PLANT GROWING SYSTEM

• US 20140165468A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garden Fresh Farms LLC
• Original Assignee: Garden Fresh Farms LLC
• Inventors: ROESER, David, ROESER, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 10,111,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/62.R
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0237 Devices for protecting a specific part of a plant, e.g. roots, trunk or fruits
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/047 with containers inside rotating drums or rotating around a horizontal axis, e.g. carousels
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/12 Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like trellis-work for vines A01G17/06; stays for trees, props for vines A01G17/14
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

Systems and associated apparatus and methods are described for growing plants in a dense and efficient manner in an indoor environment using artificial light. The systems are configured to hold a high density of plants at a relatively close, substantially fixed distance from a light fixture that provides artificial light for growth of the plants. As the plants grow, the plants are transferred to one or more following stations or stages, each of which is configured to hold the now larger plants at the same relatively close, substantially fixed distance from a light fixture. By providing multiple stages to accommodate plant growth, and maintaining the close positioning of the plants to the light fixtures, the impact of the artificial light on the growth of the plants is maximized and the efficiency of the electrical energy use is increased.

Claims

1. A plant growing system, comprising:

first and second plant growing stations that are arranged next to one another;

the first and second plant growing stations each include a light fixture and a plant support structure that is configured to hold a plurality of plants thereon with the plants facing the light fixture, the light fixture and the plant support structure are mounted to permit relative movement therebetween;

the plant support structure of each of the first and second plant growing stations includes a first surface that in use faces toward its associated light fixture;

in the first plant growing station, there is a first substantially constant distance between the light fixture thereof and the first surface of the plant support structure thereof;

in the second plant growing station, there is a second substantially constant distance between the light fixture thereof and the first surface of the plant support structure thereof; and

the first distance is less than the second distance.

2. The plant growing system of claim 1, further comprising a third plant growing station, wherein the first plant growing station is followed by the second plant growing station, and the second plant growing station is followed by the third plant growing station;

the third plant growing station includes a light fixture and a plant support structure that is configured to hold a plurality of plants with the plants facing the light fixture thereof, the light fixture of the third plant growing station and the plant support structure of the third plant growing station are mounted to permit relative movement therebetween;

the plant support structure of the third plant growing station includes a first surface that in use faces toward the light fixture thereof;

in the third plant growing station, there is a third distance between the light fixture thereof and the first surface of the plant support structure thereof; and

the third distance is greater than the second distance.

3. The plant growing system of claim 1, wherein each plant support structure comprises a panel with the first surface facing the light fixture of the respective plant growing station, a second surface opposite the first surface and that is exposed to air, and a plurality of holes formed through the panel from the first surface to the second surface, wherein in use, root balls of the plants are held in the holes with the plants facing the light fixture and the root balls of the plants exposed to air.

4. The plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second plant growing stations are rotary plant growing stations, the plant support structure of each plant growing station comprises a rotatable structure that is rotatable about an axis of the structure and that surrounds the light fixture which is fixed in position.

5. The plant growing system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable structure comprises a plurality of panels that are removably attached to one another, and each of the panels is formed with a plurality of holes in which root balls of the plants can be held.

6. The plant growing system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable structure is rotatable about the axis of the structure relative to the light fixture at a constant speed.

7. The plant growing system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable structure of the first plant growing station has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the rotatable structure of the second plant growing station.

8. The plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second plant growing stations are vertical plant growing stations, and the plant support structure of each plant growing station comprises at least one vertical panel, and the vertical panel is movable in a linear direction relative to the light fixture.

9. The plant growing system of claim 8, wherein each vertical panel is formed with a plurality of holes in which root balls of the plants can be held.

10. The plant growing system of claim 9, wherein each vertical panel is a double sided panel having a plurality of holes formed on each side of the panel in which root balls of the plants can be held.

11. The plant growing system of claim 4, further comprising a water trough underneath the rotatable structure of each plant growing station, the water troughs are fluidly connected to one another, and the water trough associated with the second plant growing station is disposed at a higher elevation than the water trough associated with the first plant growing station.

12. The plant growing system of claim 11, further comprising an aquaponic or hydroponic system fluidly connected to the water troughs, the aquaponic or hydroponic system is configured to supply nutrient rich water.

13. A plant growing system, comprising:

first and second plant growing stations that are arranged next to one another;

the first and second plant growing stations each include a light fixture and a plant support structure that is configured to hold a plurality of plants thereon with the plants facing the light fixture, the light fixture and the plant support structure are mounted to permit relative movement therebetween;

a plurality of plants mounted on the plant support structure of each of the first and second plant growing stations;

in the first plant growing station, a first substantially constant distance between the light fixture thereof and the plants mounted on the plant support structure thereof;

in the second plant growing station, a second substantially constant distance between the light fixture thereof and the plants mounted on the plant support structure thereof; and

the first substantially constant distance is equal to the second substantially constant distance.

14. The plant growing system of claim 13, wherein each plant support structure comprises a panel with a first surface facing the light fixture of the respective plant growing station, a second surface opposite the first surface and that is exposed to air, and a plurality of holes formed through the panel from the first surface to the second surface, wherein in use, root balls of the plants are held in the holes with the plants facing the light fixture and the root balls of the plants exposed to air.

15. The plant growing system of claim 13, wherein the first and second plant growing stations are:

rotary plant growing stations, the plant support structure of each plant growing station comprises a rotatable structure that is rotatable about an axis of the structure and that surrounds the light fixture which is fixed in position;

or

vertical plant growing stations, and the plant support structure of each plant growing station comprises at least one vertical panel, and the vertical panel is movable in a linear direction relative to the light fixture.

16. A plant growing station usable in a plant growing system, comprising:

a light fixture and a plant support structure that is configured to hold a plurality of plants thereon with the plants facing the light fixture, the light fixture and the plant support structure are mounted to permit relative movement therebetween;

the plant support structure includes a first surface that in use faces toward the light fixture with a substantially constant distance therebetween, a second surface opposite the first surface and that is exposed to air, and a plurality of holes formed through the panel from the interior surface to the second surface, wherein in use, root balls of the plants are held in the holes with the plants facing the light fixture and the root balls of the plants exposed to air.

17. The plant growing station of claim 16, wherein the plant support structure comprises a structure that surrounds the light fixture and that is rotatable about an axis of the structure relative to the light fixture, the structure includes a plurality of panels that are removably attached to one another to form the structure, and each of the panels is formed with a plurality of the holes.

18. The plant growing station of claim 17, wherein the structure is rotatable about the axis relative to the light fixture at a constant speed.

19. The plant growing station of claim 16, wherein the plant support structure comprises at least one vertical panel that is formed with a plurality of the holes, and the vertical panel is movable in a linear direction relative to the light fixture.

20. The plant growing station of claim 19, wherein the vertical panel is a double sided panel having a plurality of holes formed on each side of the panel in which root balls of the plants can be held.