within the body frame 112 and generally point downwards toward the upper surface of the trolley 300. More specifically, the lighting elements may be mounted to sub-frame supports 126. The lighting elements may be mounted within each of the body frames 112 or only within certain body frames 112 of each row 114 of the modular growth tower system. Thus, the trolley 300 receives direct light from the lighting elements as it passes through those body frames 112 in which one or more lighting elements are mounted. In an embodiment, the lighting elements are mounted to the body frames 112 in the lowest row of the modular growth tower assembly 100.

[0060] like Figure 8 As further illustrated, the modular growth tower 10 may include a drainage system 570. The drainage component 570 may include a drainage trough 580 and a drainage pipe 590. In practice, the drainage trough 580 may collect excess water and / or nutrients dispersed by the watering component 510 and the nutrient dispensing component 520. The drainage trough 580 may convey excess water and / or nutrients to the drainage pipe 590, which may be configured to carry excess water and / or nutrients away from the modular growth tower 10.

[0061] For example Figure 1 As illustrated, the main body frames 112a, 112b, 112c, and 112d may have a plurality of drainage channels 580 mounted to the sub-frame supports 126 of the main body frame 112. In this embodiment, a drain pipe 590 may be located outside the main body frame 112 and may extend vertically from the top end 106 to the bottom end 108 of the modular growth tower assembly 100. In this configuration, the drain pipe 590 may be configured to interact with each of the plurality of drainage channels 580 located throughout the main body frame 112. As excess water and / or nutrients are collected in the plurality of drainage channels 580, gravity may act to carry the excess water and / or nutrients downward through the drain pipe 590, where the excess water and / or nutrients may be collected in a drain tank. In some embodiments, the excess water and / or nutrients collected in the drain tank may be recycled and reintroduced into the modular growth tower 10 via the watering component 510 and the nutrient dispensing component 520.

[0062] Turn now Figure 9 The modular growth tower 10 may include a harvesting frame 1000. The harvesting frame 1000 may be located on the side where the movement path of the modular growth tower terminates. For example, as... Figure 1As illustrated, the harvesting frame 1000 is located near the lifting frame 200c, and the trolley 300 follows a movement path through the modular growth tower assembly 100 and terminates at the first end 148 of the body frame 112c on the bottommost sub-frame support 126.

[0063] In some embodiments, the harvesting frame 1000 may include a rectangular base frame 1002. A first support 1004 and a second support 1006 may extend upward from the base frame 1002 and may be connected via diagonal supports 1007. A central support 1010 may also extend upward from the base frame 1002 such that it intersects with the diagonal supports 1007. A plurality of transverse members 1008 may be mounted parallel to each other between the diagonal supports 1007. The harvesting frame 1000 may also include a top support 1012, which may connect to the second support 1006. In some embodiments, the top support 1012 of the harvesting frame 1000 may be aligned with the top end 218 of an adjacent lifting frame 200. The harvesting frame may have a height corresponding to the distance between the base frame 1002 and the top support 1012, a width corresponding to the distance between the first support 1004, and a length corresponding to the distance between the first support 1004 and the second support 1006.

[0064] Combination Figure 1 See Figure 9 The lifting mechanism 600 can be located between the second support member 1006 and the central support member 1010. Multiple transverse members 1008 can be used to support the harvesting component 700, and the cleaning component 800 can be located between the central support member 1010 and the first support member 1004.

[0065] In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 600 can be configured to pull the trolley 300 out of the lifting frame 200 located at the end of the movement path and into the harvesting frame 1000. The lifting mechanism 600 can be configured to move vertically up and down between the rectangular base frame 1002 and the top support 1012 through the harvesting frame 1000. In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 600 can be further configured to move beyond the top support 1012 in a vertically upward direction. For example, as... Figure 1 As illustrated, the lifting mechanism 600 can be configured to rise above the harvesting frame 1000, so that the lifting mechanism 600 can interact directly with the lifting frame 200a.

[0066] like Figure 10As illustrated, the lifting mechanism 600 may include a base frame 610 and a track 620 having a first end 622 and a second end 624. The first end 622 and the second end 624 of the track 620 may each include a fork member 625, which may include a first fork 626 and a second fork 627. The fork members 625 may be configured to engage the wheels 310 of the trolley 300. Each fork member 625 may include a roller 616, which may be configured to interact with the harvesting component 700. The track 620 may be rotatably mounted to the base frame 610, allowing the lifting mechanism 600 to move between an initial position and a rotating position. When the fork members 625 engage the wheels 310 of the trolley 300, the track 620 may be configured to cause the trolley 300 to flip in the rotating position.

