Patent ID: 7559173
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: A01G,Y02P

Abstract:
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 arranged around a common horizontal axis, 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.