EA037080B1 - Plant growing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant growing apparatus, comprising an enclosure having an interior and exterior (wherein the interior of the enclosure is configured to maintain environmental conditions within the enclosure), one or more light sources, a planting column having an aperture extending therethrough, a rotatable base, a central conduit (wherein said conduit extends through the aperture of the planting column and said planting column is configured to be rotatably movable around said central conduit), a water source, at least one sensor, an irrigation system, and a control system configured to be communicatively coupled to the irrigation system, one or more sensors, the light source, and the rotatable base.

Description

(56) WO-A1-2016147195 WO-A1-2015111487 US-A-5031359 US-A1-20100042234

US-A1-20140259920

037080 B1

037080 Bl (57) A device for growing plants, containing an inner and outer parts (where the inner part of the body is made with the ability to maintain environmental conditions inside the body), one or more light sources, a column for planting plants with an aperture passing through it, a rotary base, a central pipeline (where said pipeline passes through the aperture of the planting column and said planting column is movable around said central pipeline), a water source, at least one sensor, an irrigation system and a control system capable of communicating communication with an irrigation system, one or more sensors, a light source and a swivel base.

Cross-reference to a related application

This application claims the priority of International Application No. PCT / US 2017/055769, filed October 9, 2017, US Provisional Application 62/405532, filed October 7, 2016, US Provisional Application 62/467621, filed March 6, 2017, and US Provisional Application 62/524811, filed June 26, 2017, the disclosure of which is deemed to be part of the disclosure of this application and is therefore incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technology area

This invention relates generally to plant growing systems, such as a growing device used for plants. In one aspect, the present invention relates, in particular, to an aeroponic device and method for growing plants in a self-contained growing structure.

State of the art

Home gardening and micro-gardens in apartment buildings and apartment complexes have grown throughout the United States in recent years in response to the lack or extreme high cost of fresh / healthy food, limiting the availability of fresh produce in high-density areas. A growing number of consumers want to have locally grown fresh vegetables, fruits and greens to get fresh produce and insulate themselves from the preservatives and chemicals used in large grocery stores. Although these gardens do not require large plots of land, there is still a need for a natural plot of land for the purpose of planting a garden for growing agricultural products. Despite the inability to meet global food needs, the population continues to grow and will increase by 3 billion over the next 30 years. In many urban environments, properties are sold at an increased price, which usually does not lead to their use as a garden. In addition, depending on the garden's climate and seasonal fluctuations in the weather, it is impossible to grow many types of fruits and vegetables all year round (if at all possible). A shrinking supply of drinking water and a shrinking available farmland, equally adversely affected by variable weather conditions, become increasingly scarce as new developments are built for this growing population, causing food prices to gradually rise. Currently, many hydroponic systems use horizontal cultivation with low yields relative to the area occupied by the system. Existing hydroponic systems require bulky pumping units to circulate the nutrient hydroponic solution, as well as an air blower to blast the solution with enough dissolved oxygen to protect the root system. These additional actuators result in an increase in energy consumption, which increases the payback period of the customer's investment. Likewise, the system suffers from various disadvantages associated with energy consumption, inefficient distribution of water and nutrient solutions, and high maintenance costs.

There is a need for a device for growing fresh fruits and vegetables that takes up minimal space at home. The present invention relates to a hydroponic and aeroponic nutrient film technology device for growing plants, which device can be easily installed in an apartment or house. The aeroponic device according to the present invention can be completely self-contained or integrated into the kitchen environment together with other household appliances and provides space for stable growing of greens and other agricultural products. In addition, the present invention allows seeds and early seedlings to be cultivated to maturity in a short period of time as opposed to a normal growing schedule and without the need for pesticides and herbicides. This growing system allows the user to purchase miniature seeds with delivery directly to their home for growing fruits and vegetables or herbs at home.

Summary of the invention

In one aspect, the invention disclosed herein relates to a plant growing apparatus comprising a housing comprising an inner and an outer portion (wherein the inner housing portion is configured to maintain environmental conditions within the housing), one or more light sources, a removable planting column with with an aperture passing through it, a rotary base, a central pipeline (where said pipeline passes through the aperture of the planting column and said planting column is designed to move with rotation around said central pipeline), a water source, at least one sensor, an irrigation system and a control system configured to communicate with the irrigation system, one or more sensors, a light source, and a rotary base.

In another aspect, the invention disclosed herein relates to a system for growing, monitoring and purchasing seedlings for growing in a plant growing device according to the invention.