[0067] The track 620 can be further configured to move longitudinally between an extended position 612 and a retracted position 614. In the retracted position 614, the fork member 625 of the track 620 can be received within the space between the second support 1006 and the central support 1010 of the harvesting frame 1000. In the extended position 612, the fork member can extend into the adjacent lifting frame 200 to retrieve the trolley 300 from the end of the serpentine movement path. In a different embodiment, the fork member 625 of the lifting mechanism 600 can extend from the harvesting frame 1000 and into the lifting frame 200c to engage the trolley 300 that has reached the end of the serpentine movement path.

[0068] As the track 620 extends, the first fork 626 and the second fork 627 of the fork mechanism 625 engage the wheels 310 of the trolley 300, such that when the track 620 reaches the extended position 612, the wheels 310 of the trolley 300 are completely secured between the first fork 626 and the second fork 627 of the fork mechanism 625. Once the wheels 310 are secured within the first fork 626 and the second fork 627, the lifting mechanism 600 can vertically lift the trolley 300 to disengage it from its adjacent trolley, ensuring that the trolley 300 has clearance from the support stops 128 located at the ends of each sub-frame support 126. After the trolley 300 is disengaged, the track can return to the retracted position 614, allowing the trolley 300 to be pulled into the harvesting frame 1000.

[0069] Once the trolley 300 is pulled into the harvesting frame 1000, the lifting mechanism 600 can vertically raise the trolley 300 to the top support 1012 of the harvesting frame 1000. When the lifting mechanism 600 is aligned with the top support 1012, it can interact with the harvesting component 700 to harvest the crop in the trolley 300.

[0070] Harvest component 700 in Figure 11 The clearest illustration is shown below. As can be seen, the harvesting component 700 may include a tray 710 rotatably mounted within the harvesting component 700. Specifically, the tray 710 can be positioned between a receiving position and a harvesting position. Figure 11 As shown, the tray 710 of the harvesting component 700 is in the harvesting position such that the front end 738 of the tray 710 is tilted below the opposite rear end 740 of the tray 710. Additionally, the harvesting component may include a guide 720 that can be used to engage the lifting mechanism 600.

[0071] Once the lifting mechanism 600 has been raised to the top support 1012 of the harvesting frame 1000, the track 620 can be rotated to a rotating position such that the roller 616 of the fork mechanism 625 is received by the guide 720 of the harvesting component 700. In some embodiments, the track 620 of the lifting mechanism 600 can be configured to rotate a full 180 degrees; however, the track 620 may only need to be rotated to the extent necessary for the roller 616 to engage with the guide 720.

[0072] Once the guide 720 has received the rollers 616 of the lifting mechanism 600, the lifting mechanism 600 can begin to move downwards in the vertical direction toward the base frame 1002 of the harvesting frame 1000. As the lifting mechanism 600 moves downwards, the guide 720 of the harvesting component 700 ensures that the trolley 300 is at the appropriate angle for harvesting crops whenever it reaches the harvesting tray 710.

[0073] It should be noted that as the trolley 300 passes through the modular growth tower assembly 100, the modular growth tower 10 can detect the current growth, current development, and / or current output of the crop and determine when to guarantee harvest. If harvest is guaranteed before the trolley 300 reaches the harvesting unit 700, the growth formula can be modified for that specific trolley 300 until it reaches the harvesting unit 700. Conversely, if the trolley 300 reaches the harvesting unit 700 and it has been determined that the crop in the trolley 300 is not ready for harvest, the modular growth tower 10 can delegate the trolley 300 through another loop of the modular growth tower assembly 100. This additional loop may include different amounts of light, water, nutrients, etc., and the speed of the trolley 300 can be varied based on the development of the crop on the trolley 300. If it is determined that the crop on the trolley 300 is ready for harvest, the harvesting unit 700 can facilitate the process.

[0074] Once the trolley 300 has emptied its crop from the harvest tray 710, the lifting mechanism 600 can continue to move downward toward the base frame 1002 of the harvest frame 1000. In this embodiment, as the lifting mechanism 600 moves downward beneath the harvesting component 700, the guide 720 can continue to support the rollers 616 of the lifting mechanism 600, keeping the trolley 300 at an appropriate angle for interface connection with the cleaning component 800. The cleaning component 800 can be implemented to remove any particles, plant material, organic material, etc., that may remain on the trolley 300 after harvesting. Therefore, the cleaning component 800 can implement any of several different washing mechanisms, such as high-pressure water, high-temperature water, and / or other solutions for cleaning the trolley 300.

