| 摘要 |
An automated hydroponic growing and harvesting system for sprouts includes a continuous serpentine chain conveyor transporting suspended trays through a tray preparation zone where trays are cleaned, a seeding zone where a layer of seeds is deposited across each tray, a germination zone where environmental conditions and nutrients and water are provided for germination, a growing zone where lighting, nutrients and water are provided for growth, and a harvesting zone where sprouts are dumped from each tray. |
| 主权项 |
1. A hydroponic system for automatically growing and harvesting sprouts, the system comprising:
a framework including a left side and a right side, a first chain driven in a first serpentine path along one of the left side and right side, the first chain being a first continuous chain, and a plurality of first side chain rails, each first side chain rail of the plurality of first side chain rails defining a portion of the first serpentine path, and a plurality of trays operably coupled to the first chain, each tray being substantially parallel to each other tray, each tray having a length, and each tray being between the left side and right side of the framework, and each tray being spaced apart from each other tray, and movement of the first chain along the first serpentine path causing movement of each tray along the first serpentine path, and the first serpentine path including a seeding zone, and a seed head automatically depositing seeds on each tray as the tray passes through the seeding zone, the seed head traveling linearly, the entire length of the tray, along a guide above each tray as the tray passes through the seeding zone, and depositing a layer of seed along the entire length of each tray as the tray passes through the seeding zone, a first paddle extending downardly from the seed head, the paddle including a free end, a space between the free end of the paddle and the tray defining a height of the layer of deposited seed. |
