Plant cultivation equipment and method

Abstract

To provide a plant growing apparatus.SOLUTION: A plant growing apparatus comprises: an enclosure having an interior and an exterior, where the interior of the enclosure is configured to maintain environmental conditions within the enclosure; one or more light sources; a planting column having an aperture extending therethrough; a rotatable base; a central conduit that extends through the aperture of the planting column, where the planting column is configured to be rotatably movable around the central conduit; a water source; at least one sensor; an irrigation system; and a control system configured to be communicatively coupled to the irrigation system, the one or more sensors, the light sources and the rotatable base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This U.S. patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 405,532, filed October 7, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 467,621, filed March 6, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 524,811, filed June 26, 2017, the disclosures of which are considered part of the disclosure of this application and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to plant cultivation systems, such as cultivation equipment used for plants. In one aspect, the present invention particularly relates to aeroponics cultivation equipment and methods for cultivating plants in free-standing cultivation structures. [Background technology]

[0003] In response to food deserts that make fresh produce less available in densely populated areas, home gardening and micro gardens in apartment complexes and neighborhoods have expanded throughout the United States in recent years. More consumers want fresh produce and herbs grown locally to provide fresher produce and limit the preservatives and chemicals used in large grocery stores. Although these gardens do not require large amounts of land, physical land still needs to be prepared to create gardens to grow produce. Although the world's food needs cannot be met, the population continues to grow and is set to increase by 3 billion people within the next 30 years. In many urban environments, real estate comes at a premium that does not typically translate to dedicated garden use. Additionally, the garden climate and seasonal weather changes mean that many produce cannot be grown year-round, if at all. As housing developments are built to serve this growing population, dwindling supplies of potable water and available farmland, both of which are threatened by ever-changing weather conditions, become increasingly scarce, which will gradually increase food prices. Currently, most hydroponic systems use horizontal cultivation techniques that result in low yields relative to the area they cover. Existing hydroponic systems require a large assembly of pumps to circulate the hydroponic medium, as well as blowers to ensure the solution is filled with enough dissolved oxygen to avoid the roots. These additional actuators increase power consumption, which increases the time it takes for the consumer to enjoy a return on their investment. Similarly, the system has various shortcomings related to energy consumption, poor distribution of water and nutrients, and high maintenance costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a need for equipment to grow fresh produce while taking up minimal space in the home. The present invention relates to a thin film hydroponic and aeroponics equipment for growing plants, which can be configured to be easily installed in an apartment or home. The aeroponics equipment of the present invention can be completely freestanding or integrated into a kitchen with other equipment, providing space for stable cultivation of herbs and other produce. Furthermore, the present invention allows seeds or small seedlings to be grown to maturity in a short period of time, as opposed to the normal growing timeline, and without the need for pesticides and herbicides. This cultivation system allows users to purchase small seed pods and have them shipped directly to their home to grow produce or herbs in their own home. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a plant cultivation equipment comprising: an enclosure having an interior and an exterior, the interior of the enclosure configured to maintain environmental conditions within the enclosure; one or more light sources and a removable planting post having an aperture extending therethrough; a rotatable base; a central conduit, the conduit extending through an aperture in the planting post and configured such that the planting post can rotatably move about the central conduit; a water source; at least one sensor; an irrigation system; and a control system configured to be communicatively coupled to the irrigation system, the one or more sensors, the light sources, and the rotatable base.

[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for growing, monitoring and purchasing plants for cultivation in the plant cultivation equipment of the present invention, where a planting pod is assigned a barcode, which classifies environmental variables for that particular plant species, scans the barcode to assign the planting pod within the plant cultivation equipment and control system, runs control algorithms to determine optimal environmental variables based on the combination of plant species in the system, and adjusts the environment to achieve their environmental preferences.

[0007] The features and advantages of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they are obtained, will become more apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the disclosed systems and processes in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plant cultivation device; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plant cultivation device; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a plant cultivation device. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular planting post of plant cultivation equipment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4C is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular planting post of the plant cultivation equipment shown in FIG. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular planting post of the plant cultivation equipment shown in FIG. [Figure 4D] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular planting post of plant growing equipment having an opening sealing member. [Figure 4E] FIG. 4E is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular planting post of plant growing equipment having an opening sealing member shown in FIG. 4D. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a crop support of the present invention having a helical configuration. [Figure 5B] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a crop support of the present invention having a helical configuration. [Figure 5C] FIG. 2 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a crop support of the present invention having a helical configuration. [Figure 5D] FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a crop support of the present invention having a helical configuration. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The following detailed description is of example embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Such description is illustrative and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of possible embodiments. Such embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it will be understood that other embodiments with some variations may be practiced.

