Vertical Growing Tower for Automated Horticulture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional commercial horticultural and agricultural practices face inefficiencies in plant growth and harvesting, particularly in vertical farming systems, where harvesting mature plants is complicated and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for continuous automated plant growth using a vertical array of rotating potting arms with radially extending PVC pipes, each equipped with pot receptacles for seedlings and nutrient delivery, beneath grow lamps, with increased feeding frequency and CO2-enriched air, allowing for manual harvesting and replacement of plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plants are grown in traditional horizontal greenhouses, then harvesting is simple, but land space consumption is high and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal plant arrangement to a vertical three-dimensional growing structure. Multiple levels of grow beds are stacked vertically, allowing plants to grow in multiple tiers within a compact footprint. This dimensional change dramatically increases productivity per unit area while maintaining ease of harvesting through front-access design.
Solution Approach 2:
The growing system is divided into multiple independent grow beds arranged in tiers, with each bed capable of holding and nurturing plants separately. This segmentation allows for optimized growth conditions in each tier while facilitating efficient access and harvesting from the front of each level.
2Productivity
If vertical farming systems are implemented to reduce land space, then productivity increases, but harvesting becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical grow beds are designed with front-access openings that allow harvesters to reach plants from the front without needing to climb or maneuver around the structure. This front-access design maintains the space-saving vertical configuration while simplifying harvesting operations to be as easy as reaching forward.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical grow bed structure serves multiple functions: it provides vertical space utilization for high productivity, maintains stable growth conditions through enclosed design, and enables easy harvesting through front-access openings. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between vertical farming benefits and harvesting ease.
3Area of stationary object
If automated rotating systems are used for plant growth, then land space efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical grow bed structure provides multiple benefits simultaneously: vertical space utilization for land efficiency, stable environmental control for plant growth, and front-access design for easy harvesting. This multi-functional design achieves space efficiency without requiring complex automated rotating mechanisms.
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, automated, and controlled plant production with reduced land space, allowing for continuous cultivation and optimized growth conditions, including lighting, temperature, and nutrition, which can be remotely programmed, improving productivity and simplifying the harvesting process.
Implementation Method 1
The potting arms are rotated beneath grow lamps
Implementation Method 2
CO2 enriched air may also be provided
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes a vertical array of plant supporting arms extending radially from a central column. Each arm has a plurality of plant receiving trough elements which receive the plant seedling and liquid nutrients and water. The plant supporting arms rotate on the hollow column which is motor-driven at its lower end and supported on a bearing mounted on a fixed central pipe at its upper end. The central pipe is fixed to a concrete base or post buried in the supporting surface.