- 1 037080 ny, where the seedling pot is assigned a barcode with a classification assessment of environmental variables for data of specific seedling samples, scanning the barcode and assigning a location to the seedling pot inside the plant growing device, and to a control system that implements the control algorithm with the purpose of determining the optimal environmental variables in relation to the combination of seedling samples within the system and regulating the environmental conditions to ensure the desired preferred environmental parameters.

Brief Description of Drawings

The features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein and the manner in which they are achieved will become more apparent and comprehensible upon reference to the following descriptions of the system and process disclosed herein, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary plant growing apparatus;

fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary plant growing device;

fig. 3 is a sectional view of an exemplary plant growing device;

fig. 4A is a perspective view of an exemplary modular planting column of a plant growing apparatus;

fig. 4B is a top plan view of an exemplary modular planting column of the plant growth apparatus shown in FIG. 4A;

fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary modular planting column of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 4B;

fig. 4D is a top plan view of an exemplary modular planting column of a plant growing apparatus including an opening sealing member;

fig. 4E is a top plan view of an exemplary modular planting column of a plant growing apparatus including the orifice sealing member shown in FIG. 4D;

fig. 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary modular landing column of the present invention having a helical configuration;

fig. 5B is a side perspective view of an exemplary modular landing column of the present invention having a helical configuration;

fig. 5C is a top plan view of an exemplary modular landing column of the present invention having a helical configuration;

fig. 5D is a sectional view of an exemplary modular landing column of the present invention having the helical configuration shown in FIG. 5C;

fig. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary plant growing apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The following detailed description consists of exemplary implementations with reference to the accompanying drawings. Such a description is illustrative in its purpose and is not intended to limit the scope of possible implementations. Such implementations are described in detail to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice them, and it is understood that other implementations may be practiced with some modifications.

FIG. 1-6 illustrate a plant growing apparatus 1 comprising a casing body 3 and a planting column 5. The casing body 3 is capable of adjusting environmental conditions in order to create an ideal environment for growing various varieties of plants that can be grown in the apparatus. The body may have an inner part 7 and an outer part 9. The body 3 can have various shapes, including cylindrical, triangular, pyramidal, helicoidal, and rectangular configurations. Each mold may have corresponding side walls 11, apex 13, and base 15 defining a body 3. In one embodiment, the body may be rectangular in shape, having six sides, including a top wall 13, a bottom wall 15, and four side walls IIa d. In one embodiment, the walls 11 can be connected to a support structure 17 that can serve as a frame for the body 3. In another embodiment, the walls can be joined in a seamless manner without support structures, such as a circular tube or structure in which the walls 11 serve as a supporting structure. Additionally, wall 11 may comprise an access panel or door 19 disposed on one or more of the cabinet walls 11. An access door 19 allows the operator to open the housing or remove or add plants for growing or harvesting. Likewise, it allows the user to access the plants for whatever care they may need.

The walls of the body can be made of any suitable material. In an exemplary embodiment, the side walls can be made of a transparent material such as glass, plexiglass, or other polymer. In an example implementation of the invention, the inner side of one or more

- 2 037080 walls may have a reflective coating or contain material fixed or superimposed on the inner part 7 of the walls of the casing 3. When covered with the reflective material, the transparency can be maintained on the outside, allowing a user or observer to view the inside of the casing 3 of the plant growing device 1. The reflective inner surface can act as a mirror and maximize the illumination efficiency of the source (s) 21 inside the housing 3 by reflecting light throughout the entire housing 3. In one embodiment, the transparent side walls 11 can be colored during molding. dye to filter out the red-blue growth light fluxes 21 from inside the housing 3. Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, additional circumferential coverage of the housing 3 by the shell 23 is possible. The shell 23 can serve as an additional structural support and a means of sealing the housing in certain applications. In one embodiment, the shell 23 may surround one or more sides of the housing, for example the top side and one or more side sides. As shown in FIG. 1, a shell 23 may cover the top and three sides 11 of a body having a rectangular shape. One of the side walls 11 can remain accessible to the user and contain a movable door 19. Any suitable means, such as a hinge or slide mechanism, can be used to move the door 19. In embodiments of the invention with a sliding door 19, the side wall 11 may have two separate sections. Each of the sections may be movable or, alternatively, one section may be movable and the other section may be fixed. Similarly, in another embodiment, the side wall may have an opening 27 covered by door 19. Additionally, door 19 and side wall 11 may also include a gasket or seal 29 to help maintain the indoor environment 25 of the growing plant 1. Likewise, the seal 29 can be used to help maintain a positive pressure within the internal environment 25 of the housing. In some embodiments, the side wall 11 may be movable and act as a door to provide a user with access to the interior 25 of the plant growing device 1. In various embodiments of the present invention, the plant growing apparatus may further comprise a base section 31 to which the housing 3 can be connected or supported. The base section 31 can be used as a casing for various components of the system 1, including a water tank, pump, conductive pipes, drive motor, and other components.