[0010] 1-6, the plant cultivation equipment 1 includes an enclosure housing 3 and a planting pole 5. The enclosure housing 3 may be environmentally controlled to provide an ideal cultivation environment for the various plant varieties that may be cultivated within the equipment. The enclosure may have an inner portion 7 and an outer portion 9. The enclosure 3 may take on a number of shapes, including cylindrical, triangular, pyramidal, spiral, and rectangular structures. Each shape may have corresponding side walls 11 as well as top 13 and bottom 15 to form the enclosure 3. In one exemplary embodiment, the enclosure may be rectangular in nature having six sides, including top wall 13, bottom wall 15, and four side walls 11a-11d. In one exemplary embodiment, the walls 11 may be connected to a support structure 17 that may function as a framework for the enclosure 3. In another embodiment, the walls may be seamlessly joined without a support structure, such as in the case of a circular tube or where the walls 11 function as a support structure. Additionally, the walls 11 may include an access door or panel 19 positioned on one or more walls 11 of the enclosure. The access door 19 allows a user to open the enclosure to remove or add plants for cultivation or harvesting. Similarly, the access door 19 allows a user access for any plant care that may be required.

[0011] The walls of the enclosure may be made of any suitable material. In one exemplary embodiment, the side walls may be made of a transparent material, such as glass, plexiglas, or other polymers. In one exemplary embodiment, the interior surface of one or more walls may have a reflective coating or material adhered or applied to the interior portion 7 of the wall of the enclosure 3. This coating or material may still be transparent from the outside, thereby allowing a user or observer to see inside the enclosure 3 of the plant growing equipment 1. The reflective interior may act as a mirror and maximize the light efficiency of the light source 21 within the enclosure 3 by reflecting light all around the enclosure 3. In one exemplary embodiment, the transparent side walls 11 may be provided with a colored pigment during the forming process to filter out red / blue grow lights 21 from within the enclosure 3. Furthermore, in one exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 3 may be further surrounded by a shell 23. The shell 23 may provide additional structural support and packaging for the enclosure in some applications. In one exemplary embodiment, the shell 23 may surround one or more sides of the enclosure, such as the top and one or more sides. As shown in FIG. 1, the shell 23 may cover the top and three sides 11 of the enclosure having a rectangular configuration. One of the side walls 11 remains accessible to the user and may have a movable door 19. The door 19 may use any suitable means for being movable, such as a hinge or slidable tracking. In an exemplary embodiment having a slidable door 19, the side wall 11 may have two separate parts. Each part may be movable, or alternatively, one part may be movable and the other part may be fixed. Similarly, in another exemplary embodiment, the side wall may have an opening 27 that is covered by the door 19. Additionally, the door 19 and the side wall 11 may further include a gasket or sealant 29 that helps maintain the interior environment 25 of the plant cultivation equipment 1. Similarly, the sealant 29 may be used to help maintain a positive pressure in the interior environment 25 of the enclosure.In some embodiments, one of the side walls 11 may be movable and function as a door to allow a user access to the interior environment 25 of the plant cultivation equipment 1. In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the plant cultivation equipment may further include a base portion 31 to which the enclosure 3 may be coupled or mounted. The base portion 31 may be used as a housing for various components of the system 1, including the water reservoir, pump, conduits, drive motor, and other components.

[0012] The enclosure 3 was used to measure temperature, humidity, light cycle, light spectrum, photosynthetically active radiation, the electrical conductivity value of the culture medium, the pH value of the culture medium, and especially oxygen, CO 2The device may further include a display 33 for providing a user with information regarding environmental aspects within the enclosure, such as ambient PPM of VOC content, etc. The display 33 may also be used as a control panel for the device 1. Similarly, the device 1 may include a standalone control panel, which may be communicatively coupled to the device. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless device, such as a smartphone, may operate as the display, the control panel, or both. Additionally, a camera 35 may enable a user to monitor and observe the growth of the plants inside the device. The camera 35 may be capable of and configured to obtain hyperspectral imaging to obtain data regarding the health of the plants in the device 1. Using the plant health data, the control system 39 may process the plant health data to optimize the internal environment 25 within the growing device 1, which may include adjusting the temperature, humidity, or various nutrients that may be added to the water source 57. The display 33 and / or the control panel 37 may be communicatively coupled to a control system 39, which may include a processing means 41, such as a microcontroller, a memory 43, and a transceiver 45. Alternatively, the display 33 and the control system 39 may be the display of a separate computer or mobile device communicatively coupled to the control system 39 and powered via an application on the device. This may allow a user to monitor the plant cultivation equipment 1 and adjust the desired internal environment 25 within the enclosure 3 remotely using the control system 39 using various wireless standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, NFC, Internet, etc. Similarly, the enclosure 3 may provide the user with data of the internal environment 35 using a combination of a physical display and a remote display. The data may be stored in the memory 43, or a permanent server or remote database may be used to collect and analyze data points from the control system 39 to determine market research and plant growth studies.

