US-20260123592-A1 - APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PLANT POLLINATION

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.

Inventors

• Damon Smith
• Kevin Grauberger
• Aunders HALLSTEN
• Michael Baldwin
• Lucas WOODBURY

Assignees

• MJNN LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20260105

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system, comprising: a grow line having a plurality of grow towers disposed thereon; a plurality of emitters adjacent to a grow tower of the plurality of grow towers, the plurality of emitters comprising a plurality of nozzles configured to spray in a direction toward a grow tower of the plurality of grow towers; and a plurality of rails coupled to the plurality of emitters.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a first emitter coupled to and suspended by a first rail, wherein the first emitter is disposed adjacent to a first side of the grow towers; and a second emitter coupled to and suspended by a second rail, wherein the second emitter is disposed adjacent to a second side of the grow towers opposite the first emitter.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rails are disposed in a common plane as the grow line.
4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitters are configured to utilize compressed air to propel pollen.
5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grow towers traverse the grow line and pass by the plurality of emitters.
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitters are moved relative to the plurality of grow towers.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of motors coupled to the plurality of rails and configured to facilitate translation of the plurality of emitters along the rails.
8. 8 . A system, comprising: a grow line having a plurality of grow towers disposed thereon; a plurality of emitters adjacent to a grow tower of the plurality of grow towers, the plurality of emitters; a plurality of rails coupled to the plurality of emitters; a distributor coupled to each of the plurality of emitters; a nozzle coupled to the distributor and configured to spray in a direction toward the grow tower of the plurality of grow towers; and a camera coupled to the distributor.
9. 9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising: a first emitter coupled to and suspended by a first rail, wherein the first emitter is disposed adjacent to a first side of the grow tower; a second emitter coupled to and suspended by a second rail, wherein the second emitter is disposed adjacent to a second side of the grow tower opposite the first emitter; a first distributor coupled to the first emitter; a first camera coupled to the first distributor; a second distributor coupled to the second emitter; and a second camera coupled to the second distributor.
10. 10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the camera is configured to enable an operator to selectively pollinate a plant within the grow tower.
11. 11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the distributor further comprises a motor configured to enable movement of the distributor along each of the plurality of emitters.
12. 12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of rails are disposed in a common plane as the grow line.
13. 13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of emitters are configured to utilize compressed air to propel pollen.
14. 14 . A system, comprising: a grow line having a plurality of grow towers disposed thereon; a first emitter coupled to and suspended by a first rail, wherein the first emitter is disposed adjacent to a first side of the grow tower; and a second emitter coupled to and suspended by a second rail, wherein the second emitter is disposed adjacent to a second side of the grow tower opposite the first emitter; one or more first nozzles coupled to the first emitter and configured to spray in a direction toward the grow tower of the plurality of grow towers; and one or more second nozzles coupled to the second emitter and configured to spray in a direction toward the grow tower of the plurality of grow towers.
15. 15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising: a first distributor coupled to the first emitter, wherein the one or more first nozzles are coupled to the first distributor; a first camera coupled to the first distributor; a second distributor coupled to the second emitter, wherein the one or more second nozzles are coupled to the second distributor; and a second camera coupled to the second distributor.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first distributor and the second distributor further comprise a motor configured to enable movement of the first distributor along the first emitter and the second distributor along the second emitters.
17. 17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first emitter and the second emitter move relative to the plurality of grow towers.
18. 18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first emitter and the second emitter are configured to utilize compressed air to propel pollen.
19. 19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein first camera and the second camera are configured to enable an operator to selectively pollinate a plant within the grow tower.
20. 20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of grow towers traverse the grow line and pass by the first emitter and the second emitter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/027,539 filed Mar. 21, 2023 which is a National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2021/051427, filed Sep. 22, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/082,984 filed Sep. 24, 2020, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Field Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to environmentally controlled indoor agricultural systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for plant pollination. Description of the Related Art Conventional agricultural practices have evolved rapidly over the twentieth century to what can now be considered a fast-moving high-tech industry. Global food shortages, climate change, a societal changes instigated a transition from manually implemented agriculture techniques toward advanced farming methods, such as mechanized and automated farming. While conventional agricultural practices often limit a farmer to one growing season, indoor farming can eliminate environmental constraints and increase crop production. However, commercial scale controlled environment agriculture is still in its relative infancy when compared to conventional agricultural practices. Although there exists great potential for production of many different types of plants in controlled environment agriculture, plants requiring pollination for produce production present additional challenges to successful implementation. For example, conventional agricultural practices utilize naturally occurring pollination vectors, such as bees or the like, to facilitate pollination. Effective implementation of live pollination vectors in controlled environment agricultural systems is an additional challenge and is not well developed. Thus, what is needed in the art are improved apparatus and methods for plant pollination. More specifically, what is needed are improved mechanized pollination apparatus and methods for controlled environment agriculture systems. SUMMARY In one embodiment, a pollination system is provided. The system includes a grow line having a plurality of grow towers disposed thereon and a pollination chamber defining a volume. The pollination chamber is coupled to the grow line and is operable to isolate one or more grow towers within the volume from a surrounding environment. A pollen source is in fluid communication with the volume and a blower is in fluid communication with the volume. The blower is adapted to circulate pollen within the volume. In another embodiment, a pollination apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of walls at least partially defining a volume therein, a ceiling coupled to the plurality of walls, a base coupled to the plurality of walls opposite the ceiling, a screen coupled to the each wall of the plurality of walls and extending across the volume, a blower in fluid communication with the volume via an outlet formed in the base, and a pollen source in fluid communication with the volume. In another embodiment, a pollination system is provided. The system includes a grow line having a plurality of grow towers disposed thereon and a gutter disposed opposite the grow line. The gutter includes a channel sized to accommodate a width of the grow towers. One or more vibration generators are coupled to the gutter or the grow line. In another embodiment, a pollination system is provided. The system includes a grow line and a grow tower coupled to the grow line by a hook at a first end of the grow tower. The hook includes a spring. A peg is coupled to and extends from a second end of the grow tower opposite the first end and a wedge is disposed adjacent to the second end of the grow tower. In another embodiment, a pollination method is provided. The method includes moving a grow tower including a peg, coupled to a grow line by a hook including a spring, along a travel path. The peg is engaged with a surface of the wedge, the grow tower is moved further along the travel path which causes the spring to elongate, and the grow tower is further moved along the travel path so that the peg disengages from the surface of the wedge. In another embodiment, a pollination system is provided. The system includes a grow line having one or more grow towers disposed thereon, a first emitter disposed adjacent to a first side of the grow towers, a second emitter disposed adjacent to a second side of the grow tower opposite the first side, a plurality of nozzles couple to each of the first and second emitters, and a pollen source in fluid communication with the nozzles via the first and second emitters. In another embodiment, a pollination system is provided. The system includes a grow line having one or more grow towers disposed thereon, a first emitter disposed adjacent to a first side of the grow towers, a second e