CPC A01G 9/0299 (2018.02) [A01D 46/30 (2013.01); A01G 9/023 (2013.01); B25J 9/06 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
1. A crop production system for controlled environment agriculture, comprising:
a vertical grow tower conveyance system comprising
one or more grow lines;
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 plurality of grow towers includes a plurality of grow sites extending at least along one face thereof; and
a grow tower conveyance mechanism operative to move the one or more grow towers along a respective grow line from a first end to a second end;
a horizontal conveyor to convey grow towers to one or more processing stations; and
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 tower on the horizontal conveyor;
wherein the end effector comprises a beam, a first gripper attached to a first end of the beam, and a second gripper attached to a second end of the beam, wherein the first and second grippers are configured to releasably grasp a grow tower.
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