[0013] The crop post 5 can have an upper end 47 and a lower portion 49. The lower portion 49 can operate as a rotating platform proximate the bottom wall 15 of the enclosure 3, allowing the crop post 5 to rotate within the enclosure 3. The bottom wall 15 can have an aperture to allow a drive motor 51 to be coupled to the crop post 5. The crop post 5 can be manually rotatable or a user can use the drive motor 51 to rotate the crop post. The drive motor 51 can be positioned proximate the bottom wall 15 of the enclosure 3. The drive motor 51 can be communicatively coupled to a stepper motor system 111, which can be communicatively coupled to the control system 39. The drive motor 51 can be driven by a belt, chain, direct gear drive, rotated on a chassis with caster wheels, magnetically levitated, rotated by an electromagnet. A program may be stored in the memory 43 of the control system 39 to automatically rotate the crop support 5 as desired, at any time setting, for any duration. Similarly, the control system 39 may be communicatively coupled to a control panel 37 where a user may manually activate the drive motor 51 to rotate the crop support 5 in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.

[0014] By allowing the planting post 5 to rotate within the enclosure, the plant growing equipment can be placed in many environments and allows the user to easily access the plants within the enclosure 3 without having to go around to the other side of the enclosure and without damaging other plants. Similarly, by allowing the planting post 5 to rotate and the contents to be viewed from the outside, the user can rotate the planting post 5 to a desired position before opening the access door 19, thus limiting the time required to retrieve the desired plants. Thus, large variations in the internal environment 25 of the enclosure 3 and prolonged exposure to the environment outside the enclosure 3 are avoided. A stepper motor drive 59 coupled to the rotation drive motor 51 and communicatively coupled to the control system 39 can enable the equipment 1 to have position awareness of which plants are facing which particular light source 21, such as an LED array. This enables each LED array 21 to target a specific photosynthetically active radiation to photosynthetic photon flux density ratio for the plants facing it, thus maximizing its photosynthetic efficiency and reducing power consumption.

[0015] In one exemplary embodiment, the cropping support 5 can have an interior cavity 55 for receiving an aqueous solution, such as water, from a water source. The cropping support 5 can further include one or more cropping openings 59 included in the support 5 for receiving a plant, at least a portion of which can extend into the interior cavity 55 to engage the cropping medium, the aqueous solution, or both.

[0016] The cropping post 5 may be modular in nature and may comprise one or more sections as shown in FIG. 2. Each section of the cropping post 5 may have a predetermined number and size of cropping openings 59. The user selects between different parts of the cropping post 3 depending on the type of plants and / or herbs that he / she wishes to cultivate. If the plant species that the user wishes to cultivate is larger, a portion of the cropping post having larger and fewer openings 59 may be used. Furthermore, if the plant species desired by the user is of a smaller nature, a portion of the cropping post 5 in the enclosure having a larger number of openings 59 may be used. One or more parts of the cropping post 5 may be used in the enclosure 3 depending on the user's desired application.

[0017] The growing openings 59 may be adapted for aggregate or soil medium, or alternatively may be adapted for use as a spray culture growing port / aperture to be used without soil, aggregate, or growing medium. The growing openings 59 may allow for easy placement of plants within individual openings, or multiple plants within each opening, depending on the type of plant and the space required to best grow the plant. The openings extend into the interior cavity 55 of the growing support 5, and parts of the plant, such as the roots, extend into the interior cavity of the growing support. The parts extending into the interior of the growing support may be exposed to a nutrient-rich medium, such as nutrient-rich water, to provide the plant with the appropriate nutrients.