The housing 3 may also further comprise a display 33 for providing the user with information regarding the characteristics of the environment inside the housing, such as temperature, humidity, light cycle and light spectrum, photosynthetic active radiation, the value of the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution, the pH value of the nutrient solution, the proportion oxygen in parts per million in the ambient air, the content of carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, etc. Display 33 can also be used as a control panel for device 1. Similarly, device 1 may include a stand-alone control panel, which can be in communication mode is associated with the device. In one embodiment, a wireless device such as a smartphone may be used to perform the functions of a display, a control panel, or both. Additionally, camera 35 will allow users to monitor and view plant growth within the device. The camera 35 can be configured and configured to read a hyperspectral image to collect data related to plant health within the device 1. With the plant health data, the control system 39 can process the plant health data to optimize the environmental conditions 25 within the growing device 1, which may include adjusting temperature, humidity, or nutrient adjustments that may be added to the water source 57. Display 33 and / or control panel 37 may be in communication mode associated with a control system 39, which may include processing means 41 such as a microcontroller, memory 43, and transceiver 45. Alternatively, display 33 and control system 39 may be separate a computer or display of a mobile device communicating with the control system 39 and receiving power through an application on the device. This can allow the user to monitor the plant growing device 1 and adjust the required environmental conditions 25 inside the enclosure 3 remotely using the control system 39 using various wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, ZigBee, NFC, Internet, etc. Similarly, in building 3 it is possible to use a combination of local and remote displays to provide the user with data about the internal environment 35. The data can be written to memory 43 either by an external server, or a remote database is used to collect and analyze data points from the system 39 management for market analysis and plant growth research.

The landing column 5 can consist of an upper part 47 and a lower part 49. The lower part can function as a turntable in the vicinity of the lower wall 15 in the housing 3, allowing

- 3 037080 the landing column rotate inside the housing 3. In the bottom wall 15 there may be an aperture that allows the drive motor 51 to communicate with the landing column 5. The landing column 5 can be rotating - it can be rotated either manually or by means of a drive motor 51 to rotate the landing column. columns by the user. The drive motor can be located near the bottom wall 15 of the housing 3. The drive motor 51 can be communicated with the stepper motor system 111, which can communicate with the control system 39 in a communication mode. The drive motor 51 can be driven via a belt, chain or direct gear train, rotated on a chassis using caster wheels, or it can be magnetically suspended and rotated by electromagnets. In the memory 43 of the control system 39 can be recorded a program for automatically driving the landing column 5 into rotation at will at any given time and for any duration. Likewise, the control system 39 can be communicated with the control panel 37, and the user can manually activate the drive motor 51 to drive the landing column 5 in both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation.

A plant growing device that allows the planting column 5 to rotate within the housing can be positioned in many environments and provides the user with easy access to plants within the housing 3 without having to move to the opposite side of the housing and destroy other plants. Similarly, when the planting column 5 is rotated and the contents of the device can be viewed from the outside, the user can rotate the planting column 5 to the desired position before opening the door 19, thereby reducing the time required to retrieve the desired plants. This, in turn, eliminates large fluctuations in the internal environmental conditions 25 of the housing 3 and the prolonged exposure to the ambient conditions outside the housing 3. A stepper motor drive 59 coupled to a rotary driven motor 51 and communicating with the control system 39 can provide the device 1 is able to have a positional representation of which plants are facing specific light sources 21, for example an LED matrix. This may allow individual LED arrays 21 to target specific photosynthetic active radiation and photosynthetic photon flux density ratios for the matrix facing plant in order to maximize its photosynthetic efficiency and reduce power consumption.

In one embodiment of the invention, the landing column 5 may have an internal cavity 55 for receiving an aqueous solution, such as water from a water source. The planting column 5 may further have one or more planting holes 59 included in the planting column 5, where at least a portion of the plant can enter the internal cavity 55 to contact the planting medium, aqueous solution, or both.

