Systems and methods for germinating seeds for an assembly line grow pod

{
  "publication_number": "US11140836B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems and methods for germinating seeds for an assembly line grow pod",
  "abstract": "A system for an assembly line grow pod includes a germination hub including a tank, a water source in selective fluid communication with the tank, a pump in selective fluid communication with the tank and the water source, a pod line in selective fluid communication with the germination hub, a seeder assembly in selective fluid communication with the pod line, the seeder assembly including a seeder tank, and a metering device in selective fluid communication with the seeder tank, where the metering device selectively releases seeds from the seeder tank, and a cart positioned below the metering device.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for an assembly line grow pod, the system comprising: a germination hub comprising: a tank; a water source in selective fluid communication with the tank; a pump in selective fluid communication with the tank and the water source; a pod line in selective fluid communication with the germination hub; a seeder assembly in selective fluid communication with the pod line, the seeder assembly comprising: a seeder tank; and a metering device in selective fluid communication with the seeder tank, wherein the metering device selectively releases seeds from the seeder tank; and a cart positioned below the metering device.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tank of the germination hub is an initial tank, and the germination hub further comprises a secondary tank in selective fluid communication with the initial tank.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the initial tank is positioned above the secondary tank in a vertical direction.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tank of the germination hub defines an upper portion and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion in a vertical direction, and wherein the tank comprises a tank water valve positioned at the lower portion of the tank and the pump is connected to the tank through the tank water valve.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the seeder assembly is a first seeder assembly, and wherein the system further comprises a second seeder assembly in fluid communication with the pod line, the second seeder assembly comprising: a second seeder tank; and a second metering device in fluid communication with the second seeder tank, wherein the second metering device selectively releases seeds from the second seeder tank; and a second cart positioned below the second metering device.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the seeder assembly further comprises a germination tank in fluid commination with the pod line and in selective fluid communication with the seeder tank.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the germination tank defines an upper portion and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and the germination tank comprises a water outlet positioned at the upper portion of the germination tank and tank water valve positioned at the lower portion of the germination tank."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for germinating seeds and, more specifically, to germinating seeds for an assembly line grow pod.\n\nWhile crop growth technologies have advanced over the years, there are still many problems in the farming and crop industry. As an example, while technological advances have increased efficiency and production of various crops, many factors may affect a harvest, such as weather, disease, infestation, and the like. Additionally, while the United States currently has suitable farmland to adequately provide food for its population, other countries and future populations may not have enough farmland to provide the appropriate amount of food.\n\nControlled environment growing systems may mitigate the factors affecting traditional harvests. However, the germination process in conventional controlled environment growing systems may be time consuming and may reduce the efficiency of conventional controlled environment growing systems. Accordingly, a need exists for improved germination systems for use with controlled environment growing systems.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01G 9/083",
    "A01C 1/02",
    "A01C 15/006",
    "A01C 7/004",
    "A01D 91/00",
    "A01G 25/16",
    "A01G 31/042",
    "A01G 31/06",
    "A01G 9/247"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01G 9/08",
    "A01G 9/24",
    "A01C 1/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Grow Solutions Tech LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jordan Farnsworth Smith",
    "Scott Nielson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-01-31",
  "publication_date": "2021-10-12",
  "grant_date": "2021-10-12",
  "priority_date": "2019-01-30",
  "application_number": "US-201916263864-A",
  "family_id": "65441086",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}