[0018] In one exemplary embodiment, the plants may arrive pre-packaged in a support medium, such as a seed germination medium or a cultivation pod 61, allowing the user to easily transport and transplant the seedlings or seeds into the planting opening 59 of the plant cultivation equipment. Alternatively, the cultivation opening 59 may be configured to receive the seedlings without the use of a support medium. The pod may be configured specifically for seed cultivation in aeroponics, allowing the plant's root system to grow and access nutrients provided within the interior cavity of the planting pole. In one exemplary embodiment, the opening 59 may have a fastening means 69 to allow the cultivation pod 61 to be securely coupled to the opening 59. The fastening means 69 may use any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners, magnetic fasteners, snap-fit ​​fasteners, or other suitable fastening means. Similarly, the pod may have a corresponding fastening means 71 that interacts with the fastening means 69 of the opening. This corresponding fastening means ensures that the growing pod is held securely in the opening 59 of the planting post 5, as well as in a sealed relationship to limit or prevent the aqueous solution from leaking out of the interior cavity 55 through the opening 59. Alternatively, or additionally, proximate to the opening 59 of the post may be a hinged opening seal member 139 that may be used to prevent moisture from leaking out of the interior cavity 55 of the post 5. The flap may be configured to form a seal around the edge of the pod 61 and the opening 59 to approximate the shape of the opening 59. In some embodiments, the flap may be hinged, but may coop with the opening using any suitable means, such as a threaded rod, a nut and bolt, or any other variation. Additionally, the lower portion of the opening seal member 139 may be lined with a gasket to reduce the breathability of the seal. The aperture seal member 139 may be spring loaded to provide additional force to close, and may be fitted with a handle or latch to lock it into place and provide a stronger grip for the user.

[0019] The plant cultivation equipment may further include an irrigation system 95 configured to provide water and other nutrients to plants held within the equipment. The irrigation system 95 may also be used in part as a humidification device to maintain relative humidity within the plant cultivation equipment. The irrigation system may include one or more conduits that transport water and other nutrients throughout the present disclosure.

[0020] The irrigation system can use a water source to provide water to the plants in the plant cultivation equipment. The water source can be directly connected to the plant cultivation equipment from nearby water piped in close proximity to where the plant cultivation equipment will be positioned. Alternatively, the water source can be a water tank located at the base of the plant cultivation equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the water tank can be removable from the plant cultivation equipment, eliminating the need to have a direct water line directly connected to the plant cultivation equipment. This can allow the plant cultivation equipment to easily fit into a consumer's current kitchen or home configuration without the need to plumb a new water outlet. The plant support base 31 and / or the floor within the enclosure can have a drainage system to receive overflow and excess water to be recirculated and used by the irrigation system. A water level sensor 135 can activate a valve relay communicatively coupled to the control system 39 to activate a valve to refill the tank, thereby maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in the tank.

[0021] The water reservoir may use a sensor or device to monitor the water level in the reservoir. This sensor may communicate with the control panel to provide a warning to the user that the water reservoir needs to be refilled or that the water level is low. Additionally, the plant cultivation equipment may further include additional tanks for storing other materials and liquids, such as plant nutrients. Any number of tanks may be used depending on the number of desired nutrients used by the user for plant growth. There may be an additional mixing tank that allows the water from the water reservoir to mix with a desired mixture of nutrients before being distributed within the plant cultivation equipment.

[0022] The irrigation system 95 may further include one or more pumps 93 configured to move water or nutrient rich fluid throughout the conduits 65 to be delivered to the plants in the device. The pumps 93 may be communicatively coupled to the control panel 35 so as to be remotely activated when desired by a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the pumps 93 may be used to pump materials from the tank 63 to a secondary tank, which then pumps the aqueous solution for delivery through the conduits 65 to the delivery device 67. The secondary tank may have one or more chambers that may contain various nutrients that may be added to the water from the tank 63 and pumped through the conduits 65 to be delivered to the plants.

[0023] In one exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the tank 63 may be located in a drawer 131 housed in the base 31 of the device 1. When the drawer 131 is open, a user may remove the hydroponic culture solution container to clean, empty, or replace the container. The pump 93 may be submerged or in-line with the water source 57 and connects to an intake conduit 133 that pumps the hydroponic culture solution through the distribution device 67. In one exemplary embodiment, the water source 57 may be obtained from water stored in the tank 63. Alternatively, the pump 93 may be located outside the culture solution and directly plumbed in-line to distribute the hydroponic culture solution through the distribution device. The intake hose may run inside a larger exhaust hose that circulates the hydroponic culture solution back to the tank 63 by gravity. Similarly, the intake conduit 133 can provide a channel for transferring fluid from a reservoir or fluid source to the dispensing device 67, which may have a nozzle or spray head that can be suspended proximate the top end 47 of the internal cavity 55 of the planting post 5. The nozzle can deliver an aqueous solution to the roots that extend into the internal cavity 55 of the planting post 5. In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle can be a spray nozzle. A turntable ring can mount the planting post 5 to the top and bottom of the growing chamber. Alternatively, the planting post 5 can be mounted only to the bottom 15 of the device 1. The turntable ring can include a flange socket disposed inside a bearing or slewing bearing driven by a motor or any other torque generating actuator 141.