The landing column 5 may have a modular structure and contain one or more sections, as shown in FIG. 2. Each section of the landing column 5 may have a predetermined number of landing holes 59 of a predetermined size. The user selects plots from the various planting columns 3 depending on the types of plants and / or greenery to be grown. If the plant specimens that the user wishes to grow are oversized, the planting column portion containing a reduced number of oversized holes 59 can be selected. In addition, if the plant specimens desired by the user have a reduced natural size, a section of the planting column 5 with an increased number of holes 59 can be used inside the housing. One or more sections of the planting column 5 can be used in the housing 3, depending on the application required by the user.

The planting holes 59 can be adapted to the aggregate or soil environment, or in another embodiment, adapted to be used as a port / apertures for aeroponic planting of plants, used in the absence of soil, aggregate or nutrient medium. Planting holes 59 may allow single plants to be easily positioned within individual holes or multiple plants within each hole, depending on the type of plant and space required for optimal plant growth. The holes go into the inner cavity 55 of the planting column 5, and thus a part of the plant, for example the root system, is in the internal cavity of the planting column. The part of the plant inside the planting column is available to be exposed to a nutrient-rich environment, such as nutrient-rich water, to provide the plant with suitable nutrients.

In one embodiment, the plants may be delivered pre-packaged into a supporting medium, such as a seedling growth medium, or a growing pot 61, which allows the user to easily transport and transplant the seedlings or seeds into the planting holes 59 in the growing device. Alternatively, the openings 59 can be designed to receive seedlings without the use of a supporting medium. The pot can be made specifically for aeroponic seed growing and allowing the plant's root system to spread and gain access to food.

- 4 037080 substances delivered to the inner cavity of the landing column. In one embodiment, the opening 59 may include fasteners 69 for securely anchoring the growing pots 61 to the openings 59. The fastening means 69 can be any suitable fastener, such as a threaded fastener, a magnetic fastener, a snap fastener, or others. suitable fasteners. Likewise, the pots may include suitable fasteners 71 cooperating with the aperture fasteners 69. Suitable fastening means ensure that the growing pot is securely fastened in the hole 59 of the planting column 5, as well as the maintenance of the coefficient of relative compaction to limit or prevent the flow of water solution from the inner cavity 55 through the hole 59. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to use an articulated column near the holes 59. a hole sealing element 139 to prevent moisture from escaping from the inner cavity 55 of the column 5. The flap element may be configured to create a seal around the edge of the pot 61 and the hole 59 in a shape approximating the hole 59. In some embodiments, the flap element may be hinged, but may be associated with the hole by other suitable means such as a threaded rod, nut and bolt, and any other form of attachment. In addition, the bottom of the orifice seal 139 may be reinforced with a gasket to reduce the permeability of the seal. The orifice seal 139 may be spring-loaded to close with additional force, or it may include a handle or latch to lock in place and provide a more comfortable grip for the user.

The plant growing device may further comprise an irrigation system 95 configured to supply water and other nutrient solutions to the plants contained in the device. The irrigation system 95 can also be used in part as a humidifier to maintain the relative humidity inside the plant growing apparatus. The irrigation system can include one or more conduits for supplying water and other nutrient solutions throughout the system disclosed herein.

The irrigation system can use a water source to provide water to the plants inside the plant growing device. The water source can be directly connected to the growing device through a local water supply installed near the plant growing device. Alternatively, the water source can be a water reservoir located at the base of the plant growing device. In one embodiment of the invention, the water reservoir can be a removable element of the plant growing device and eliminates the need for a plumbing line to connect directly to the plant growing device. This allows the grower to be easily integrated into existing kitchen and residential configurations without the need for a new plumbing connection. The base 31 of the landing column and / or the bottom within the housing may contain a drainage system to intercept overflowing excess water, which is directed to the recirculation and used by the irrigation system. The water level sensor 135 may operate an electronic relay in communication with the control system 39 to initiate actuation of the reservoir replenishment valve to maintain a predetermined level of liquid within the reservoir.

It is possible to use a sensor in the water tank or a device to monitor the water level inside the water tank. The sensor can communicate with the control panel to alert the user that the water tank needs to be refilled or that the water level is too low. In addition, the plant growing device may further comprise additional storage tanks for other materials and liquids, such as plant nutrient solutions. Any number of reservoirs can be used depending on the required amount of nutrient solutions introduced into circulation by the user to ensure plant growth. An optional mixing tank is available to mix the water from the water tank with the required nutrient composition before being dispensed inside the grower.

