Vertical Pole Conveyor System for Automated Agricultural Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional farming methods are labor and equipment intensive, and face challenges in controlling growing conditions, reducing worker accidents, and optimizing crop yields, especially in vertical growing systems.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system using overhead monorails or I-beam rails to move vertical poles with plant containers, enabling automated management and maintenance, combined with computer control and sensors for data collection and optimized growth strategies, allowing for efficient inventory control and 'just-in-time' harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workers travel to plants for planting, maintenance, and harvesting in traditional farming systems, then labor and equipment intensive operations are performed, but this increases worker accidents and reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional farming approach by bringing the plants to the worker instead of the worker traveling to the plants. The conveyor system moves plant containers along a fixed path, allowing workers to remain stationary at workstations while plants are transported past them for planting, maintenance, and harvesting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system acts as an intermediary between the plants and workers. It provides a controlled transportation mechanism that moves plants through designated workstations, eliminating the need for workers to travel through fields and reducing exposure to harmful environmental factors while maintaining efficient operational flow.
2Productivity
If vertical growing systems are implemented to increase production per square foot, then space efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing and maintaining plants at elevated positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic conveyor systems that can adjust speeds, directions, and stopping positions to accommodate different plant types, growth stages, and maintenance requirements. The movable plant containers allow flexible reconfiguration of growing spaces while maintaining automated transportation and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical growing system is segmented into discrete plant containers that can be independently managed, transported, and maintained. Each container serves as a modular unit on the conveyor system, allowing selective access to specific plants without disrupting the entire system and simplifying maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If traditional farming equipment such as tractors and harvesters is used, then field operations can be performed, but expensive and dangerous vehicles are required increasing operational costs and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical field equipment (tractors, harvesters) with a controlled conveyor system that transports plants through stationary workstations. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive, dangerous vehicles while maintaining efficient planting, maintenance, and harvesting operations through automated or assisted manual processes at fixed locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor system (4, 5) moves vertical poles (2) in an agricultural facility between a growing area (20) and a workstation (W). Each pole carries plant growing containers (3) at multiple levels (H1-H9). An irrigation reservoir (30) may be mounted atop each pole. Irrigation lines (31-33) from the reservoir may be individually metered (35) at each level to compensate for differing water pressure with height. Sensors (40) in the reservoir and at each level of the poles may provide a controller (36) with data input. The controller may impose different growing conditions in different areas of the facility, including vertically different grow areas (20A, 20B), and controls pole movements and locations selectively to provide a sequence of poles at the workstation ready to harvest on a demand schedule. The workstation may have multiple heights (W1, W2, W3) for tall poles that increase plant density per facility footprint.