[0024] The intake hose 133 and the exhaust hose 129 run inside the turntable to prevent damage to the growing medium and the irrigation system 95 that could damage the system or the plants. The distribution means 67 can be removed through a threaded hole on the flange blind to allow the user to clean the device without having to completely disassemble the equipment. In another exemplary embodiment, the distribution means 67 can have a threaded receiver in the planting pole 5. A gasket 127 can be used between the top of the equipment and the upper end of the pole 5 to form a watertight seal. Furthermore, the plant growing equipment 1 can be directly connected to the water source 57 and can automatically add water to keep the basin 63 at a specified water level using a valve system 97 having and using one or more actuable valves. In one exemplary embodiment, the planting pole 5 can be removable with an accessible bearing that can be opened to allow the user to remove the shaft, the spring-loaded bearing, or it can simply rest on the bearing and be lifted out of the system.

[0025] The distribution equipment may be supplied with water by a conduit 65 configured to transfer water from a water source 57 to the internal cavity 55 of the crop support 5 and to the water distribution equipment 67. In one exemplary embodiment, the conduit 65 may be centrally located within the internal cavity 55 of the crop support and terminate at the top end 47 of the crop support. Alternatively, the conduit 65 may extend along the inside or outside of one of the enclosure walls, extend adjacent to the inner top wall, and extend downward to the top end 47 of the support 5, as shown in FIG. 3. The crop support 5 may be configured to rotate around the conduit 65 within the internal cavity 55 of the crop support 5. The conduit 65 is fluidly connected to an irrigation system 95, which may include a basin 63, a pump 93, to transfer water from the water source 57 to the distribution equipment 67 within the internal cavity 55 of the crop support 5. In one exemplary embodiment, the conduit 65 may have one or more distribution means positioned axially from the top to the bottom of the column to distribute fluid to the internal cavity of the planting column. In this embodiment, the pump and central conduit can maintain sufficient water pressure to ensure fluid distribution along the entire height of the central conduit. Spray culture systems often experience failures due to buildup of loose biomass from the plant roots clogging the spray heads in the recirculation system. This is solved by a removable central conduit that allows the user to clean the orifices without disassembling the equipment.

[0026] The inside of the enclosure may further comprise one or more light sources. In one exemplary embodiment, the light sources may be a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs may be positioned along the inside of the enclosure. In one exemplary embodiment, the LEDs may extend along the vertical support structure at the corners of the enclosure as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, light sources 21, such as LEDs, may surround the entire inside of the enclosure to provide suitable light for the plants within the enclosure. As previously mentioned, the inside of the wall may be reflective to more efficiently spread the light throughout the entire inside of the enclosure. The inner corner panels may be used to allow the plant growing equipment to have LED light arrays 21 that can be mechanically fastened to the vertical support structure 17 or the inner corner panels as opposed to the current adhesive backing. This should ensure longer life, durability, and increased production rates. Additionally, the light sources may be coupled to a heat sink. In one exemplary embodiment, the inner corner panels of the enclosure 3 may be removable to allow for easy assembly, maintenance, or replacement of the light sources 21 as well as function as a heat sink. Additionally, the cavity formed by the corners can hide wires and other unsightly electrical components to prevent them from being exposed to moisture and other environmental conditions. In another example, the light source 21 may be a series of projectors that emit targeted light intensities toward the exact shape and dimensions of a plant's profile to specifically target a particular plant within the opening 59. A camera vision database stored in memory 43 can / should be used to analyze the plant profile from the data obtained by the camera 35.

