CPC A01G 31/06 (2013.01) [A01G 31/045 (2013.01)] | 7 Claims |
1. A crop production facility for controlled environment agriculture, comprising:
a nutrient and thermal corridor;
an array of one or more grow rooms adjacent to the nutrient and thermal corridor, the array having a first end and a second end, the array extending substantially parallel to the nutrient and thermal corridor; wherein each of the grow rooms comprises
one or more grow lines, each of the one or more grow lines comprising a grow conveyance mechanism; and
a plurality of grow towers, each of the plurality of grow towers vertically attached to, and moveable along, a respective one of the one or more grow lines;
wherein each of the one or more grow lines comprises a first path section, a second path section, and a return mechanism operative to transfer grow towers from the first path section to the second path section;
wherein the grow conveyance mechanism conveys grow towers along the first path section in a first direction, and along the second path section in a second direction opposite the first direction;
a conveyance mechanism that injects and ejects grow structures from a side of the one or more grow rooms opposite the nutrient and thermal corridor;
a propagation space adjacent to the first end of the array and interfacing with the nutrient and thermal corridor; and
a central processing system comprising one or more grow structure processing systems adjacent to the array of grow rooms and opposite the nutrient and thermal corridor;
wherein one of the one or more grow structure processing systems is a harvester station, and wherein the crop production facility further comprises a post-harvest processing facility located adjacent to the central processing system and proximal to the harvester station;
wherein the harvester station comprises a crop harvesting machine, and a feeder mechanism to receive a grow tower in a horizontal orientation and feed the grow tower through the crop harvesting machine in a horizontal orientation; and wherein the crop production facility further comprises
an automated laydown station comprising a first robot including an end effector adapted to releasably grasp a grow tower, and control logic operative to cause the first robot to pick the grow tower from a pick location in a vertical orientation, rotate the grow tower to a horizontal orientation and place the grow tower on a conveyor for loading into the harvester station.
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