[0075] exist Figure 12The cleaning component is most clearly illustrated in the diagram. In different embodiments, the cleaning component 800 may receive a cart 300 that has been flipped over by the guide 720 of harvested material. In other embodiments, the cleaning component 800 may be configured to flip the cart 300 itself. As described above, some embodiments may be configured such that the lifting mechanism 600 flips the cart 300, and thus the cart 300 may remain in that position upon entering the cleaning component 800. In any case, the cleaning component 800 may clean and / or otherwise clean the cart 300 so that the cart 300 is ready to receive new crops, seeds, plant material, and / or organic material. In some embodiments, the cleaning component 800 may include one or more sensors (e.g., ultraviolet sensors, imaging sensors, microbial sensors, etc.) for determining the cleanliness of the cart 300. If the cleaning component 800 fails to clean the cart 300 to a predetermined threshold, the main controller 20 may determine whether the cart can be cleaned to meet that threshold. If so, the cart 300 may be restarted by the cleaning component. In some embodiments, the cart 300 can simply be held in the cleaning component 800 while the determination and re-cleaning are performed. If the cleaning component 800 fails to clean the cart 300, the main controller 20 can stop using the cart 300 and introduce a new cart 300.

[0076] After the trolley 300 has been effectively cleaned, the lifting mechanism 600 can continue to move downward toward the base frame 1002 of the harvesting frame 1000 until the rollers 616 of the lifting mechanism 600 are no longer restricted by the guide 720. At this point, the track 620 can rotate to its initial position. In this position, the lifting mechanism 600 can be located near the base frame 1002 of the harvesting frame 1000, and the fork mechanism 625 of the lifting mechanism 600 can remain engaged with the cleaned trolley 300.

[0077] At this point, the cleaned trolley 300 can be prepared to receive new crop material and re-enter the modular growing tower assembly 100. In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 600 can raise the cleaned trolley 300 so that it is raised above the harvesting frame 1000. In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism 600 can pass through the exterior of the lifting frame 200 in row 114 above the harvesting frame 1000. Figure 1 As illustrated, the lifting mechanism 600 can be raised above the harvesting frame 1000, such that the lifting mechanism 600 is aligned with the lifting frame 200a located in row 114a. In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 600 can be configured to be raised until it reaches the seeding component 900. In embodiments including multiple rows 114, such as Figure 1In the illustrated embodiments, the seeding component 900 can be mounted to a lifting frame 200a located on the highest row 114a of the modular growth tower assembly 100, on the same side of the modular growth tower assembly where the harvesting frame 1000 is located. The seeding component 900 can be mounted to the lifting frame 200a such that the seeding component does not extend above the top portion 106 of the modular growth tower assembly 100.

[0078] The seeding component 900 can be configured to supply crop material to one or more carts 300 as the carts 300 pass through the modular growth tower 10, such as... Figure 13 As illustrated. According to a specific embodiment, each cart 300 may include a single segment tray 320 for receiving crop material. In some embodiments, the cart 300 may include multiple segment trays for receiving individual crop material in each segment. The crop material may be arranged according to the desired depth of the crop material, the desired amount of crop material, the desired surface area of ​​the crop material, and / or according to other criteria. In some embodiments, the crop material may be pretreated with nutrients and / or antibuoyancy agents (such as water), as these embodiments may allow crop growth without the use of soil.

[0079] See also Figure 13 The seeding component 900 generally includes a dispenser 902 and a roller 904 rotatably mounted to the dispenser 902. The dispenser 902 includes a first end wall 906, a second end wall 908 opposite to the first end wall 906, a first side wall 910, and a second side wall 912 opposite to the first side wall 910. The first side wall 910 and the second side wall 912 extend between the first end wall 906 and the second end wall 908 and define an open interior 914. The dispenser 902 has an open top portion 916 and an open bottom portion 918 through which crop material enters the open interior 914 and through which it is dispensed out of the open interior 914. The dispenser 902 has a length defined by the distance between the first end wall 906 and the second end wall 908, a width defined by the distance between the first side wall 910 and the second side wall 912, and a height defined by the distance between the open bottom portion 918 and the open top portion 916.