Irrigation system 95 may further comprise one or more pumps 93 configured to transport water or nutrient-rich fluid through conduits 65 to supply plants within the device. The pump 93 can communicate in a communication mode with the panel 35 used to control it to be able to be remotely operated by the user as needed. In one embodiment, pump 93 may be used to transfer materials from reservoir (s) 63 to the interior of the secondary reservoir prior to pumping the aqueous solution to be supplied through conduit 65 to dispenser 67. The secondary reservoir may consist of one or more chambers that may contain various nutrient solutions that can be added to the water from the reservoir 63 and pumped through the conduit 65 to supply the plants.

In one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the reservoir 63 can be

- 5 037080 is located inside a drawer 131 contained in the base 31 of the device 1. When the drawer 131 is open, the user can remove the container with the hydroponic nutrient solution for cleaning, emptying or replacing the container. A pump 93, which may be submerged in or at the same level with water source 57, is connected to inlet line 133, which pumps the hydroponic nutrient solution through dispenser 67. In one embodiment, water source 57 can be formed by incoming water from stocks in reservoir 63. Alternatively, pump 93 may be external to the nutrient solution and connected directly through a line to dispense hydroponic nutrient solution through a dispenser. The inlet hose may extend within a large diameter outlet hose that allows gravity to return the circulating hydroponic nutrient solution to the reservoir 63. Similarly, the inlet tubing 133 may provide a conduit for transporting fluid from the reservoir or fluid source to a dispenser 67, which may have a nozzle or fog head that can be suspended near the top 47 of the inner cavity 55 of the landing column 5. The nozzle can deliver aqueous solution to the root systems extending into the inner cavity 55 of the landing column 5. In one embodiment, the nozzle can be a fog nozzle. The swivel ring can attach the planting column 5 to the top and bottom of the growing chamber. In an alternative embodiment, the landing column 5 can only be connected to the base 15 of the device 1. The slewing ring may comprise a flanged nipple placed inside the bearing, or a slewing ring driven by a motor or any other torque generating actuator 141.

The inlet hose 133 and outlet hose 129 extend within the swing panel to avoid compromising the integrity of the culture medium and irrigation system 95, which could cause damage to the system or plants. The dispensing means 67 can be removed from the threaded hole at the blind end of the flange to allow the user to clean the device without having to completely disassemble the device. In another embodiment, the dispensing means 67 may have a threaded receptacle within the landing column 5. A gasket 127 may be used between the top of the device and the top of the column 5 to form a watertight seal. In addition, the plant growing device 1 can be directly connected to a water source 57, a valve system 97 with one or more actuated valves can be used to automatically add water to maintain a predetermined fill level in the reservoir 63. In one embodiment According to the invention, the landing column 5 can be detachable through an accessible bearing that opens and allows the user to remove the shaft through a spring-loaded bearing, or the column can simply be seated on the top of the bearing and can be removed from the system by moving it upwards.

The dispenser can receive water through a conduit 65 adapted to transfer water from the water source 57 to the inner cavity 55 of the landing column 5 and to the water dispensing device 67. In one embodiment, conduit 65 may be centered within the inner cavity 55 of the landing column and terminate at an upper portion 47 of the landing column. Alternatively, conduit 65 may extend along the interior or exterior of one of the walls of the housing, approach the inner top wall, and extend downward toward the top portion 47 of column 5, as shown in FIG. 3. The landing column 5 can be made in a manner that allows it to rotate around the conduit 65 within the inner cavity 55 of the landing column 5. The conduit 65 is in fluid communication with the irrigation system 95, which can include a reservoir 63, a pump 93 for transporting water from a source 57 water to the dispenser 67 within the interior cavity 55 of the landing column 5. In one embodiment, conduit 65 may include one or more dispensers located axially from the top to the base of the column to distribute fluid to the interior of the landing column. In this embodiment, the pump and the central conduit can maintain a water pressure sufficient to ensure that the fluid propagates along the central conduit over its entire height. Aeroponic systems are susceptible to frequent failures due to the accumulation of unbound biomass from the plant roots blocking the fog heads within the recirculation system. This problem is addressed by the use of a removable center conduit that allows the user to clean the holes without disassembling the device.

