Method and apparatus for aeroponic farming

Abstract

A system and method of aeroponic farming includes depositing seeds in a flat containing micro-fleece cloth and placing the flat within a growth chamber. The upper side of the flat is subjected to light of the proper frequencies to promote growth in plants. A nutrient solution is sprayed onto the micro-fleece cloth and the developing root mass of the plants, while controlling temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide within the growth chamber. The plants are harvested resulting from the seeds at a desired stage of growth. The growth chambers can be stacked on each other and/or located side by side to save space within a facility, and to permit sharing the subsystems which control the nutrient solution, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide for the growth chambers.

1 . An aeroponic system, comprising: 
 a growth chamber;    at least one flat effective for receiving seeds in an upper side thereof;    light means for providing light effective for photosynthesis in plants; and    means for spraying a nutrient solution onto a lower side of the flats.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for circulating air through the growth chamber; and    means for collecting excess nutrient solution for reuse.    
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for recirculating the collected excess nutrient solution to the means for spraying.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for controlling the humidity and heat of the atmosphere within the growth chamber.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , further comprising means for controlling the level of carbon dioxide within the growth chamber.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for circulating air over the light means to provide an air-cooled lighting system, and wherein the means for circulating air through the chamber is independent from the means for circulating air over the light means.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flat includes micro-fleece cloth.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the micro-fleece cloth includes a plurality of transverse furrows that remain closed when tension is applied orthogonal to the furrows, whereby when un-germinated seeds are positioned within the furrows, the closed furrows retain moisture in close proximity to the un-germinated seeds.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of growth chambers adjacent each other sharing a common boundary.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the light means and the at least one flat.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for automatically moving the at least one flat through the growth chamber.  
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the growth chamber includes a plurality of zones, and the system further comprises: 
 means for independently adjusting an amount of growth light within each zone; and    means for independently adjusting an amount of nutrient solution sprayed within each zone.    
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for automatically seeding the at least one flat with seeds, and means for automatically harvesting resulting plants from the at least one flat.  
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one flat includes first and second flats, the system further comprising means for connecting the first and second flats together such that nutrient solution sprayed onto the lower side of the flats does not enter a part of the growth chamber that is between the flats and a top side of the growth chamber.  
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for circulating air through the growth chamber, and means for filtering air from insects when the air is received from outside the growth chamber.  
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for reflecting light within the growth chamber.  
   
   
       17 . A method of aeroponic farming, comprising the steps of: 
 depositing seeds in at least one flat containing micro-fleece cloth;    positioning the at least one flat within a growth chamber;    subjecting an upper side of the at least one flat to light of the proper frequencies to promote photosynthesis in plants; and    spraying a nutrient solution onto the micro-fleece cloth and the developing root mass of the plants.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of controlling temperature and humidity within the growth chamber, and harvesting the plants resulting from the seeds at a desired stage of growth.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of controlling the carbon dioxide level within the growth chamber.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one flat includes furrows formed in the micro-fleece cloth.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of covering the deposited seeds to immerse the seeds in a moist environment for a time period sufficient for the seeds to germinate.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of covering the seeds includes depositing the seeds in a plurality of transverse furrows in the micro-fleece cloth.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of applying tension to the micro-fleece cloth applied orthogonal to the furrows to close the furrows to immerse the un-germinated seeds in a moist environment.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting a distance between the light and the at least one flat.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of automatically moving the at least one flat through the growth chamber.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the growth chamber includes a plurality of zones, and the method further comprises the steps of: 
 independently adjusting an amount of growth light within each zone; and    independently adjusting an amount of nutrient solution sprayed within each zone.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of automatically seeding the at least one flat with seeds, and automatically harvesting resulting plants from the at least one flat.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one flat includes first and second flats, the method further comprising the step of connecting the first and second flats together such that nutrient solution sprayed onto the lower side of the flats does not enter a part of the growth chamber that is between the flats and a top side of the growth chamber.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of circulating air through the growth chamber, and filtering air from insects when the air is received from outside the growth chamber.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of reflecting light within the growth chamber.  
   
   
       31 . A cloth flat for seed germination, comprising a plurality of strips of micro-fleece cloth sewn together to form a plurality of transverse furrows that remain closed when tension is applied orthogonal to the furrows, whereby when un-germinated seeds are positioned within the furrows, the closed furrows protect the un-germinated seeds from direct light.  
   
   
       32 . A structure for seed germination and growth, comprising: 
 first and second sets of rails; wherein each set of rails includes an upper rail and a lower rail;    first and second scissors mechanisms;    cloth affixed between the first and second scissors mechanisms;    the first and second scissors mechanisms being contained within the first and second sets of rails, and, such that as the flat is moved along the first and second sets of rails, a convergence of the upper and lower rails within each set of rails causes a length of the flat to be increased, while a divergence of the first set of rails from the second set of rails causes a width of the flat to be increased.    
   
   
       33 . A structure according to  claim 32 , further comprising means for retaining an even dispersion of seeded plants as the plants grow in the cloth as the cloth is moved along the first and second sets of rails.  
   
   
       34 . A structure according to  claim 33 , further comprising means for retaining excess cloth until required.