Vertical grow tower conveyance system for controlled environment agriculture

US11690326B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Gage Goodspeed Coffin · Los Altos Hills, US
• Michael Peter Flynn · Palo Alto, US
• Brice Klein · San Francisco, US
• Alexandre Le Roux · Menlo Park, US
• Timothy Michael Murcko · San Mateo, US
• Nathaniel R. Storey · Laramie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 12, 2021
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 12, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P60/21
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.