Mechanized Pollination Chamber for Vertical Grow Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural practices face challenges in implementing effective pollination in controlled environment agriculture systems, as live pollination vectors like bees are not well-suited for indoor farming, necessitating improved mechanized pollination methods.
Innovation Solution
A mechanized pollination system utilizing a grow line with grow towers, a pollination chamber, and mechanisms for circulating pollen, including blowers, vibration generators, and nozzles to facilitate pollination within a controlled environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional live pollination vectors (bees) are used in controlled environment agriculture, then natural pollination can occur, but the system becomes difficult to implement and control in indoor farming settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces biological pollination vectors (bees) with mechanical pollination systems including vibration generators, blowers, and nozzle systems that mechanically deliver pollen to plants in controlled environment agriculture, making pollination suitable for indoor farming settings while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic systems including blowers and air flow mechanisms to circulate pollen through the controlled environment, delivering pollen to plants without requiring live vectors, thereby enabling reliable pollination in indoor farming settings
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanized pollination systems are implemented, then pollination can be controlled in indoor farming, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pollination system into separate functional modules including vibration generators for pollen release, blowers for pollen circulation, and nozzle systems for targeted delivery, allowing each component to be optimized independently and simplifying overall system implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs pollination components that can serve multiple functions within the controlled environment agriculture system, such as integration with plant support structures and compatibility with various plant types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and controlled pollination of plants in indoor agricultural systems, increasing crop yield and fruit production without environmental constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a blower in fluid communication with the volume, the blower adapted to circulate pollen within the volume
Implementation Method 2
one or more vibration generators coupled to the gutter or the grow line
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.