The interior of the housing may further comprise one or more light sources. In one embodiment, the light source can be a plurality of light emitting diodes. LEDs can be located along the inside of the case. In one embodiment, the LEDs may be positioned along vertical support structures at the corners of the housing, as shown in FIG. 2. Likewise, light sources (eg, LEDs) may perimeter cover the entire interior of the enclosure to provide adequate light support for plants within the enclosure. As previously indicated, the inner surface of the walls can be reflective to improve the efficiency of light distribution throughout the entire interior of the cabinet. Inner corner pa

- 6 037080 Nel can be used to allow the installation of LED arrays 21 in the plant growing device, which can be mechanically attached to the support vertical structures 17 or to the inner corner panels, as opposed to the existing adhesive backing. This will provide strength, durability and increased productivity. Additionally, the light sources can be connected to a heat sink. In one embodiment of the invention, the inner corner panels of the case may be removable, allowing ease of installation, maintenance or replacement of the light sources 21 while acting as a heat sink. In addition, the angled cavity can be a place to hide wires and other non-exposed electrical components to prevent them from being exposed to moisture and other environmental conditions. In another example, the light source 21 can be a series of projectors emitting targeted beams of light tailored to the shape and size of the plant profile for a specific targeting of a specific plant within aperture 59. A camera visual observation database stored in memory 43 can be used to analysis of the profile of plants based on data obtained with the camera 35.

The plant growing device may also contain additional climate control systems, such as a temperature and humidity (TH) control system, to maintain temperature and humidity within certain limits using fans, blowers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, or any air draft unit. System 73 can also use a gas injection system to emit CO ₂ or other gases and maintain an ideal level of CO2 or other gas inside the housing. System 73 can be associated with one or more sensors 77 for temperature, humidity, CO2, or other environmental conditions. Likewise, other climate control systems may include, among others, an electrical conductivity (EC) system 81 with an EC sensor, a pH system 85 with a pH sensor 87, and a photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) system with a PAR sensor 109.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plant growing apparatus 1 may use a power supply 79 to supply power to various elements of the system. The power source 79 may be directly connected to a power system, solar array system, battery operated, or other power scheme. In one embodiment, the plant growing device may include a secondary power source (eg, battery backup) in the event of a failure of the primary power source. The device for growing plants may further comprise a control system 39, consisting of processing means 41, memory 43, transceiver 45 and antenna. The control system 39 can be communicated with various elements of the plant growing device, such as one or more pumps 93, fans 77, temperature and humidity (TH) control systems 73, irrigation systems 95, sensors 77, light sources 21, systems 97 valves, relay 99, solenoids 101 and drive motors 51, designed for efficient plant growth. The user can activate pre-programmed programs stored in the memory 43, which is connected in communication mode with the control system 39, and the control system 39 can execute the required program in a predetermined period or periods of time within a day, week or month in a message mode with different climate control systems and device components 1.

Similarly, the control system 39 can use real-time climate control data from one or more sensors inside the housing 3. These sensors can be temperature sensors 103, relative humidity 105, electrical conductivity 83, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) 107, density photon flux, infrared camera 35, spectral imaging, etc. These sensors can store and combine data to monitor and control the environmental conditions inside the housing 3 in real time. In addition, certain predetermined parameters can be stored in a memory 43 in communication with the control system 39 for activating various components of the plant growing apparatus 1 in response to the predetermined parameters. One example includes actuating the valve 101 and pump 93 of the irrigation system 95 to supply water through the conduit 65 and into the interior of the column 5 within the housing to the irrigated plant roots. Similarly, it is possible to use distribution means in the pipeline to supply moisture to the internal environment and to the foliage emerging from the landing column 5. In one embodiment, the pipeline can extend vertically through the inner cavity 55 of the column up to the distribution means 67 near the upper section 47 Column 5. The lower portion 49 of the column may include a drainage passage 125 to allow the aqueous solution to drain into the interior of the reservoir 63. The drain passageway 125 may communicate with a drain line 127 to direct the aqueous solution into the interior of the reservoir 63.

In addition, in one embodiment, it is possible to install one or more cameras 35 inside the housing 3 to obtain video / image data of individual apertures 59 with plants. The image data can be analyzed by the control system to determine when a new plant is required to fill the working position again, or when the plant is

- 7 037080 is put to dry / wilted. Further, the control system 39 can initiate an alert signal to the display 33 or the user's mobile device. The control system 39 may be further communicated with a drive motor system communicating with the drive motor 51, a spectrum monitoring system with an LED array, a visual display system 112, and various case fans 75. In some embodiments, the fans may be located near various walls 11 of the housing 3, including the top wall 13 and the bottom wall 15. The fans 75 may be in communication with the fan control system 53. In one embodiment, the fans 75 can be sealed to generate positive pressure in the indoor environment 25. In addition, the fans can have a defect neutralization system to prevent the introduction of pests into the indoor environment 25. The control system 39 can be connected in a communication mode as with digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 117, and with analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 119. For processing various signals from various systems of plant growing device 1.