[0027] The plant growing equipment may also include additional environmental systems, such as a temperature and humidity (TH) system that maintains temperature and humidity within certain thresholds through the use of fans, blowers, chillers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, refrigeration, or any air propulsion device. System 73 uses a gas injection system to circulate CO 2 or other gases, ideal for CO in an enclosure. 2The system 73 may also monitor the levels of one or more temperature sensors, humidity sensors, CO 2 The sensor 77 may be coupled to the ion exchanger 72. Similarly, other environmental systems may include an electrical conductivity (EC) system 81 having an EC sensor 83, a pH system 85 having a pH sensor 87, and a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) system 107 having a PAR sensor 109, among others.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the plant cultivation equipment 1 can use a power source 79 to power various elements of the system. The power source 79 can be directly wired to a power grid, a solar system, or can use a battery system or other power supply methods. In an exemplary embodiment, the plant cultivation equipment can have a secondary power source, such as a battery backup, in case the primary power source becomes inoperable. The plant cultivation equipment can further include a control system 39 comprising a processing means 41, a memory 43, a transceiver 45, and an antenna. The control system 39 can be communicatively coupled with various elements of the plant cultivation equipment, such as one or more pumps 93, a fan 77, a TH system 73, an irrigation system 95, a sensor 77, a light source 21, a valve system 97, a relay 99, a solenoid 101, a drive motor 51, etc., configured to efficiently cultivate plants. A user can set a predetermined program on a memory 43 communicatively coupled to the control system 39, which can execute the desired program at one or more predetermined times throughout the day, week, or month by communicating with the various environmental systems and components of the equipment 1.

[0029] Similarly, the control system 39 may use environmental data acquired in real time via one or more sensors in the enclosure 3. These sensors may include a temperature sensor 103, a relative humidity sensor 105, a pH sensor 87, an electrical conductivity sensor 83, a PAR sensor 107, a photon flux density sensor, an infrared camera 35, and spectral imaging, among other sensors. These sensors may be stored and integrated to monitor and control the internal environment 25 of the enclosure 3 in real time. Furthermore, several predefined parameters may be stored in a memory 43 communicatively coupled to the control system 39 which operates various components of the plant cultivation equipment 1 in response to the predefined parameters. One example includes operating the valves 101 and pumps 93 of the irrigation system 95 to distribute water from the conduits 65 through the internal cavity 55 of the support 5 in the enclosure to the exposed roots of the plants. Similarly, the conduits 65 may provide moisture to the internal environment and to the leaves exposed on the outside of the planting support 5 using a distribution means. In one exemplary embodiment, the conduit may extend vertically upward through the interior cavity 55 of the post to the delivery means 67 adjacent the upper end 47 of the post 5. The lower portion 49 of the post may include a drain passage 125 that allows the aqueous solution to drain into the reservoir 63. The drain passage 125 may be connected to a drain conduit 127 to direct the aqueous solution to the reservoir 63.

[0030] Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, one or more cameras 35 may be positioned within the enclosure 3 to capture video / image data of each planting opening 59. The image data may be analyzed by the control system to determine when a new plant is needed to refill the location or if the plant appears dead / wilted. The control system 39 may then initiate an alert to the user's display 33 or mobile device. The control system 39 may further be communicatively coupled to a drive motor system communicatively coupled to the drive motor 51, an LED array spectrum controller, an imaging system 112, and various fans 75 for the enclosure. In some embodiments, the fans 75 may be positioned proximate various walls 11 of the enclosure 3, including the top wall 13 and the bottom wall 15. The fans 75 may be communicatively coupled to the fan control system 53. In some embodiments, the fans 75 may be sealed to allow the interior environment 25 to be at a positive pressure. Additionally, the fans may have an insect prevention system to prevent pests from entering the interior environment 25. The control system 39 may be communicatively coupled to both a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) unit 117 and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) unit 119 to process various signals from various systems of the plant cultivation equipment 1.

[0031] A hyperspectral imaging camera 35 may enable each unit to collect information for large scale phenotyping experiments. The camera 35 may be used to create a feedback loop to detect a lack of moisture in the plants and water them accordingly with the pump 93, thereby reducing power consumption. Additionally, the camera 35 may be used to monitor the nutrient content of the growing plants and modify the content of the nutrient solution dispensed by the control system 39 by using similar feedback loops and algorithms stored in the memory 43. Moisture, CO 2This may eliminate the need for the system to have pH sensors 87 and EC sensors 83 that may routinely fail and need to be periodically replaced or recalibrated, when the feedback loops can be more reactionary, monitoring for any deficiencies in nutrients, nutrients, or other nutrients. Additionally, a camera 35 may be used in place of an RFID tag or barcode system to monitor the actual contents of the growing chamber and provide location and health data for each individual plant to the user. An algorithm / feedback system may be established to prompt or alert the user, using an interface such as the display 33, upon plant death, plant harvest, or predicted plant harvest, to purchase new plants.