[0080] As discussed herein, the width of the dispenser 902 along its height may not be constant. In an embodiment, the second sidewall 912 of the dispenser 902 has a vertical wall portion 920 and an inclined wall portion 922 relative to the vertical wall portion 920. The vertical wall portion 920 may extend parallel to the first sidewall 910, and the inclined wall portion 922 may extend toward the first sidewall 910 such that the open bottom portion 918 has a width extending between the first sidewall 910 and the second sidewall 912, which is smaller than the width of the open top portion 916. Therefore, crop material entering the dispenser 902 contacts the inclined wall portion 922 to accumulate at the open bottom portion 918. The dispenser 902 may include a sensor 924 for detecting the amount of crop material within the dispenser 902. In an embodiment, the sensor 924 is located near the open top portion 916 of the dispenser 902 to detect when the level of crop material reaches a predetermined height within the open interior 914.

[0081] The roller 904 has an outer surface 926 that contacts seeds falling through the open bottom end 918 of the dispenser 902. In an embodiment, the outer surface 926 of the roller 904 is cylindrical. The roller 904 may also have a length extending along the entire open bottom end 918 of the dispenser 902, such that the length of the roller 904 is equal to the length of the dispenser 902 extending between the first end wall 906 and the second end wall 908. It should be understood that the roller 904 is a cylindrical member rotatably mounted in a spaced-apart manner at the open lower end of the dispenser 902 to provide a gap 928 between the open lower end and the roller 904 defined by the distance between the roller 904 and the inclined wall portion 922 of the dispenser 902. A motor 938 is disposed at the end of the roller 904.

[0082] like Figure 14 As illustrated, the seeding component 900 may further include a conveying device 950. As discussed herein, the conveying device 950 is used to convey crop material to the seeding component 900. The conveying device 950 includes a first end wall 952 and a second end wall 954 opposite to the first end wall 952, a top wall 956, a first side wall 958, and a second side wall 960 opposite to the first side wall 958. The top wall 956, the first side wall 958, and the second side wall 960 extend between the first end wall 952 and the second end wall 954 and define an open interior 962. The conveying device 950 has a length defined by the distance between the first end wall 952 and the second end wall 954, a width defined by the distance between the first side wall 958 and the second side wall 960, and a height defined by the distance between the top wall 956 and a lower point (such as the contact point between the first side wall 958 and the second side wall 960).

[0083] As discussed herein, the width of the conveying device 950 may not be constant along its height. The conveying device 950 may have any suitable geometry for accommodating crops and / or crop material. In one embodiment, as shown, the conveying device 950 has a triangular cross-sectional geometry such that the width of the conveying device 950 at the top wall 956 is greater than the width of the conveying device 950 opposite the top wall 956. However, the conveying device 950 may have other geometries, such as a cylindrical cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, etc.

[0084] The conveying device 950 can be positioned within the seeding component 900 as described herein. Specifically, the conveying device 950 extends through the open top end 916 of the distributor 902 of the seeding component 900, thereby being positioned within the open interior 914 of the distributor 902. In this embodiment, receiving orifices can be formed in each end wall of the distributor 902 to receive a corresponding one of the inlet 970 and vacuum port 972 of the conveying device 950. Thus, once the conveying device 950 has received the desired amount of crop and / or crop material as detected by one or more sensors 964 within the conveying device 950, the vacuum source communicating with the conveying device 950 can be deactivated, allowing the pivot wall portion 966 to be rotated to an open position.

[0085] Once the pivot wall portion 966 moves to the open position, the crop and / or crop material is released into the open interior 914 of the dispenser 902. The conveying device 950 may also include a plurality of baffles 968 arranged at intervals within its open interior 962. It should be understood that each baffle 968 has a geometry corresponding to the geometry defined by the first sidewall 958, the second sidewall 960, and the top wall 956 of the conveying device 950. Thus, in this embodiment, each baffle 968 has a triangular geometry. As shown, the conveying device 950 includes seven baffles 968 defining eight separate compartments for receiving seeds.

[0086] As previously described, the lifting mechanism 600 can be raised from the base frame 1002 of the harvesting frame 1000 until the cleaning trolley 300, secured by the lifting mechanism 600, is aligned with the distributor 902 of the seeding component 900. Once the lifting mechanism 600 is properly positioned, the track 620 can extend to the extended position 612. As the track 620 extends, the trolley 300 can pass under the distributor 902 of the seeding component 900, which can provide the trolley 300 with new crop and / or crop material.