The hyperspectral camera 35 can provide each unit with the ability to collect information on large-scale phenotyping experiments. The camera 35 can be used to create a feedback loop to detect moisture shortages within the plants and to irrigate water accordingly through the pump 93 with reduced power consumption. The camera 35 can also be used to monitor the composition of nutrients during plant growth and adjust the composition of the nutrient fluid distributed by the control system 39 using a similar feedback loop and implementing the algorithm stored in the memory 43. Although the feedback loop monitoring of the presence of moisture, carbon dioxide gas and other nutrient deficiencies can be more conservative, it can eliminate the need for a pH sensor 87 and an electrical conductivity sensor 83 in the system, which can habitually fail and require replacement or recalibration on a regular basis. The camera 35 can also be used instead of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system or barcodes to monitor the actual content of the growing camera and provide the user with data on the location and health of each plant separately. An algorithm / feedback system can be created to prompt the user or alert the user to use an interface (eg display 33) to purchase new seedlings in the event of plant death, crop harvest, or anticipated harvest.

The control system 39 of the plant growing apparatus 1 can use control algorithms to monitor and regulate the steam exchange within the system, humidity, lighting cycle, pH value of the nutrient solution, electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution using various climate control systems. Each pot 61 of seedlings for cultivation can be assigned a barcode, defining the place in the classification for these variables in relation to the specimens of that particular plant. When the growing pot 61 is scanned and placed inside the system, the control algorithm can determine the optimal average values of the environmental variables for the combination of plant specimens within the system and adjust the environment to achieve that optimum. Likewise, the control system 39 can collect and store data obtained through the various systems of the device 1, including, but not limited to, the gas system 89, the EC system 81, the pH sensor system 85, the visual display system 113, the PAR sensor system 107, and the TH system. 73. Based on the data obtained through these systems, the control system 39 can determine the plant health separately for the plants within the device 1, as well as determine the average health indicators for all plants inside the housing 3. When using one or more algorithms, the control system 39 can perform commands addressed to various other systems in order to change the environmental conditions inside the housing 3 to provide an improved environment for plant growth. These systems may include a fan control system 74, a stepper motor system 11, an irrigation system 95, a valve system 97, and a light spectrum monitoring system 114 to modify the interior environment within the enclosure 3.

Likewise, growing pots 61 may have different types of tags to track the types and locations of different plants within the chamber. In one embodiment, the seed pots may have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to track the type and location of the plant within the housing 3. Corresponding openings / ports 59 for receiving individual growing pots 61 may have readers for reading the electronic pot tags. These readers can be barcode and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, among others. The seedling pots 61 for growing can be of any suitable size or shape. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4A-4C, pot 61 may have an upper rim 121 having coupler fasteners 71. Pot 61 may also have a lower portion 123 in which holes can be made to allow root growth to pass through the lower portion 123 of pot 61. In one

8 037080 of the exemplary embodiments, at least part of the pot 61 can extend inwardly into the inner cavity 55 of the landing column 5, as shown in FIG. 4C.

In another embodiment of the used pot 61 having a square cone structure, and similarly to the previous one, the planting column can have a correspondingly shaped opening for receiving the pot 61. The receiver ports on the planting column can allow seedlings to germinate from the conical square pots containing seedlings directly into the system. The non-circular design ensures that the seedling pot is firmly positioned and prevents it from potentially falling out of the planting column 59. The square cone design helps to hold the pot 61 firmly in place within the planting column aperture and helps keep the planting pot 61 from rotating or falling out of hole 59.

In one embodiment, the base of the square cone 61 may have a substantially flat bottom with an aperture. This aperture can be made large enough to allow the growth of the root system, but small enough to prevent seedlings from falling out through it into the planting column. The pots can be used with or without growth media. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, in one embodiment, the plant pot may have a rounded top. The top may further comprise an attachment mechanism used to securely attach the pot to the landing column. In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism may be a magnet connecting the pot to a corresponding magnet on the landing column. One or more magnets can be used. In one embodiment, one or more magnets may be located on the underside of the top of the pot.

