초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for growing plants wherein a spherical array of seeds or seedlings radially face the center of the sphere and a growth promoting light source is generally at the center of the sphere; plant growth is promoted and approximately equal weight distribution among growing plants is ma

Method and apparatus for growing plants wherein a spherical array of seeds or seedlings radially face the center of the sphere and a growth promoting light source is generally at the center of the sphere; plant growth is promoted and approximately equal weight distribution among growing plants is maintained by rotating the sphere on its horizontal axis around the light source, simultaneously delivering water optionally containing plant nutrients to all the seeds or seedlings and regulating the light source during periods of plant growth and non-growth.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for growing plants, which comprises: (a) providing a vertical carousel of contiguous, intermeshing horizontal arrays capable of moving together, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced apart arcuate ribs lying on circumferential lines that pass thru the

What is claimed is: 1. A method for growing plants, which comprises: (a) providing a vertical carousel of contiguous, intermeshing horizontal arrays capable of moving together, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced apart arcuate ribs lying on circumferential lines that pass thru the horizontal axis of a sphere, said ribs carrying plants that grow towards a growth promoting light source at the center of each array which is operable during periods of plant growth and non-growth, the ribs of one array intermeshing with the spaced apart ribs of contiguous arrays (b) rotating one of said arrays thereby causing all of the contiguous intermeshing arrays to rotate together at the same speed; (c) moving the arrays in the carousel together from a drive position in which said one array is rotated to an unloading/loading position in which said one array is not rotated; and (d) watering all the plants in an array at the same time while the arrays are rotating to maintain even weight distribution within each array for smooth, balanced rotation. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said carousel moves in a noncircular path. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of rotation and the intervals, amounts and rates of delivery of water optionally containing plant nutrients are selected for optimum plant growth towards said light source. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein water optionally containing plant nutrients is delivered to the plants without recirculation. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plants grown are selected from the group of leafy vegetables, green vegetables, fruits and berries. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plants grown are selected from the group of basil, safflower, Arugula, Artemisia, lettuce and spinach. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein a root enzyme is added to the water. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein pollen is dislodged from flowering plants and distributed to other flowering plants in an array. 10. An apparatus for growing plants, comprising: (a) a vertical carousel of contiguous, intermeshing horizontal arrays capable of moving together, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced apart arcuate ribs lying on circumferential lines that pass thru the horizontal axis of a sphere, said ribs carrying plants that grow towards a growth promoting light source at the center of each array which is operable during periods of plant growth and non-growth, the ribs of one array intermeshing with the spaced apart ribs of contiguous arrays; (b) means to rotate one of said arrays thereby causing all of the contiguous intermeshing arrays in the carousel to rotate together at the same speed; (c) means to move the arrays in the carousel together from a drive position in which said means to rotate said one array is engaged to an unloading/loading position in which said means to rotate is disengaged; and (d) means to water all the plants in an array at the same time while the arrays are rotated to maintain even weight distribution within each array for smooth, balanced rotation. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said carousel moves in a noncircular path. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, which includes means to dislodge and distribute pollen from flowering plants to other flowering plants in a spherical array. 14. A method for growing plants, wherein: (a) a vertical carousel of contiguous, intermeshing horizontal arrays capable of moving together is provided, each of said arrays carrying plants on the interior thereof that grow towards a growth promoting light source at the center of each array which is operable during periods of plant growth and non-growth, the exteriors of one array being adapted to intermesh with the exteriors of contiguous arrays; (b) one of said arrays is rotated thereby causing all of the intermeshing arrays to rotate together at the same speed; (c) the arrays are moved in the carousel together from a drive position in which said one array is rotated to an unloading/loading position in which said one array is not rotated; (d) all the plants in an array are watered at the same time while the arrays are rotating to maintain even weight distribution within each array for smooth, balanced rotation; and (e) using each of said arrays by providing a plurality of spaced apart arcuate ribs lying on circumferential lines that pass thru the horizontal axis of a sphere, the ribs of one array intermeshing with the spaced apart ribs of contiguous arrays. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said carousel moves in a noncircular path. 16. An apparatus for growing plants, comprising: (a) a vertical carousel of contiguous, intermeshing horizontal arrays capable of moving together, each of said arrays carrying plants on the interior thereof that grow towards a growth promoting light source at the center of each array which is operable during periods of plant growth and non-growth, the exteriors of each array intermeshing with contiguous arrays; (b) means to rotate one of said arrays thereby causing all of the contiguous intermeshing arrays in the carousel to rotate together at the same speed; (c) means to move the arrays in the carousel together from a drive position in which said means to rotate said one array is engaged to an unloading/loading position in which said means to rotate is disengaged (d) means to water all the plants in an array at the same time while the arrays are rotated to maintain even weight distribution within each array for smooth, balanced rotation; and (e) said arrays comprise a plurality of spaced apart arcuate ribs lying on circumferential lines that pass thru the horizontal axis of a sphere, the ribs of one array intermeshing with the spaced apart ribs of contiguous arrays. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said carousel moves in a noncircular path.