[0087] As track 620 continues to extend, the trolley 300 will enter the lifting frame 200 on which the seeding component 900 is mounted. For example, in Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, when the track 620 extends to the extended position 612, the trolley 300 can receive crops and / or crop materials from the sowing component 900, such that once the track 620 reaches the extended position 612, the trolley 300 extends into the lifting frame 200a.

[0088] Once the track 620 of the lifting mechanism 600 is in the extended position 612, the trolley 300 can be completely contained within the lifting frame 200, and the seeding component 900 is mounted on the lifting frame. At this time, the seeding trolley 300 can be transferred from the lifting mechanism 600 to the lowering mechanism 400 located within the lifting frame 200, so that the lowering mechanism 400 can reinsert the seeding trolley 300 into the modular growth tower assembly 100.

[0089] This document will describe in detail the transfer of the seeding cart 300 from the raising mechanism 600 to the lowering mechanism 400. First, the lowering mechanism 400 may include a column 460 ( Figure 6 The column 460 is configured to be inserted into the column receiving portion 360 located at the bottom of the trolley 300. When the lifting mechanism 600 passes under the seeding component 900 and enters the lifting frame 200, the lifting mechanism 600 lowers the trolley 300 so that the column 460 of the lowering mechanism 400 is received by the column receiving portion 360 of the trolley 300 before the track 620 reaches the extended position 612.

[0090] Once the column 460 is secured within the column receiving portion 360, the track 620 of the lifting mechanism 600 can return to the retracted position 614. When the track 620 retracts to the retracted position 614, the column 460 of the lowering mechanism 400 can secure the trolley 300, preventing it from moving longitudinally. Therefore, when the track 620 retracts to the retracted position 614, the two wheels 310c and 310d of the trolley 300 are released from the fork mechanism 625 of the lifting mechanism 600.

[0091] After the two wheels 310c and 310d of the trolley 300 are released from the fork mechanism 625 of the lifting mechanism 600, the lifting mechanism 600 can raise the trolley 300, causing the column 460 of the lowering mechanism 400 to be removed from the column receiving portion 360 of the trolley 300. With the column 460 disengaged, the track 620 of the lifting mechanism 600 can extend to the extended position 612.

[0092] In the extended position 612, the trolley 300 can be positioned such that it aligns with the receiving plate 410 of the lowering lifting mechanism 400. With the trolley 300 properly aligned with the receiving plate 410, the raising lifting mechanism 600 can lower the trolley 300 onto the receiving plate 410 of the lowering lifting mechanism 400. Once the trolley 300 has been lowered onto the receiving plate 410 of the lowering lifting mechanism 400, the track 620 of the raising lifting mechanism 600 can return to the retracted position 614. When the track 620 retracts, the remaining wheels 310a, 310b are released from the fork mechanism 625, allowing the trolley 300 to be completely released from the raising lifting mechanism 600.

[0093] With the seeding trolley 300 fixed to the lowering lifting mechanism 400, the lowering lifting mechanism 400 can be configured to raise the trolley 300 to the top of the lifting frame 200. Once the lowering lifting mechanism has reached the top of the lifting frame 200, the trolley 300 can be pushed onto the topmost sub-frame support 126 of the main frame 112 adjacent to the lifting frame 200, so that, in different embodiments, the seeding trolley 300 can begin to traverse the serpentine movement path of the modular growth tower assembly 100. After the seeding trolley 300 has been transferred to the lowering lifting mechanism 400, the raising lifting mechanism 600 can be lowered via the harvesting frame 1000 to obtain a new trolley 300 located at the end of the serpentine movement path.

[0094] However, as discussed earlier, the movement of the cart does not need to follow a serpentine path, nor is it limited to a set sequence. One possible method for moving carts in a modular growth tower assembly is to alternately move the cart to rows in a non-sequential or non-serpentine path. This alternating method moves the cart to a designated new row of the modular growth tower assembly only when needed, based on specific growth requirements such as crop height, row spacing, lighting elements, nutrient application systems, visual inspection, harvesting and / or washing, etc. This method optimizes cart movement by reducing the overall movement required and thus minimizing wear on the cart and the need for a wide range of movement systems.

[0095] In different embodiments, the alternating row method is controlled by a computer program executed by a main controller, which instructs the sequence of cart movements based on specific growth requirements. For example, the system can begin by moving a cart from the top row to row A, and in the next cycle, moving another cart from the top row to row B. This sequence can be customized to suit different growth conditions, thereby ensuring that the carts move efficiently and only when necessary.

