Systems and methods for managing the movement of seeds in a germination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058067-B2
Application number	US-201916263954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Jan 30, 2019
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A method for moving wetted seeds from a tank includes positioning a first batch of seeds within a tank, directing water from a water source to the tank, wetting the first batch of seeds within the tank with the water from the water source to initiate germination of the first batch of seeds, releasing the first batch of seeds from the tank to a pod line in fluid communication with an assembly line grow pod after a predetermined time, and subsequent to releasing the first batch of seeds from the tank, detecting a level of seeds remaining in the tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for moving wetted seeds from a tank, the method comprising:
positioning a first batch of seeds within a tank;
directing water from a water source to the tank;
wetting the first batch of seeds within the tank with the water from the water source to initiate germination of the first batch of seeds;
releasing the first batch of seeds from the tank to a pod line in fluid communication with an assembly line grow pod after a predetermined time;
subsequent to releasing the first batch of seeds from the tank, detecting a level of seeds remaining in the tank; and
determining whether the detected level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than a predetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the detected level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, moving water from the water source to the tank to flush the seeds remaining in the tank.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to moving water to the tank to flush the seeds remaining in the tank, detecting a second level of the seeds remaining in the tank.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising draining the water moved to the tank to flush the seeds remaining in the tank.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining whether the second level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold; and
in response to determining that the second level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, sending an alarm signal to a user computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the detected level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than a predetermined threshold; and
in response to determining that the detected level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, activating an agitation device engaged with the tank.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein activating the agitation device comprises at least one of the following: vibrating the tank or moving an engagement member positioned within the tank.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein activating the agitation device comprises rotating a paddle of the engagement member within the tank.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, subsequent to activating the agitation device, detecting a second level of the seeds remaining in the tank.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining whether that the second level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold; and
in response to determining that the second level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, sending an alarm signal to a user computing device.

10. A germination system for an assembly line grow pod, the germination system comprising:
a germination hub comprising:
a tank for holding a first batch of seeds to be germinated;
a tank level sensor configured to detect a level of water or seed within the tank;
a water source in selective fluid communication with the tank;
a pump in fluid communication with the tank and the water source;
a water source valve positioned between the pump and the water source; and
a tank outlet valve positioned between the tank and the pump, wherein the tank outlet valve is repositionable between a closed position and an open position;

a pod line in fluid communication with the germination hub and an assembly line grow pod; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the tank level sensor, the pump, the water source valve, and the tank outlet valve, the controller comprising a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to:
direct the pump to move water from the water source to the tank, wetting the first batch of seeds within the tank and initiating germination of the first batch of seeds;
after a predetermined time, direct the tank outlet valve to move from the closed position to the open position, releasing the first batch of seeds from the tank to the pod line;
receive a signal from the tank level sensor, the signal indicative of a level of seeds remaining in the tank; and

determine whether the received signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than a predetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, direct the pump to move water from the water source to the tank to flush the seeds remaining in the tank.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to:
subsequent to directing the pump to move water to the tank to flush the seeds remaining in the tank, receive a second signal from the tank level sensor, the signal indicative of a level of seeds remaining in the tank.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a user computing device communicatively coupled to the controller, and wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to:
determine whether the second signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank exceeds the predetermined threshold; and
in response to determining that the second signal from the tank level sensor indicates the level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, send an alarm signal to the user computing device.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the germination hub further comprises an agitation device that is positionable in an activated state, in which the agitation device agitates seeds positioned within the tank, and a deactivated state, in which the agitation device is at rest, wherein the agitation device is communicatively coupled to the controller, and wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to:
determine whether the received signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than a predetermined threshold; and
in response to determining that the signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the predetermined threshold, direct the agitation device to position in the activated state.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the agitation device comprises a vibration device coupled to the tank and wherein the agitation device vibrates the tank in the activated state.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the agitation device comprises an engagement member positioned within the tank and wherein the agitation device moves within the tank in the activated state.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the engagement member comprises a paddle that rotates within the tank in the activated state.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to subsequent to directing the agitation device to position in the activated position, receive a second signal from the tank level sensor, the signal indicative of a level of seeds remaining in the tank.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a user computing device communicatively coupled to the controller, and wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to in response to determining that the second signal from the tank level sensor indicates a level of seeds remaining in the tank is greater than the pr

Assignees

• Grow Solutions Tech Llc

Inventors

• Broadbent David Smith

Classifications

• A01G9/26

  Electric devices {(A01G9/249 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65G53/30

  Conveying materials in bulk through pipes or tubes by liquid pressure · CPC title

• A01C7/004

  using liquid seeding techniques · CPC title

• A01C1/02 Primary

  Germinating apparatus; Determining germination capacity of seeds or the like · CPC title

• A01G9/085 Primary

  Devices for setting seeds in pots · CPC title