[0032] The control system 39 of the plant cultivation equipment 1 can use control algorithms to monitor and adjust the gas exchange, humidity, light cycle, nutrient solution pH, and nutrient solution electrical conductivity in the system using various environmental systems. Each cultivation pod 61 can be assigned a barcode to classify these variables for its particular plant species. Once the cultivation pod 61 is scanned and placed in the system, the control algorithm can determine the optimal average environmental variables based on the combination of plant species in the system and adjust the environment to achieve their preferences. Similarly, the control system 39 can acquire and store data obtained by various systems of the equipment 1, including but not limited to the gas system 89, EC system 81, pH sensor system 85, imaging system 113, PAR sensor unit 107, and TH system 73. Based on the data obtained by these systems, the control system 39 can determine the plant health status for each individual plant in the equipment 1, as well as the average plant health status of all plants in the enclosure 3. The control system 39 may use one or more algorithms to implement commands to various other systems to modify the internal environment 25 within the enclosure 3, thereby providing a better growing environment for the plants. These systems may include the fan control system 74, the stepper motor system 11, the irrigation system 95, the valve system 97, and the light spectrum control system 114, which effect the changes in the internal environment 25 within the enclosure 3.

[0033] Similarly, the growing pods 61 may use different types of tags to track the type and location of the different plants within the chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, the seed pods may have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to track the type and location of the plants within the enclosure 3. The corresponding openings / ports 59 that receive the individual pods 61 may have readers to read the pods' tags. These may include bar code readers and RFID readers, among other readers. The growing pods 61 may be of any suitable size or shape. In one exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 4A-4C, the pods 61 may have an upper rim 121 with an interlocking fastening means 71. The pods 61 may also have a lower portion 123 that may be perforated to allow root growth to extend from the lower portion 123 of the pods 61. In one exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the pods 61 may extend into the interior cavity 55 of the planting post 5, as shown in Figure 4C.

[0034] In another exemplary embodiment of the pod 61 used having a pyramidal design, the planting post may have a corresponding shape of the opening 59 to receive the pod 61. The receiver port of the planting post may allow the pyramidal-based reusable seedling pod to be placed directly into the system for planting seedlings. The non-circular design ensures that the seedling pod is securely positioned and prevents possible falling out of the planting post 59. The pyramidal design may help hold the pod 61 securely in place within the planting post aperture and also helps to prevent the pod 61 from rotating or falling out of the opening 59.

[0035] In one exemplary embodiment, the base of the pyramid 61 may have a substantially planar base with an aperture. The aperture may be configured to a size large enough to allow and promote root growth, but small enough to prevent seedlings from falling through it and into the inside of the planting post. The pod may be used with or without a growing medium. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4B, an exemplary embodiment of a planting pod may have a circular top end. The top end may further include an engagement mechanism that is used to securely engage the pod with the planting post. In one embodiment, the engagement mechanism may be a magnet that couples the pod to a corresponding magnet on the planting post. One or more magnets may be utilized. In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more magnets may be positioned on the underside of the top end of the pod.

[0036] The cropping support 5 may have various configurations, such as a circular configuration as shown in Figs. 1-4, or a helical cropping support 5 configuration as shown in Figs. 5A-DD. As shown in Figs. 5A-5D, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the rotating cropping support may be helical. Similar to the cylindrical cropping support, the helical cropping support may have an internal cavity 55 of a primarily helical configuration. The internal cavity 55 may allow the flow of aqueous solution through the cavity and the interface with the pods 61. In some embodiments, the internal cavity may be configured vertically and a spray function may be used to contain water within the internal cavity 55. In other exemplary embodiments, the internal cavity 55 may form a flow path through which the water may flow using gravity. This rotating nutrient solution hydroponic helix may allow the plants to receive sufficient nutrient solution while reducing the possibility of clogging in the central conduit 65 that supplies the aqueous solution. Water may be pumped upward through the central conduit to the top end 47 of the support 5. The water then flows downward through the helical internal cavity 55 using gravity until it returns to the basin 63 through the drain opening 125 proximate the lower portion of the column 5, where the solution can be pumped upward back to the upper end 47 of the column 5. The internal cavity 55 is formed into a helical flow path to allow water to flow continuously through the internal cavity 55 to provide the nutrient rich solution to the plants positioned at the opening 59. The recirculation process can continue for a predetermined period of time, either manually or based on machine learning from the control system 39, until the appropriate nutrients and water are provided to the plants. The helical column 5 can be attached to flange blinds at the ends to form a removable tower that still maintains a watertight seal. Additionally, the helical shape can allow for the use of a low pressure pump 93 to distribute water through the helical column, eliminating the need for a high pressure pump for spraying, which can sometimes clog and become less functional. The spiral support 5 also increases efficiency and nearly eliminates any clogging issues that may occur with traditional hydroponic / aeroponics systems. Additionally, the spiral design may help maximize the efficiency of the number of plants that can be used on a planting support using thin film techniques, allowing for more efficient use of space.Similarly, the crop support may also be used outside of the enclosure and in outdoor environments. In one exemplary embodiment, the crop support may be attached to a turbine powered by a power source such as wind, an internal combustion engine, or any other thermal cycle.