[0096] This method allows certain rows to be grouped together and the movement of these groups to alternate. For example, the system can alternate between moving the cart in rows A, C, and E in one cycle and moving it in rows B, D, and F in the next cycle. Another possibility is to move the cart from row A to row C in one cycle, and then move it only from row B to row D in the next cycle. Yet another possibility is to move the cart from rows A, B, and C to the next level after rows D, E, and F, or even to the bottom row, which can be labeled X, Y, and Z for illustrative purposes. This reduces the overall movement required throughout the entire growth cycle of the crop from start to finish, thereby reducing wear on the cart and minimizing the need for lifting mechanisms.

[0097] In different embodiments, another option is to allow carts from different rows to be merged into a completely new row, and another possibility is that individual carts can be alternately sent to different rows during a movement cycle. This is particularly useful when rows are spaced at different heights and thus accommodate continuously growing crops. Another possible benefit is minimizing the cost of the lighting system by requiring only one or two rows of lighting. There are many other reasons for providing flexibility in cart paths and allowing for the merging of rows. Therefore, according to this disclosure, alternating and mixed carts and rows can be performed in a wide variety of ways.

[0098] In various embodiments, the non-sequential movement of the carts is controlled by a computer program executed by the main controller, which instructs the cart movement sequence based on specific growth requirements. This sequence can be customized in other variations to suit various growth conditions, different crop growth times, reduce the frequency of cart movements, and enhance system efficiency. Accordingly, a sensor-based cart tracking system allows the main controller to track the position of each cart and monitor the growth characteristics of the crops within each cart. In various embodiments, the main controller can also be configured to allow users to test and predict different patterns of cart movement to discover optimal cart paths and patterns.

[0099] Turn now Figure 15 and Figure 16The modular growth tower 10 can also provide a computing environment for providing the modular growth tower 10. As described above, the modular growth tower 10 may include a main controller 20, which may be provided by a modular growth tower computing device 22. The modular growth tower computing device 22 may include a memory component 30a that stores system logic 32A and crop logic 32B. System logic 32A may monitor and control the operation of one or more components of the modular growth tower 10; may provide one or more user interfaces; and / or may otherwise enable the modular growth tower 10 to perform the functions provided herein. As an example, system logic 32A may cause actuation of one or more hardware components of the modular growth tower 10; receive and / or determine updates, upgrades, or adjustments to the current growth formula; receive new growth formulas; and / or otherwise control the operation of the modular growth tower 10. Crop logic 32B may be configured to determine crop growth and may facilitate the implementation of the growth formula via system logic 32A.

[0100] In different embodiments, the main controller or other components of the computing environment can monitor and measure sensor data, growth parameters, or other environmental factors, such as, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, light intensity, light duration, spectrum, water quality / purity, water volume, watering frequency, water temperature, water polarization, water flow rate, water filtration system efficiency, water mineral content, nutrient concentration, nutrient composition, pH level, airflow, CO2 concentration, soil type, soil moisture, soil pH, soil composition, tray size and shape, tray material, growth medium, plant density, genetic factors, pollination, growth stage, and harvest. Time, microbial activity, oxygen levels, feeding frequency (for insects and larvae), substrate type (for fungi), light-dark cycle, movement frequency, acoustic vibration, structural support (piles, nets, cages, lattices, etc.), climatic conditions, altitude / atmospheric pressure, cleaning / washing / cleaning / hygiene practices, growth hormones, if different crops are mixed, symbiotic relationships between different crops or seed varieties in one tray, amount of human exposure, pre-planting treatment or application to seed coating, crop harvest weight, crop color, crop uniformity, crop density, crop level, nutrient content of harvested crop and / or elemental analysis of harvested crop.

[0101] Other factors that can be measured and / or used to customize tower operation include cart path, cart maintenance reports, total power usage, total water consumption, total seed or crop starting material quantity or weight, total time spent on carts in motion, total downtime when not in motion, maintenance history, usage history, change history, video surveillance of individual systems, video surveillance of the facility, user logs, software update history, pest reports, weather and / or user notes.