The landing column 5 can have various configurations, such as the circular configuration shown in FIG. 1-4, or the spiral configuration shown in FIG. 5A-5D. FIG. 5A-5D illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the pivot post may be helical in shape. Similar to a cylindrical landing column, a helical landing column may have an internal cavity 55, initially in a helical configuration. The inner cavity 55 may allow the aqueous solution to flow through the cavity and interface with the pots 61. In one embodiment, the inner cavity may be a vertical structure using a fogging function to maintain the presence of water in the inner cavity 55. In another embodiment, the inner cavity may form a through channel for water to flow through it under the action of gravity. This pivoting hydroponic nutrient coil can ensure that plants receive sufficient nutrient solution for them while reducing the likelihood of potential clogging within the center line 65 that carries the aqueous solution. It is possible to pump water up the central pipeline to the upper part 47 of the column 5. Then the water flows downward through the spiral inner cavity 55 under the action of gravity until the water turns back down through the drainage hole 125 near the bottom of the column 5 and into the reservoir 63, and at this point, it is possible to pump the solution back up to the top of the column 5. The internal cavity is made in the form of a spiral passage channel, which ensures continuous flow of water through the internal cavity 55 and the supply of nutrient-rich solution to the plants located in the hole 59. The recirculation process can be continued in for a predetermined period of time, manually or based on machine learning from the control system 39, until the required amount of water and nutrients is delivered to the plants. The helical column can be attached to blind flanges to form a removable shoe that still contains a watertight seal. In addition, the spiral shape can allow the low pressure pump 93 to be used to distribute water through the spiral column and eliminate the need for high pressure pumps for fogging, which can potentially lead to clogging and impairment of performance. The coiled column 5 also improves operational efficiency and virtually eliminates any clogging problem that may arise in traditional hydroponic / aeroponic systems. In addition, the helical design can help maximize the efficiency in terms of the number of plants that can be used in the planting column using nutrient film technology for increased space efficiency. Likewise, landing propellers can optionally be used outside the enclosure and in open air environments. In one embodiment, the landing column may be attached to a turbine powered by a source such as a wind turbine, an internal combustion engine, or any other heat cycle.

This application is intended to encompass adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It should be understood that the above description is not restrictive in its purpose, but illustrative. The scope of the present subject matter is to be determined by reference to the appended claims in conjunction with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are delegated.

Claims (20)

1. A device for growing plants, comprising a housing having an inner part, where the inner part of the body is configured to support the internal environment; at least one light source; a landing column with a through cavity formed therein; a drive motor associated with the lower part of the landing column, and the specified drive motor is configured to rotate the specified landing column inside the housing; removable water tank; a pipeline at least partially located inside the landing column and having a single nozzle located at least partially inside the landing column, said landing column being rotatable around said pipeline; water source; at least one sensor; an irrigation system and a control system configured to communicate in a communication mode with an irrigation system, one or more sensors, a light source and a drive motor. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top, a base, and at least one wall, said wall having an inner surface. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inner wall surface is configured to reflect light emitted within the housing. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planting column further comprises at least one opening adapted to receive the plant. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED). 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water source is a removable water reservoir. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reservoir is substantially separated from the interior of the housing by a bottom wall. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water source, pipeline, and irrigation system are in fluid communication with each other. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler system nozzle is located at the top of the landing column. 10. A device according to claims 1-9, wherein the landing column is rotatable about the nozzle. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the irrigation system comprises a pump and a secondary fluid conduit configured to transport water from a water source to a conduit. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is rectangular with one or more openings to access the interior of the body. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landing column further comprises a rotatable base. 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cavity of the landing column is in the form of a spiral configuration. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and color spectrum of light to manipulate plant growth within the housing. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a drawer formed at the base of the plant growing apparatus for receiving a removable water reservoir. 17. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light emitting diode is configured to emit different color spectra selected by the control system to manipulate plant growth. 18. The method of growing plants in the device according to claim 1, performed by the control system of the device according to claim 1 and including assigning a plant pot containing individual plant specimens, an identifier; classification of the environment variables associated with the identifier; assigning a code for the location of the planting pot inside the growing device; implementing a control algorithm to determine optimal environmental conditions based on environmental variables associated with the location identifier and code; averaging the environmental variables identified by the control system to combine plant specimens and locations within the system; and adjusting the environmental conditions to achieve the specified optimum. - 10 037080 19. Device for growing plants, containing a source of water; landing column having an internal cavity and at least one hole made to provide access to the specified internal cavity; a housing that encloses the landing column around the perimeter; a pump in fluid communication with a water source; and a dispenser located at the top of the landing column and in fluid communication with a pump, said pump being configured to supply water from a water source to an internal cavity through a dispenser; wherein the dispenser extends only through the top of the landing column and the top of the landing column is rotatable about the dispenser. 20. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a pot for growing plants having an upper rim and a lower part configured to fit into said opening, said lower part being configured to at least partially enter the inner cavity of the planting column.