[0037] This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is illustrative, and not limiting. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

1. an enclosure having an interior, the interior of the enclosure configured to maintain an internal environment within the enclosure and sized to be installed within an apartment or home; At least one light source; a crop support having a cavity formed therethrough; a drive motor coupled to a lower portion of the crop support and configured to rotate the crop support within the enclosure; a conduit for transporting an aqueous solution to a distribution device positioned at an upper end of the planting post, the distribution device being configured to distribute the aqueous solution throughout the cavity, the planting post being configured to be rotatably movable relative to the distribution device; a water source fluidly coupled to the dispensing device through the conduit for dispensing the aqueous solution from the dispensing device; at least one sensor that acquires data regarding the health of individual plants within the enclosure; An irrigation system; a control system configured to be communicatively coupled to the irrigation system, the sensor, the light source, and the drive motor; A plant cultivation device comprising: The at least one light source, the planting post, the drive motor, the conduit, the sensor, and the irrigation system are stand-alone with the enclosure as part of the plant cultivation equipment.

2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a top, a base, and at least one wall, the wall having an inner surface.

3. The plant growing equipment of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of the wall is configured to reflect light emitted within the enclosure.

4. 2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, wherein the planting support further comprises a plurality of sections removably coupled to one another to form the cavity, each section having at least one opening configured to receive a plant.

5. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED).

6. 2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, further comprising: the water source including a water reservoir, the water reservoir being substantially separated from the interior of the enclosure by a bottom wall.

7. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the water source, the conduit, and the irrigation system are fluidly connectable to each other.

8. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the planting post rotates around the distribution equipment.

9. 2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, wherein the irrigation system comprises a pump and a secondary fluid conduit configured to transport water from the water source to the conduit.

10. 2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is rectangular and has one or more openings for accessing the interior of the enclosure.

11. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the planting post further comprises a rotatable base.

12. The plant growing equipment of claim 1 , wherein the cavities of the planting post are arranged in a spiral configuration.

13. 10. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and a color spectrum of light to manipulate plant growth within the enclosure.

14. 14. The plant cultivation equipment of claim 13, further comprising a drawer formed in a base of the plant cultivation equipment for receiving a removable water reservoir.

15. 6. The plant growing equipment of claim 5, wherein the LEDs provide a variable color spectrum selectable by the control system to manipulate plant growth.

16. 1. A system for growing, monitoring, and purchasing plants for cultivation in a plant cultivation device, comprising: providing a rotatable planting post formed from a plurality of sections removably joined together to form a cavity; assigning identifiers to the planting pods having individual plant species; classifying environmental variables associated with said identifier; assigning a position code to a position of the planting pod within the plant cultivation equipment, the position code being assigned to an opening of the rotatable planting pole that provides access to the cavity for at least a portion of the planting pod; implementing a control algorithm for determining optimal environmental conditions based on the environmental variables associated with the identifier and the location code; averaging the environmental variables identified by a control system for combinations of plant species and locations within the system positioned at distinct openings of the rotatable planting pole; Adjusting the environment to achieve one or more of the averaged environmental variables and the optimal environmental conditions. Including, The system, wherein adjusting the environment includes distributing an aqueous solution throughout the cavity of the rotatable planting post with a distribution device positioned at an upper end of the rotatable planting post.

17. Water sources and a growing post having an internal cavity and at least one opening configured to allow access to the internal cavity; an enclosure surrounding the growing support and sized to be installed in an apartment or home; a pump fluidly connected to the water source; a dispensing device positioned at an upper end of the growing support and fluidly coupled to the pump for dispensing aqueous solution throughout the interior cavity, wherein unused aqueous solution is directed by gravity through the interior cavity to a water reservoir; An apparatus for cultivating plants, comprising: the pump is configured to pump water from the water source to the internal cavity through the one distribution device; Further, the one dispensing device is rotatably coupled to the upper end of the growing pole to allow the growing pole to rotate relative to the dispensing device; Further, the growing support, the enclosure, the pump, and the one dispensing device are configured to be standalone or integrated into a kitchen as an appliance.

18. 20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a plant growing pod comprising an upper rim and a lower portion configured to fit within the opening, the lower portion configured to extend at least partially into the interior cavity of the growing support.

19. 2. The plant growing equipment of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is positioned at least partially along the inner corner of the enclosure.

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