[0102] Additionally, the modular growth tower 10 can be connected to a network 40. Network 40 may include the Internet or other wide area networks, local area networks (such as LANs), near-field networks, and / or peer-to-peer networks (such as via Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC) networks). Network 40 is also connected to a user computing device 42, a remote computing device 44, and / or another modular growth tower 10 having a tower computing device similar to the modular growth tower computing device 22. The user computing device 42 can be configured as a personal computer, laptop, mobile device, tablet, server, etc., and can be used as an interface through which the user can interact with... Figure 1 The device interacts with one or more of the devices described herein. In some embodiments, the remote computing device 44 may send a growth recipe to the modular growth tower computing device 22 for implementation by the modular growth tower 10. The modular growth tower 10 may then send a notification to the user of the user computing device 42.

[0103] The remote computing device 44 can be configured as a server, personal computer, tablet computer, mobile device, etc., and can be used for machine-to-machine communication. Therefore, the remote computing device 44 may include a memory component 46b. The memory component 46b may store analysis logic 46C and communication logic 46D. The analysis logic 46C may be configured to receive a growth recipe, determine updates, upgrades, and / or adjustments to the growth recipe, and determine the differences between the received growth recipe and the current growth recipe stored by the remote computing device 44. The remote computing device 44 may modify the stored growth recipe and / or save the received growth recipe for use in transmitting updates, upgrades, or adjustments to another modular growth tower 10 via the communication logic 46D.

[0104] Figure 16 A tower computing device 22 according to an embodiment described herein is depicted. As discussed above, the modular growth tower computing device 22 includes a memory component 30a, a processor 12, input / output hardware 14, network interface hardware 16, and a data storage component 18 (which stores system data 24A, crop data 24B, and / or other data). Each component of the modular growth tower computing device 22 can be communicatively coupled to a local communication interface 26. The local communication interface 26 is generally not limited to this disclosure and can be implemented as a bus or other communication interface to facilitate communication between components of a host controller coupled thereto.

[0105] Memory component 30a can be configured as volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and if so, can include random access memory (including SRAM, DRAM and / or other types of RAM), flash memory, secure digital storage (SD) memory, registers, optical disc (CD), digital universal disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc and / or other types of non-transient computer-readable media. Depending on the specific embodiment, these non-transient computer-readable media can reside within or outside the modular growth tower computing device 22. Memory component 30a can store, for example, operating logic 28, system logic 32A, and crop logic 32B. Operating logic 28, system logic 32A, and crop logic 32B can each include multiple different logic elements, each of which, as an example, can be implemented as a computer program, firmware, and / or hardware.

[0106] Operating logic 28 may include an operating system and / or other software for managing the components of the modular growth tower computing device 22. As discussed above, system logic 32A and crop logic 32B may reside in memory component 30a and may be configured to perform functions as described above. In some embodiments, system logic 32A and crop logic 32B may reside on different computing devices. As an example, one or more of the functions and / or components described herein may be provided by user computing device 42 and / or remote computing device 44. Although the modular growth tower computing device 22 is shown as having system logic 32A and crop logic 32B as separate logic components, this is merely an example. In some embodiments, single-piece logic (and / or several linked modules) may enable the modular growth tower computing device 22 to provide the described functions.

[0107] Processor 12 may include any processing unit that is operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from data storage unit 18 and / or memory unit 30a). Illustrative examples of processor 12 include, but are not limited to, computer processing unit (CPU), multi-core integrated (MIC) processing device, accelerated processing unit (APU), and digital signal processor (DSP). In some embodiments, processor 12 may be multiple components that work together to provide processing capabilities, such as integrated circuits (including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)).

[0108] Input / output hardware 14 may include and / or be configured to connect to a microphone, speaker, display, and / or other hardware interface. That is, input / output hardware 14 may interface with hardware that provides a user interface, etc. For example, a user interface may be provided to a user for purposes such as adjusting settings or viewing status.

[0109] Network interface hardware 16 may include and / or be configured to communicate with any wired or wireless networking hardware, including antennas, modems, LAN ports, Wi-Fi cards, WiMax cards, ZigBee cards, Bluetooth chips, USB cards, mobile communication hardware, and / or other hardware for communicating with other networks and / or devices. This connection facilitates communication between the modular growth tower computing device 22 and other computing devices, such as user computing device 42, remote computing device 44, and / or other devices.

[0110] The data storage component 18 can typically be any medium for storing digital data, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), optical disc (CD), digital universal disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, and / or the like. It should be understood that the data storage component 18 can reside locally and / or remotely from the modular growth tower computing device 22 and can be configured to store one or more data entries and selectively provide access to one or more data entries.

[0111] It should be understood that, although Figure 16 The components are illustrated as residing within the modular growth tower computing device 22, but this is merely an example. In some embodiments, one or more components may reside outside the modular growth tower computing device 22. It should also be understood that although the modular growth tower computing device 22 is shown as a single device, this is also merely an example. That is, the modular growth tower computing device 22 may represent multiple devices communicatively connected to each other and providing the functionality described herein.

[0112] Additionally, although the modular growth tower computing device 22 is illustrated as having different logic components (e.g., operational logic 28, system logic 32A, and crop logic 32B) and data components (e.g., system data 24A and crop data 24B) as separate components, this is merely an example. In some embodiments, a single logic component (and / or multiple link modules) and / or a single data component (and / or multiple link modules) may also enable the modular growth tower computing device 22 to provide the functionality described herein.

[0113] Similarly, when the modular growth tower computing device 22 is depicted in a "PC" environment, it should be understood that at least some embodiments are not limited in this manner. Specifically, some embodiments may be configured such that the modular growth tower computing device 22 is configured to include and / or include a programmable logic controller (PLC) and / or other computing infrastructure. Regarding the use of a PLC in the modular growth tower 10, reference can be made to [see...]. Figure 15 and Figure 16 The appropriate equivalent of the described component.

[0114] As illustrated above, different embodiments for providing the modular growth tower 10 are disclosed. These embodiments can be configured to produce excess crop per day (e.g., more than 20,000 pounds, 200,000 pounds, etc. of crop material per day, depending on the type of crop being grown)). Furthermore, the embodiments provided herein can use significantly less water and electricity than conventional solutions.

[0115] While specific embodiments and aspects of this disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, although various aspects have been described herein, such aspects do not necessarily need to be used in combination. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications within the scope of the embodiments shown and described herein.

[0116] It should now be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing modular growth tower systems. It should also be understood that these embodiments are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A modular grow tower system comprising: a modular grow tower assembly having: a plurality of body frames; a plurality of lift frames; and a plurality of rows extending in a longitudinal direction and stacked in a vertical direction; a plurality of carts for supporting crop material, each cart comprising: a plurality of wheels; and a tray for holding crop material; one or more lowering lift mechanisms for vertically translating the carts between the plurality of rows; one or more raising lift mechanisms for vertically translating the carts; a maintenance system for providing water and nutrients to the crop material; a lighting system comprising lighting elements mounted within the body frames; a drainage system comprising a drain and a drain pipe for collecting and transporting excess water and nutrients; and a master controller for managing and controlling operation of the modular grow tower system. Individual ones of the one or more raising lift mechanisms are located within a harvest frame.

2. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The one or more lowering lift mechanisms are positioned within the lift frames.

3. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The modular grow tower assembly is configurable to adjust the size and arrangement of the modular grow tower assembly by adding or removing body frames or lift frames.

4. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, Movement paths of the carts through the modular grow tower assembly are facilitated by the lowering lift mechanisms and the raising lift mechanisms.

5. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The movement paths comprise serpentine movement paths.

6. The modular grow tower system of claim 5, wherein, 7. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, further comprising: a seeding component mounted on one of the lift frames for dispensing crop material into the carts; a harvesting component for harvesting crop material from the carts; and a cleaning component for cleaning the carts after harvesting. The cleaning component comprises one or more ultraviolet sensors, imaging sensors, or microbiological sensors. The master controller is configured to manage environmental factors comprising: lighting, temperature, humidity, air flow, and nutrient delivery by the maintenance system.

8. The modular grow tower system of claim 7, wherein, The master controller is configured to adjust the environmental factors and growth recipes based on user input.

9. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The lowering lift mechanisms and the raising lift mechanisms are synchronized to facilitate transitions of carts between different rows and sections of the modular grow tower assembly.

10. The modular grow tower system of claim 9, wherein, The carts comprise sensors for monitoring crop growth and development, wherein the master controller adjusts one or more growth recipes based on data from the sensors.

11. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The maintenance system is configured to deliver precise amounts of water and nutrients to the crop material and comprises spray nozzles, drip tips, flood nozzles, and fluid lines.

12. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, The drainage system is configured to re-use water and nutrients collected within the maintenance system.

13. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, Each cart comprises male and female engagement mechanisms for connecting adjacent carts to maintain alignment and ensure smooth movement through the modular grow tower assembly.

14. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, ​ 15. The modular grow tower system of claim 1, wherein, ​

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